Dynamic Barcelona is all about architecture, from the magnificent medieval buildings of the Gothic Quarter to the Modernist movement typified by the work of Antoni Gaudi. Though his materials were stone and metal, his forms were organic, awash in curves, swirls, and colors. His masterpiece is the amazing Church of the Sagrada Familia, colossal and as yet unfinished, though construction began in 1882. A contemporary contribution to the scene is Ricardo Bofill’s post modernist National Theater of Catalonia, an imaginative combination of classical and modern design, with a greenhouse-like lobby.

The original city of Palma dates back to Roman times, and modern day residents of the old quarter are still digging up artifacts in their gardens. Balanced on a seawall above the marina is the amazing gothic Cathedral, icon of the city, with some of the world’s largest stained glass windows. Also high on the artistic scale is the Museum of Contemporary Spanish Art featuring works by masters including Picasso, Miró, Gris, and Dali. Mother Nature’s aesthetic achievements can be found in the Caves of Drach – mystical caverns where the play of shadow and light on the rock formations stimulates the imagination.

Mahón, or Maó, is the capital of the Spanish island of Menorca. It’s known for its British-style Georgian houses and sheltered harbor. Santa María Church, with an ornate 19th-century organ, sits on central Plaça de la Constitució. Next to the church, the city hall has a Renaissance facade and a clock donated by the island’s first British governor. The Menorca Museum displays art and exhibits on the island’s history.

You’re in luck—we happen to think the best way to arrive in Cagliari is by sea. (Not that we’re biased or anything!) This way you get to witness to full specter of this colorful city rising haphazardly from the sea, cresting with a rocky centerpiece better known as Il Castello. The capital of Sardinia, Cagliari boats over 25 centuries of history to explore in the form of Roman ruins, museums, churches, and numerous galleries.

Tiny Malta, smack dab in the middle of the Mediterranean and on everyone’s route since ships began to ply the seas, is packed with history from top to bottom. Over time it was ruled by a variety of empires, all of which contributed to the look and culture of the islands. Valetta is living museum of baroque architecture, constructed by the Knights of St. John five centuries ago. Today the city is also a dynamic hub of cultural and commercial activity, its harbor now welcoming luxury yachts and cruise ships.

Between the Mediterranean Sea and Mount Etna lies the beautiful city of Catania, where it’s “if it ain’t Baroque don’t fix it” architecture has earned it UNESCO World Heritage status.

Along with flamboyantly designed buildings, Catania is home to many ancient sites, like the Odeon and Amphitheatre—unearthed from under Mount Etna’s lava that covered the city at least seven times. These ruins can be viewed in the archaeological park, in the compact (AKA great for walking) city center.

A warming sun and gentle sea breezes have been attracting visitors to this fair spot for two millennia. Its reputation as a playground of the ancient rich and famous resulted in the building of lavish villas and palaces, an emperor relocated to the Isle of Capri nearby, and over the centuries it has been a haven for artists and artisans, writers and poets, politicians and philosophers, and all manner of aristocrats. You will be a welcome addition. The massive eruption of nearby Vesuvius in 79 AD caused considerable damage, but the resulting volcanic ash is responsible for Sorrento’s modern day fertility, thriving olive orchards, and excellent wine.

Olbia has been inhabited since 8th Century B.C, but a recent archaeological discovery of 24 shipwrecks – two of them from the age of Nero, has put Olbia in the recent spotlight. In addition to its desirable location on Costa Smeralda, one of the most stunning stretches of coast on the Mediterranean, Olbia offers history enthusiasts quite a treat. The Carthaginians, the Romans, and the Genoans have all left evidence of their time here.

Dating back to the 16th century, the fortified port town of Porto Vecchio is now a Corsican resort destination. The Old Town district—with its cobblestone streets, charming buildings, and ruins of the ancient citadel—features fashionable shops, boutiques, and cafés, while Porto Vecchio’s modern marina offers ferry rides to Bonifacio and the Lavezzi Islands nature reserve, plus a variety of places to enjoy a local beverage harborside.

Nice, Queen of the Riviera, is imbued with the joie de vivre that epitomizes this fabled coastline. Perhaps it is that famous light and color that has long attracted artists, that makes one feel so alive, makes a stroll down the wide seaside Promenade des Anglais so exhilarating. The old town is a warren of meandering lanes edged by tall houses, and small, alluring shops. A treasure trove of archaeological and fine art museums is not to be ignored, nor is the famous flower market, awash in the heady scent and glowing hues of blossoms, and amazing displays of produce.