Civitavecchia (Rome), Naples, Piraeus/Athens, Aqaba, Dubai

Our gateway to the Eternal City, Civitavecchia has served as Rome's seaport since the 13th century, boasting a long and venerable history. Its location near the modern city, made it a perfect vacation resort for emperor Trajan, who built a pleasure villa. while Bernini and Michelangelo designed the harbor fortifications. Yet the Eternal City, the ancient capital of the Western World and the center of Christianity for nearly 2.000 years, is our main reason to be here. YYou can visit the ruins of the Forum and the Colosseum, throw a coin in Fontana di Trevi to make sure you return to Rome one day, take a photo in front of the Vatican, view the splendors of the Sistine Chapel or climb the Spanish Steps, once the heart of Rome's Bohemian Quarter and enjoy a delicious gelato, in the glamorous area.

Naples is the third-largest municipality in Italy, after Rome and Milan and one of the chief commercial cities of Europe. The city center has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the surrounding areas are dotted with cultural and historical treasures, with most notable, the restored ruins of Pompeii. Naples itself is mere enduring greatness. Highlights include Castel dell' Ovo, Castelnuovo, Castel Sant'Elmo, a medieval fortress located on a hilltop and national museums dedicated to art and archaeology. There is also a docile bay; the peaceful cypress-tufted islands of Ischia, Procida and Capri and over the city, Mount Vesuvius, volcano and national park. Take the opportunity to see the only active volcano on the European mainland, which blew in A.D. 79 and buried the city of Pompeii, or visit the magnificent Amalfi and Sorrento coasts.

Piraeus port is the gateway to Athens center. Don't miss the Parthenon, the temple to Athena which looms over Athens from its perch atop the Acropolis, an eternal icon of art and civilization. Completed in 438 B.C., the temple still astounds as the flowering of Greek art and architecture. When you come down off the hill, don't miss a visit to the Ancient Agora, Syntagma Square, the Acropolis Museum and the city's historic centre, around Plaka. Ideally, sit and relax at a cafe on the foot of the hill, sample some Greek souvlaki or a frappe, take a glance back up the hill from time to time and give the goddess her due.

The seaside resort of Aqaba is located in the far south of Jordan and forms a great base from which to explore various places of interest in the South of the country and the Red Sea. Aqaba is a microcosm of all the good things Jordan has to offer, including a fascinating history with some outstanding sites - the Aqaba Fort (only outside), the Aqaba museum and a 4th c. roman church- , excellent hotels and activities, superb visitor facilities, good shopping and welcoming people. It is an aquatic playground, offering some of the best snorkelling and diving in the world. From Aqaba you can visit Petra, a World Heritage Site and Jordan's cultural treasure. You will be amazed as you pass through the Siq, a deep, twisting sandstone passage that leads you at al Khazneh ("The Treasury"), a monumental Greek-influenced edifice that emerges from the cliff. Among the sights, you will marvel the Street of Facades,the Roman Theater and the Monastery.

Stretching along the southernmost shores of the Arabian Gulf, cosmopolitan Dubai is often described as a city of contrasts. On one side, sparkling tall buildings, glitzy shops and sun-soaked beaches of a glamorous seaside destination, on the other side, a city rooted in tradition and history. Wander the narrow streets of the Al Bastakiya historic district, where you can take in the sights and sounds of bustling souks (markets) or the quiet wonder of local mosques. Dubai is a wonderful word for shopping, in the most impressive shopping malls, such ast the Mall of the Emirates that also hosts the ski centre, and the Dubai Mall, which are a tempting world of shopping opportunities.