Join me for an eight-day ocean cruise with Viking, and explore the Western Mediterranean. Starting in Barcelona, we’ll travel along the French Riviera, historic Tuscany, to Rome.

France’s famed southern coast and Italy’s Renaissance treasures are destined to take center stage on our eight-day Mediterranean cruise with Viking. Come along with me as we immerse ourselves in Catalonian and Tuscan art, architecture, and history. We’ll have overnights in Barcelona and Tuscany. In the South of France, we’ll visit historic Montpellier and picturesque Marseille and visit Monte Carlo, Monaco’s glamorous city by the sea. We’ll end our cruise in Rome, but stay on and see this historic and ancient city before heading home.

Ports of Call

Exploring France’s Riviera & Tuscany

Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona has a lively culture and inviting outdoor spaces, preserving a rich history. Picturesque medieval lanes wind through the oldest part of the city, the Gothic Quarter, where remnants of the city’s Roman wall were uncovered. Its treasures include the neo-Gothic Barcelona Cathedral, the medieval Jewish district of El Call, and the Romanesque Church of Santa Maria del Pi.

Montpellier, France

Montpellier has been a center of learning for centuries. Its namesake university, founded in 1160, is one of the world’s oldest, predating the Renaissance. Today, a student population breathes life into a vibrant culture. Montpellier’s social and cultural center is the Place de la Comédie, anchored by the elegant Three Graces fountain and the neoclassical Opéra Comédie. Other sites pay tribute to a rich heritage, from the art-filled Musée Fabre and impressive St. Clément Aqueduct to the St. Pierre Cathedral with its “floating” porch supported by a pair of towers.

Marseille, France

Marseille is rich in historic treasures, nestled between the Mediterranean and rocky hills of limestone. Two 17th-century fortresses dominate the charming Vieux Port or Old Port. This natural harbor hosts all manner of watercraft, from sleek, elegant yachts to old-style fishing vessels. Its picturesque quay is one of the world’s most romantic walks, lined with dozens of cafés and shops. Not to be overlooked, the city center, graced by La Canebière Boulevard. Linger in a café and sample the city’s signature bouillabaisse made from freshly caught fish.

Monaco, Monte Carlo

The chic city of Monte Carlo in the petite kingdom of Monaco boasts some of the world’s most exclusive shopping and a beautiful old port. A fairy-tale aura has settled on this glittering city of the Grimaldi family, perhaps nowhere more elegantly than at the Prince’s Palace, where the late American actress-turned-princess Grace Kelly presided over with Prince Rainier III. Monte Carlo’s medieval quarter perches on “The Rock,” an escarpment at the foot of the Maritime Alps, and offers spectacular views of the Mediterranean and the harbor lined with mega-yachts.

Florence & Pisa, Italy

Tuscany is the cradle of the Renaissance and a center of culinary delights and astounding wines. Throughout this emerald-green countryside dotted with cypress trees, endless delights unfold. Among them is Florence, a living museum of the Renaissance. Brunelleschi’s famous Duomo dominates the medieval cityscape—an architectural achievement. Another Tuscan treasure, the Square of Miracles, unfolds in Pisa. A trinity of masterpieces—the Leaning Tower, Pisa Cathedral, and Baptistery—comprise some of Europe’s finest art and architecture.

Rome, Italy

For centuries, Rome has been the epicenter of European history, its vast empire built on the power of emperors. More than 2,500 years of history live in the city’s streets, each step a testament to the grandeur of the past. Ancient structures recall those heady days when the cheers of 80,000 spectators roared from the Colosseum, citizens mingled in the Forum, and senators asked the gods for guidance at the Pantheon. Along with the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica, this rich pocket of Italy is one of the world’s greatest repositories of history and civilization.

By Debora Ragland Buerk
The Write Stuff
Looking at life from a different point of view.

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