Lisbon
(the intriguing old town), La Condamine (business centre), and Monte Carlo (the glitzy new town). Grimaldi Prince Rainier III put Monaco on the map by marrying fi lm star Grace Kelly in 1955 and he is now buried alongside Princess Grace in St. Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco Ville.
Lofoten Islands
NAPLES Italy Sailing into the Bay of Naples is a memorable experience. The port is overlooked by the imposing Sant’ Elmo medieval castle, high up on Vemero Hill, as well as the 13th century Castel Nuovo, which is right next to the Naples cruise terminal in the heart of the city. Within a short walk are three of Naples’ best-known landmarks: Castel Nuovo, the 17th century Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale), and the elaborate 18th century San Carlo Opera House. The city’s archaeological museum majors on Pompeii and Herculaneum, the two extraordinary sites that draw most fi rst-time visitors to Naples. The city is also a convenient base for tours to the nearby cliff- top resort of Sorrento and the sophisticated island of Capri.
MESSINA Italy An earthquake in 1908 fl attened much of the original town, but Messina bounced back and it has since enhanced one of its major surviving attractions – the Duomo, a 12th century Norman church with an astronomical clock in the bell tower. Made in Strasbourg in 1933, the clock face shows the planetary system representing the days of the week and the ages of man. There are more Norman churches, several beautiful medieval fountains and a fascinating museum to visit in the town centre before you head for the area’s main attractions: Mount Etna or the magnifi cent hill-top town of Taormina. The latter, overlooking the Bay of Giardini, has one of the largest Greco-Roman theatres in the world.
MOLDE Norway Located on the northern shore of the Romsdalsfjord, the Norwegian town of Molde is famous for its beautiful surroundings and spectacular panoramic views of over 220 snow-capped peaks. Small wooden houses, gardens, parks and avenues full of trees and fl owers have earned it the nickname ‘town of roses’ – a name that is defi nitely well deserved. A devastating fi re in 1916 means little trace is left of old Molde, but this tranquil town has not lost its sense of history. Alongside mountains, valleys plunge down to rivers and fjords and fi nally out to sea. Some 365 metres above the town is Varden offering panoramic views of the Romsdal Mountains.
MONTE CARLO Monaco Monte Carlo is famous for the four ‘Gs’: the Grimaldi monarchy as well as its Grand Prix, glamour and gambling. The famous Grand Casino is only one of several but, if you are feeling lucky, note that it operates a strict dress code and requires all players to show passports. The fi rst thing you notice when you arrive in port is how pristine the mega-yachts look in the harbour. Monaco’s three main districts are all walkable from the harbour: Monaco Ville
NEW YORK United States of America The ‘Big Apple’ is the USA’s most charismatic city and really does have something for everyone. Love the great outdoors? Stroll through the gorgeous gardens of Central Park, right in the centre of Manhattan. People-watching more your thing? Get a taste of local life in the quaint cafés of bohemian Greenwich Village, or star spot in the boutique and restaurant- lined streets of the sophisticated SoHo and TriBeCa districts. Feast your eyes at the Metropolitan Museum of Art or enjoy the shopping spree of your life at Saks, Macys, Bloomingdales or Century 21 on Cortlandt Street, which is the world’s largest discount warehouse and near that other must-see, Broadway.
NEWPORT Rhode Island, United States of America Fabulous mansions, fantastic scenery and the world famous ten mile Ocean Drive make Newport, Rhode Island a must-see city. From the splendour of its palatial ‘summer cottages’ to its quaint colonial streets, inviting vineyards and numerous marinas. Miles of scenic coastline give it a rugged beauty ideal for sailing, riding and walking. For true nature lovers, Newport’s sanctuaries display a wide variety of bird life while those who want to simply relax could head to lagoon-like Gooseberry beach. Other famous landmarks include Trinity Church, Redwood Library and the Gothic Church of St. Mary’s – where Jackie and JFK were married.
NORTH CAPE Norway Take a cruise around Norway’s North Cape and some of the world’s most spectacular scenery will unfold before your eyes. The northernmost point of Europe lies at the top of Magerøya, an island with 3,500 inhabitants, most of whom live in Honningsvaåg in the Nordfjord. This fi shing village – the world’s most northerly settlement – is well inside the Arctic Circle and built around a pretty boat-lined harbour. And the North Cape has more to offer than picturesque scenery and summertime midnight sun.
NY ALESUND Norway Just 600 miles south of the North Pole, the rugged but spectacularly scenic island of Spitsbergen is civilisation’s most northerly outpost and Ny Alesund is the most northerly settlement on it. Although about two-thirds of Spitsbergen and the handful of smaller, neighbouring islands that make up Norway’s Svalbard territory, are covered in glaciers, the Atlantic Gulf Stream which passes to the west has ensured a rich variety of plants, fl owers and birds. A ban on hunting also means there are plenty of polar bears and arctic foxes to be spotted by keen-eyed visitors.
ODESSA Ukraine Just a 10-minute walk from Odessa’s dock side are the Potemkin Stairs, famed for the memorably dramatic crowd scene in Eisenstein’s fi lm ‘Battleship Potemkin’. It has long been a popular coastal resort, but it is its heritage that makes Odessa so popular with visitors. The 19th century fi ve-domed Russo- Byzantine Uspensky Cathedral is a particular feast for the eyes, along with the Italian baroque-style Opera House. This 19th century icon is home to the renowned Odessa Ballet while its ornate interior includes a remarkable ceiling decorated with scenes from Shakespeare plays. You can also visit several lavish palaces and excellent museums and see the monument to poet Alexander Pushkin’s time spent in exile in the city in the 1820s.
OLDEN Norway The peaceful village of Olden has the perfect fjordland cruise setting – nestling at the southern end of one branch of beautiful Nordfjord. A lake in the valley has been turned a rich, deep green by the minerals in the river pouring down the mountains from the vast, million-year-old Briksdal Glacier. Giant waterfalls also cascade down, making the views spectacular as you travel through the valley to the foot of the glacier – one of the offshoots of the vast Jostedal Glacier now designated as a national park. Other tours head overland to the inner Nordfjord area with its wind-blown rocks, towering mountains and verdant valleys.
OPORTO Portugal Oporto is an enchanting, historic city with Roman ramparts and Parisian-style squares. But it’s best known for its port wine – to which the city gave its name. The cathedral area is fi lled with many treasures, like the Renaissance church of Santa Clara and the densely populated quarter of Barredo, which hasn’t changed since medieval times. The narrow streets of the riverside quarter of Ribeira are delightful and dotted with fashionable bars and restaurants overfl owing with seafood.
OSLO Norway Ships sail along the tranquil Oslofjord to reach Oslo; a spectacular city surrounded by snow-capped mountains and rolling green hills. Founded in 1050, it has been Norway’s capital since the end of the 11th century. The modern city is an eclectic mix of ancient castles, frescoed 18th century houses, vast parks and glittering lakes. Must-sees include the Viking House Museum with its display of 9th century longboats, the Munch-museet, which
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