Civitavecchia was settled in 108 A.D. by the Emperor Trajan and has since served faithfully as a gateway to the capital of the Empire—Rome. Once the center of the Ancient World from which emperors ruled over nearly all of western civilization, Rome is still a cultural mecca. Stroll the ancient halls of the Colosseum or gaze upon the ceilings of the Sistine Chapel.

It’s the region of ‘mosts.’ The most romantic cities. The most fashion forward. The most delicious foods. And the most sought after cruise destinations—Norway to Mykonos, France to Africa—delivered in a way that makes the most of your European vacation time. Arriving for your Europe cruise, you’ll explore lands rich in romantic languages, classic architecture, food, art and music for one or multiple days at a time. You can hop from port-to-port, or take a Cruisetour, which allows you to have more land time to explore. So you can spend time enjoying centuries-old treasures on land and return to luxurious accommodations onboard to restore the new you.

Known as the “Pearl of the Riviera,” it’s hard to image a more captivating place than the cliff-lined cove of Portofino. Admire the Church of San Giorgio, the Castello Brown or simply sit back and enjoy the town’s unadulterated beauty and unique charm.

Florence, capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. One of its most iconic sights is the Duomo, a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi and a bell tower by Giotto. The Galleria dell’Accademia displays Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture. The Uffizi Gallery exhibits Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation.”

This island enclave is often described as a mini-Barcelona, with a Gothic feel that has overtaken centuries of Roman and Moorish culture. Visit El Baluard, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, which was built on the site of the remnants of the 16th century Bastio de Sant Pere, or shop for bargain pearls at the city’s many jewelers.

Formerly a sleepy Spanish city, Barcelona has recently been reborn as an eclectic fusion of the modern and medieval. Seek inspiration from the creations of its modernist architect, Antonio Gaudí, or the Picasso Museum. Or, take in the breathtaking cathedrals in the Gothic Quarter.