Early Summer Mediterranean Style

Valletta, Malta's capital, offers a blend of historical richness and stunning architecture. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage city, where ancient temples and baroque buildings stand side by side. Walk through narrow streets lined with golden sandstone buildings, such as the impressive St. John’s Co-Cathedral and the Palace of the Grand Master. Valletta’s fortifications, built by the Knights of St. John, offer scenic views of the Grand Harbor. 

Arrive in Syracuse and transfer to the port for your exploration of this historic city. Begin the day by visiting Ortigia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the city of Syracuse first flourished. Walk through its ancient streets and see the grand cathedral, built on the site of the Temple of Athena. Stroll through the Piazza del Duomo, surrounded by magnificent palaces, and explore the wide promenades that line the coast. The archaeological park offers a glimpse into Syracuse’s Greek and Roman past, with ruins and monuments telling the story of one of the most powerful ancient cities. After a relaxing day, depart Syracuse.

Taormina is perched on a rock with a majestic view over the sea. In the 19th century, this small town had already developed into a dream destination for well-heeled travellers and artists. The town's fascination lies in its elegance, the many ancient buildings, the stunningly beautiful coastline, the mild climate, and the view over the silhouette of Etna. Europe's largest volcano is over 9,843 feet high, has four summit craters and around 400 subsidiary craters, and is covered with snow almost all year round. In ancient times, it was considered the seat of the gods, but nowadays, large sections of it are a nature reserve.

The beautifully curving Amalfi Coast, which meanders along the starkly protruding Sorrento peninsula, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the pretty little town of Amalfi, whose history as an influential maritime republic is still clear to see, a dense labyrinth of pastel-colored houses clings to the rocky coastline. Boasting three naves, the beautiful 10th-century cathedral with an enchanting cloister, colorful marble façade, Arabic-Norman campanile, and magnificent steps leading to the lively Piazza Duomo is the heart of this small coastal town.

Even at the time of the Roman Empire, Capri was a particularly precious natural gem and became the summer residence of the Emperor Tiberius. Artists and hedonists, aristocrats and the moneyed classes discovered the island for themselves in the 19th century. This stunningly beautiful rocky island in the Gulf of Naples is famous for its numerous grottos, the most well-known being the Blue Grotto. You can expect a combination of pleasure and spectacle when you experience the colorful lifestyle and goings-on in the Piazetta right in the center of Capri.

Climbing the rigging, untying ropes, setting sails – today is all about sailing. Time to lean back and relax in the deck chair and watch the passionate crew hoisting the sails by hand.

The chalk cliffs are visible even from a long way away and fall away steeply into the sea like a wall, around 70 meters (230 feet) high. Hidden behind them is a fjord-like inlet, which provides the beautiful entrance into the natural harbor of Bonifacio. The elegant modern lower town is set around the harbor with a promenade that runs the length of the deep harbor bay and leads to the elegant marina. More than 187 stone steps, majestically named the "Staircase of the King of Aragon", lead you up to the medieval upper town, which sits lofty and impregnable high up on the top of a steep chalk cliff.

A beautiful beachside promenade and, on a headland, the old town of Alghero, which sits defiantly behind thick fortifications. Alghero is something very special. Many buildings and squares in the charming old town were built when it was ruled by the Catalans, and some of the inhabitants still speak a dialect of Catalan today. That's why the town is also lovingly known as "Little Barcelona". Grand palaces, numerous churches and towers, winding lanes and lively squares with snug bars and restaurants transport you into the Middle Ages with a Catalan-Gothic character.

Calvi has something enjoyable to suit every taste. Romantics can take a walk through the old town, and the view from the fortified walls is not to be missed. A stroll through the town's streets brings you to the colorful, lively lower town with its bars and exclusive cafés. Anyone who enjoys a walk on the sand will love the town's long beach. To the east, sheltered by the highest mountains in Corsica, a lush green wild garden has grown around Calvi, filled with olive groves and orange trees. In the La Balagne region in the interior, you can discover hidden picturesque villages which show you the traditional side of Corsica and, displaying the idiosyncratic pride on the island, there is scarcely a road sign that is not written in the Corsican language.

In the 19th century, artists discovered this picturesque fishing village on the Cote d'Azur and made it their source of inspiration. They were followed by the aristocracy and moneyed classes, and around fifty years ago St. Tropez gained its international reputation as a refuge for the rich and famous. You can still find them today, in elegant Port Grimaud with its luxurious yachts from all over the world; in the upmarket bars and restaurants that line the promenade; on the elegant boulevards; in high-class shops; or at the sophisticated beach clubs. Even with all these distinguished guests, St. Tropez has still managed to preserve its picturesque and sleepy atmosphere.

Nice lies in one of the world's most lavishly endowed natural landscapes. The sea glows azure, and the mountains in the background rise picturesquely up into the sky. Castle Hill gives you a fantastic view over the rambling old town – a labyrinth of alleyways with Baroque churches, pastel-colored houses, and red-tiled roofs. The Promenade des Anglais, a sophisticated, five-kilometer (3 miles) long walkway along the magnificent Baie des Anges and its long beach, lies at the heart of the elegant new town, with its splendid palaces and aristocratic hotels in the Belle Epoque and Art Deco styles.