Barcelona to Barcelona

One of Europe’s most visually stunning cities, Barcelona balances the medieval intimacy of its Gothic Quarter with the grace and distinction of the wide boulevards in the Moderniste Eixample. It was the home of architect Antoni Gaudí, whose Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Park Güell and Casa Milà are the most profound statements of Modernisme. View the splendid works at the Picasso Museum and the Miro Foundation, or discover Barcelona’s passionate ambiance at a flamenco show.

Experience Costa Brava and understand why Salvador Dalí and others have long been inspired by its beaches and coves. Spend a day in the warm sand of La Fosca or learning about the history of this fishing village in Museu de la Pesca or simply taking in the Mediterranean air while walking down the promenade. Just an hour north of the city, you can visit the extraordinary Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres. The museum holds works done from his adolescence to the last years of his life.

Located in southeastern France, today’s Marseille is a far cry from the sleepy villages it once inspired in Cézanne’s paintings. With more than a million people, the city remains the cosmopolitan and exuberant capital of southern Europe, with its picturesque Old Quarter, lively sidewalk cafes and shops, and Romanesque-Byzantine Notre Dame de la Garde Basilica, overlooking the steep cliffs and offering a bird’s eye view of the city’s colorful “quartiers” stretching down toward the sea.

Livorno is an Italian port city on the west coast of Tuscany. It's known for its seafood, Renaissance-era fortifications and modern harbor with a cruise ship port. Its central Terrazza Mascagni, a waterside promenade with checkerboard paving, is the city's main gathering place. The bastions of the 16th-century Fortezza Vecchia face the harbor and open onto Livorno's canal-laced Venezia Nuova quarter.

There is something for everyone in Alicante. The historic Mediterranean port city is located in renowned Costa Blanca, within the region of Valencia. From outdoor cafés to white-sand beaches to museums that house rare masterpieces, this town has everything one would expect of a Mediterranean escape. Be sure to visit the picturesque town of Guadalest, one of the most unique destinations in all of Spain.

Valencia was established by the Greeks and later occupied by the Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs. A 15th century artistic movement here gave the world spectacular paintings, sculptures, and jewels. Today a “City of Arts and Sciences,” Valencia offers visitors remarkable samples of modern architecture, alongside such notable classics as the 13th century Cathedral and Chapel of the Holy Chalice. Built on the site of a mosque which was originally a Roman temple the Chapel contains the chalice which legend says was used by Christ at the Last Supper. For a more historic view, take in the Quart Towers, a former gate of the medieval wall, built in 1444; and Serranos Towers, a former prison surrounded by a moat and built around 1391.

One of Europe’s most visually stunning cities, Barcelona balances the medieval intimacy of its Gothic Quarter with the grace and distinction of the wide boulevards in the Moderniste Eixample. It was the home of architect Antoni Gaudí, whose Sagrada Familia Cathedral, Park Güell and Casa Milà are the most profound statements of Modernisme. View the splendid works at the Picasso Museum and the Miro Foundation, or discover Barcelona’s passionate ambiance at a flamenco show.