An island with a rare distinction, Malta is the only place to have been awarded the George Cross for valour. Described by Sir Walter Scott as ‘the city built by gentlemen for gentlemen’, its capital, Valletta, is a beautifully preserved 16 th century walled city. Today, its imposing Grand Harbour bears witness to the Crusaders and Knights Templar who built here on their way to and from the holy land. For the best views of the city, take to the waterways in a ‘dghajjes’ or ‘barkloris’, a traditional Maltese boat.

An island with a rare distinction, Malta is the only place to have been awarded the George Cross for valour. Described by Sir Walter Scott as ‘the city built by gentlemen for gentlemen’, its capital, Valletta, is a beautifully preserved 16 th century walled city. Today, its imposing Grand Harbour bears witness to the Crusaders and Knights Templar who built here on their way to and from the holy land. For the best views of the city, take to the waterways in a ‘dghajjes’ or ‘barkloris’, a traditional Maltese boat.

The Acropolis – ‘High City’ – will always be the top attraction from Athens’ cruise port Piraeus. With its 2,500-year-old Parthenon, temple to Poseidon and Athena, Odeon of Herodus Atticus and Theatre of Dionysus, it quite literally stands out as an oasis of calm in the frenetic Greek capital. As part of the major revamp the city had for the 2004 Olympics, 400 modern buildings were cleared from the ancient meeting place next to the Acropolis, the Agora, which was then restored and linked by walkways to the Acropolis, Hadrian’s Arch, the Academy of Plato and the Monastery of Daphne. Other nearby ancient sites include the Roman Tower of the Winds and the Hill of the Muses where Socrates is said to have drunk hemlock. Below the Acropolis is the fun place to shop or barter, eat moussaka or Greek salad, drink wine or ouzo and, of course, to people-watch: the 3,000-year-old Plaka.

The proud city of Heraklion is the modern capital of Crete, largest and most ruggedly beautiful of the Greek Isles. Just along the coast, you’ll find the scrupulously renovated remains of Knossos, the Palace of King Minos and the island’s capital under the Minoans. Here, the endless maze of salons, staircases and courtyards gave rise to the legend of the Labyrinth, housing the evil Minotaur at its heart. See the legend come vividly to life!

Souda Bay is a bay and natural harbour near the town of Souda on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. The bay is about 15 km long and only two to four km wide, and a deep natural harbour. It is formed between the Akrotiri peninsula and Cape Drapano, and runs west to east.

An island with a rare distinction, Malta is the only place to have been awarded the George Cross for valour. Described by Sir Walter Scott as ‘the city built by gentlemen for gentlemen’, its capital, Valletta, is a beautifully preserved 16 th century walled city. Today, its imposing Grand Harbour bears witness to the Crusaders and Knights Templar who built here on their way to and from the holy land. For the best views of the city, take to the waterways in a ‘dghajjes’ or ‘barkloris’, a traditional Maltese boat.

An island with a rare distinction, Malta is the only place to have been awarded the George Cross for valour. Described by Sir Walter Scott as ‘the city built by gentlemen for gentlemen’, its capital, Valletta, is a beautifully preserved 16 th century walled city. Today, its imposing Grand Harbour bears witness to the Crusaders and Knights Templar who built here on their way to and from the holy land. For the best views of the city, take to the waterways in a ‘dghajjes’ or ‘barkloris’, a traditional Maltese boat.

Legendary fountains, piazzas, ancient architecture and cathedrals await your discovery in Italy’s capital. At the Trevi Fountain capture the magic of Rome’s grandest fountain. Gaze up at the horizon and you’ll no doubt see St Peters Basilica. Visible from nearly everywhere in the city, it is built on the site where St Peter was martyred and buried. Witness the beautiful paintings of Michelangelo at the magnificent Sistine Chapel. And no visit to Rome would be complete without a visit to its imposing amphitheatre, the Colosseum.

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

Even on the beautiful island of Corsica, towns don’t come much prettier than Ajaccio, Napoleon’s birthplace, where the warmth of Italian Dolce Vita and the style and cuisine of France combine to create an atmosphere that’s quite unique.

An island with a rare distinction, Malta is the only place to have been awarded the George Cross for valour. Described by Sir Walter Scott as ‘the city built by gentlemen for gentlemen’, its capital, Valletta, is a beautifully preserved 16 th century walled city. Today, its imposing Grand Harbour bears witness to the Crusaders and Knights Templar who built here on their way to and from the holy land. For the best views of the city, take to the waterways in a ‘dghajjes’ or ‘barkloris’, a traditional Maltese boat.