AGADIR

• Bask in the sunshine and warm surf of some of Morocco's finest beaches at Agadir. Or venture further inland to visit that jewel of the ancient Moorish world, Marrakesh. Enclosed within gently crumbling walls of rose-red stone, the city offers fragrant gardens, ornate palaces and an atmosphere straight out of the Arabian Nights. Inland, you can get a heady taste of the exotic in the ancient walled city of Taroudant, once capital of the fierce Berbers, or spend a day at a genuine desert oasis in Tiznit.

AJACCIO

• Napoleon was born in this sleepy capital of Corsica and little has changed since then. It still retains its distinctive mix of Italian and French influences, with beaches of soft honey-coloured sand and hillsides a of fragrant herbs.

ALGHERO

• A world away from the jet set yacht haven of Sardinia's Costa Smeralda, this quiet seaside town has a distinct Catalan flavour, best sampled in its older quarters and on the ramparts of its 16th Century Spanish fortress. Explore the solitary coves and beaches lined with cork trees, rosemary and juniper.

ALICANTE

• The sunniest spot on Spain's aptly named Costa Blanca, Alicante delights the eye with manicured parks, orderly squares and cafes, all presided over by a commanding Moorish castle.

ANTALYA

• The newest resort to arrive on the Turkish scene with modern amenities and good restaurants mingling with mosques and bazaars. Head for the Roman city of Perge - one of the world's largest and best preserved stadiums.

AQABA / PETRA

• You could pop across from Aqaba to Eilat for snorkelling and resort life. But you can do that anywhere, so why not do something unique instead? A visit to the hidden city of Petra will remain etched into your memory for ever. As your horse takes you down the narrow Siq, you are suddenly confronted by a magnificent treasury hewn from solid rock. It's just the first of many magnificent monuments that make up this incredible deserted city.

BARCELONA

• The colourful capital of Catalonia combines wildly original architecture - like Gaudi's famously surrealistic Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell - with ancient Moorish streets too narrow for traffic.

CADIZ

• Once a private haven, the twisting streets of Cadiz are the gateway to two more famous locations, nearby Jerez de la Frontera, the heart of Spain's sherry region, and Seville, as famous for its architecture and gardens as for its spirited flamenco.

CARTAGENA

• A living museum, the Spanish fortresses, churches and houses lie along maze-like streets, protected within thick medieval walls intended to stave off attack by pirate marauders.

CASABLANCA

• Swirling souks and bazaars of the famous Mellah district are crowded with intriguing bargains, and stately boulevards and impressive administrative buildings are a reminder of the influence of French colonists. In Rabat, the capital of Morocco, visit the elaborately decorated Mausoleum of King Mohammed V.

CORFU

• The lushest and greenest of the Greek islands, Corfu abounds with picturesque vistas, including groves of olive trees and stands of cypress that fringe mile upon mile of beaches and solitary coves.

DUBROVNIK

• Situated on the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, the city became an important Mediterranean sea power from the 13th Century onwards. Although severly damaged by earthquake in 1667, Dubrovnik managed to preserve its beautiful Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, monasteries and palaces.

GIBRALTAR

• According to the Ancient Greeks, this Pillar of Hercules marked the end of the world. Today, however, it remains defiantly British in attitude and feeling. Visit an English-style pub or take the dizzying cable car to the top of the Rock for a fantastic view across the straits to Africa.

GRAN CANARIA

• Whether it's the imposing cathedral and pedestrianised shopping streets of the Vequeta in Las Palmas, the Saharan-scale beaches of pure white sand at Maspalomas, Palmito Park's dazzling profusion of tropical flowers or Angostura (where the bitters come from), you'll find much to enjoy on this enchanting island.

HAIFA/JERUSALEM

• Set at the foot of Mount Carmel, Haifa is your introduction to the miraculous Holy Land. If money's no object, take a helicopter tour to Jerusalem, inspiring Massada and the depths of the Dead Sea. In Jerusalem, visit the Wailing Wall, see glittering Dome of The Rock and walk the Via Dolorosa to the site of the Crucifixion at Calva

HERAKLION

• The capital of modern Crete is a thriving and industrious city. But if you would prefer to see the previous capital, head for Knossos where Sir Arthur Evans discovered - and lovingly restored - the vast Palace of King Minos. In its heyday, this was the most sophisticated palace in the world.

IBIZA

• A delightful blend of splendid beaches, majestic cliffs, ancient windmills and whitewashed houses, Ibiza is home to the narrow streets and medieval buildings of its Upper Town, a city within a city, and the fashionable shops and nightlife of Ibiza Town - as well as wide, golden beaches.

ISTANBUL

• Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul - whatever the name, this city has been magnetic throughout its history, set as it is astride two continents. Be dazzled by the intricately carved mosques, the treasures of the fabled Topkapi Palace and the seemingly infinite array of stalls in the Grand Bazaar.

LA CORUNA

• Once a bastion fortified against the likes of Sir Francis Drake, today La Coruna is better known as the departure point for nearby Santiago de la Compostela, a beautifully preserved medieval town that was once the major medieval centre of pilgrimage outside Jerusalem.

LANZAROTE

• Beaches of black and red, volcanic plains and bubbling geysers all lend Lanzarote an appearance that is out of this world. Ride a camel train to Fire Mountain, head for the delightful grotto of Jameos del Agua, or shop in the porticoed market place of Arrecife.

LA PALMA

• While the other Canary Islands are developed, La Palma is not. It has all the charm and solitude of a secret garden, with green cliffs towering over secluded bays. Further inland there are some splendid walks through forests of evergreen trees and spectacular mountains.

LAS PALMAS

• Visit the house where Columbus once stayed or stroll along the dunes in nearby Maspalomas where miles of golden sands tumble down to warm seas.

LIMASSOL

• If you enjoy Greek food, you'll find it at its best in Limassol's innumerable tavernas. Climb up into the cool of the Troodos Mountains, or visit the beach at Paphos where Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was born from the spray of the sea. Kolossi's imposing castle bears eloquent testimony to the strategic importance Cyprus has possessed throughout history.

LISBON

• Travellers who know Lisbon are always quick to name it as one of Europe's most enchanting capital cities. It's also a city which lends itself to the pleasures of wandering through its neighbourhoods: from the tiny stair-streets of Alfama to the ornate architecture of the lofty Bairro Alto.

MADEIRA

• Nicknamed "the island of eternal spring", Madeira is a startling combination of lush floral blooms and garden-like fields and soaring, rugged mountains. Take tea at Reid's, and don't miss the famous basket chair ride down the winding mountain road, if only to see the young locals sweat.

MALAGA

• At the heart of the famous Costa del Sol is this sunshine city. The sultry climate is echoed in the sinuous passion of authentic flamenco. Moorish influence is everywhere, from the looming fortress of Gibralfaro to the exquisite Alcazaba Palace.

MALTA

• One of the few places on earth to have won a medal. It was awarded the George Cross for the valour exhibited by the entire island during World War Two. As you sail into Valetta's Grand Harbour you will certainly appreciate its heroic scale. Visit Mostar's parish church with a dome larger than St Paul's in London.

MESSINA

• Memorable views await you from nearby Taormina, where a well-preserved Greek theatre perches atop a cliff nearly 700 feet above warm seas. Or you can visit smoouldering Mount Etna and look across the legendary sites of Scylla and Charybdis at the Straits of Messina.

MUSCAT

• An oil-rich sultanate bordering the warms waters of the Arabian Sea, seldom visited Oman is rich in both history and picturesque natural beauty where rugged mountains and shifting desert sands meet beaches fringed with sparkling waters.

MYTILENE

• A charming and typical Greek fishing port where the armada of brightly coloured caiques fish for octopus. Why not sample it for yourself, washed down with chilled white wine or potent ouzo? The local museum features exquisite Roman mosaics, and out of town you will find an acoustically perfect 15,000-seat theatre.

NAPLES

• The beauty of the Bay of Naples is the stuff of legend, and deservedly so as you will discover. But Naples is perhaps more imprtant as the gateway to the historic riches of the Roman city of Pompeii, beautifully preserved for nearly 2,000 years beneath a blanket of volcanic rock.

PALMA

• Over the years, not a few of the rich and famous have been lured to Palma by its mild year-round climate and breathtakingly lovely bay. You can visit the haunts of the Mallorcan kings at Bellver Castle and the haven of George Sand and Chopin at the old Carthusian monastery, Valledemosa. The vast Cuevas del Drach (or Caves of the Dragon) are unforgettable.

PIRAEUS / ATHENS

• Few cities have played as important a role in our development as Athens, the 'Mother of Democracies', which lies just a few miles away from Piraeus. Naturally the serene Acropolis with its peerless Parthenon enthrals, but there is much more to see and do in this miraculous city. For a view of the Acropolis, ride the funicular to the restaurant perched on top of Mount Lycabettus, or explore the markets and tavernas of the roistering Plaka. Beyond Athens itself you will find Poseidon's ravishing sea-girt temple at Sounion and the Cyclopean ramparts of Mycenae.

PORT SAID / CAIRO

• The glories of Egypt beckon from Port Said. Experience the sights and sounds of Cairo, gaze upon the face of the Boy Pharaoh, Tutankhamun, and gasp at the hoarded treasures of the Archaeological Museum. Explore delicate mosques and vibrant bazaars. Then sail on the Nile, go on a camel ride or journey out to Giza and the vastness of the Pyramids and the enigma that is the Sphinx.

PYLOS

• Set on the sparkling shores of Homer's "wine-dark sea", the Aegean, Pylos is a little-know Greek port. The tavernas are excellent and uncrowded, the streets buzzing with energy. Outside the town relive past splendours at the Palace of legendary King Nestor at Englianos, or explore the historic town of Methone.

RHODES

• The walled city bears signs of occupation by the Greeks, the Romans and - most visible of all - the Crusaders and Knights of St John. Nearby at Lindos you will find an Acropolis more dramatic even than that of Athens. Head for Faliraki for a spot of bathing before sampling a typically Greek lunch.

SANTORINI

• The volcanic cataclysm that shaped Santorini is thought to have destroyed the neighbouring Cretan civilisation and given rise to the legend of Atlantis. Its legacy, however, was to create a dramatically beautiful Greek island. Ride the cable-car - or a local donkey - up to the clifftop town of Thira and sip a glass of wine as you gaze down at your ship.

TANGIER

• For a taste of exotic flavours, visit the old town's famous Casbah, the impregnable palace built behind fortress walls, and its lovely sultan's gardens. Walk through the hillsides of winding streets and lanes, where each street is set aside for different groups of artisans.

TENERIFE

• Long before you arrive you will be able to make out the towering summit of Mount Teide. Santa Cruz, the main port, boasts splendid duty-free shops. For sunshine head south for Los Cristianos and Playa de las Americas. For sophistication seek out the Lido and luxury hotels of Puerto de la Cruz. For something completely different, attend a parrot cabaret. You're spoiled for choice.

VENICE

• Utterly incomparable and totally unique, Venice is quite simply breathtaking. Inspect the horses atop St Marks, ride a gondola beneath the Bridge of Sighs and walk across the Rialto. Sip cappuccino at Florians or lunch on Fegato alla Veneziana and pasta in a back street restaurant. Take a vaporetto down the Grand Canal or a tour-boat out to the islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello, set in the shimmering lagoon.

VIGO

• The impressive harbour is reputedly large enough to accommodate the combined fleet of the entire world, and was the departure point for the ill-fated Spanish Armada. In the city you will find excellent tapas bars and superb seafood restaurants, together with a wealth of traditional architecture. Drive out through spectacularly beautiful countryside to Santiago de Compostela, shrine of St James and third holiest site in all Christendom.

VILLEFRANCHE

• Although as picturesque and gem-like a fishing village as one might hope to find, Villefranmche happens to nestl;e between two of the geart locactions on the Cole d'Azur - Monte Carlo and Nice. There are ancient fortifications at Eze that once inspired Nietzsche and still offer dazzling panoramic views over the coast.