Mediterranean from Marseille

A pleasant thing to do is simply sit down at one of the cafes overlooking the port of Marseilles and, sipping a Pastis, observe the landscape and the people who inhabit it.
Also called the “Porpoise City “, Marseille is France’s sunniest town, charming with its gullies where you can swim, its history and culture and restaurants with cosmopolitan cuisine. You cannot leave without having first toured on the “Cours Julien”, the street for shopping. The port of Marseille is perhaps a typical tourist destination, but it deserves to be visited for the ferry that leaves from the Town Hall and the old church, which replaced a Templar building.

All the flavour of Spain in our stop at the port of Malaga, a city perched on the heights of the Costa del Sol that dominates the Mediterranean with pride.
The port of Malaga is one of the access ports to the Spanish province. The city, perched on the Costa del Sol, is synonymous with art, culture and sunshine, while its hills invite you to explore the surrounding area. Here you will find the Cenachero, Platero and Biznaguero, three emblematic statues that surround the spirit of the place. For cars lovers, the automobile museum traces the history of the innovations seen in the industry. The Montes Natural Park offers several options for excursions of varying difficulty, from beginners to those trails for experienced hikers. Finally, we suggest that you do not miss a show of the Malagueña dancers.

Travel through the streets of the port, where Christopher Columbus left for America, and visit this beautiful town and its surroundings.
Make a stop in Cadiz, an Andalusian town that gives its name to the region it is capital of and the gulf on whose heights it stands proud. Its buildings are characterised by influences, in chronological order, of the Carthaginians, Romans, Moors and the Christians. The port of Cadiz was the departure point of the expedition that led to the discovery of America. Here you can admire the charming seafront promenade and the 3 km bridge that crosses the bay. Don’t miss the chance to taste “tapas de chorizo” or see a flamenco show.

Overlooking Morocco’s Atlantic coast, the port of Casablanca is the docking point of your Atlantic Ocean cruise to a modern, cosmopolitan and fairly liberal city.
From the harbour, in addition to the promenade where you can enjoy a stroll, you can quickly reach the medina on the northern side of the old city. Surrounded by walls dating back to the 16th century, the Casablanca medina is not very large, but the Souk el-Kebir has all the charm of a Moroccan market. Definitely very different but worthy of a look while on your cruise to Casablanca is the Habous district where the new medina was developed in the 1930s to solve the city’s housing shortage. The most important mosque is the modern Hassan II Mosque, completed in 1993. It stands on a promontory overlooking the Atlantic and the very high minaret serves as a beacon for the harbour. While in Casablanca, a shore excursion to the cathedral of the Sacred Heart is well worth the time. Once a Catholic church, it is now transformed into a cultural centre connected from the Park of the Arab League to the lively Maârif district, modern, full of bars and dominated by the towers of the Twin Center.

The strategic location of the Moroccan city of Tangier has attracted most powerful nations in history over the centuries.
The Port of Tangier connects Africa to the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar, and is one of the country’s most important ports, a true cultural and economic crossroads between Europe and Morocco. Costa cruises in the Atlantic Ocean moor at its docks to set off to explore the city. The medina will be the first destination of your trip to Tangier. Narrow streets that climb into a maze of houses and small squares, up the hill overlooking the harbour. Here, in a raised position is the Kasbah, the fortress and one-time the residence of the sultan. The heart of the old town is the Place Petit Socco, very close to the Grand Mosque. The market square, the Grand Socco, separates the medina from the districts of the Ville Nouvelle. Walking through Place de France, your cruise to Tangier will take you back to the 1930s and the French atmosphere that the city experienced at that time. Here you can enjoy some shopping, relax in one of the many places, or move on the Terrasse des Paresseux that will offer you the best view of Tangier harbour.

We are in Valencia, and nobody can miss the chance to taste a real paella and then take a stroll in the beautiful city centre.
The port of Valencia, in Spain, is the fifth busiest in Europe. Observing the medieval architecture and futuristic buildings of the city, history buffs won’t have any problem in discerning Baroque, Gothic and Moorish influences along the city streets. Don’t forget to visit the popular quarters: Mingle with the locals in Ruzafa at the market, to sample so many delights. Bars, restaurants and outdoor cafes will offer you the Mediterranean flavours of the area.

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain with three million inhabitants, a dominating port in northern Mediterranean with one of the most renowned and important universities in the world. The city is a very rich commercial centre, where industrial operations crucial to the Spanish economy take place.
In fact, Catalans have always considered their region unique compared with the other Spanish regions and we can find its roots in the power exercised by Barcelona for four hundred years at least on Spanish monarchy and on European commercial events.

Above the port of Savona, the Priamar Fortress greets every departure and arrival of the Costa ships sailing in the Mediterranean. Genoa and its aquarium are nearby.
The port of Savona, which you can explore during your cruise in Italy, is one of the prettiest of the Italian Riviera. The lovely climate, summers that are never to hot, mild winters and the exceptional beauty of the sea near the town makes Savona an excellent base to set out to explore Liguria. Savona is notable for the Priamar Fortress, which has dominated the town since the 16th century, and also for its historic centre where you can visit Savona Cathedral. A stop in Savona can also be an opportunity to visit the nearby city of Genoa and its narrow, picturesque streets, known as “caruggi”.

Depending on where you go, France may mean both good food and good wine. A visit to the port of Toulon enables to enjoy the exceptional quality of both.
In Toulon, you can discover the harmonious combination of nature, culture and way of life that lends the city its charm. Wines, cheeses and Mediterranean figs: it would be a shame not to stop at the numerous restaurants and cafés to sample the regional cuisine. Continue your visit to the Villa Noailles and its exhibition centre, where you will see many architectural treasures, artefacts and exhibits. Finally, visit the Hyères salt marshes and Mont Faron.