Palermo, Valencia, St. Cruz de Tenerife, Recife, Buzios, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Santos

Palermo, capital of Sicily, is situated right by the Gulf of Palermo in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Traces of Roman, Arab and Norman influences mix here, in a city that is over 2.700 years old. The highlights of Palermo, which is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, are Palazzo dei Normanni, one of the most beautiful Italian palaces and a notable example of Norman architecture with its golden Byzantine mosaics, the Cathedral with the heliometer (solar "observatory") of 1690, Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio (St Mary of the Admiral), San Giovanni degli Eremiti (12th century), Palazzo Abatellis with the Regional Gallery, the Regional
Archeological Museum Antonio Salinas, the neoclassic Teatro Massimo ("Greatest Theatre",1897) and many
small piazzas that depict the city's historic past.

Since its founding as a Roman colony in 138 B.C., the Visigoths, the Moors, the Catalan and Aragonese and the modern tomato-throwers have thrived on the shores of the Mediterranean at the Gulf of Valencia. Valencia is a mix of the old and the new. The historic past is depicted in the stone geometry of the Valencia Cathedral,  the mediaeval gates of the Serrano and Quart towers, or the Tribunal de las Aguas (Water Court) and one of the most iconic examples of Gothic architecture in Europe, the Lonja de la Seda, declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO. The new facet is embodied in the arching white steel of the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava.

Tenerife is the largest the seven Canary Islands. It is one of the most important tourist destinations in Spain, with millions of tourists visiting it each year. Its landscape has been sculpted by a series of volcanic eruptions.

Recife is a metropolitan area in Brazil and a major port on the Atlantic Ocean, located at the confluence of the Beberibe and Capibaribe rivers before they flow into the Atlantic Ocean. There are numerous celebrations and events during the whole year. The carnival of Recife begins in December with innumerable balls and parades.

Búzios is a coastal city in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro, located on a peninsula dotted with beautiful beaches. It is one of Brazil’s most upscale and vibrant seaside resorts, with a Mediterranean touch that explains the name “Brazil’s St Tropez”.

Rio de Janeiro is the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil's primary tourist resort. The landmarks of Sugarloaf Mountain and the Christ statue, the spectacular beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema, the sensual rhythm of samba dance, the Carnival and the passionate and friendly people are only some of the reasons that Rio is such a favorite destination.

São Paulo is the most populous city in Brazil, located in the southeast part of the country. South of the city, lies the Parque Estadual Serra do Mar, a mountain range covered by exhuberant rainforest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the major attractions of São Paulo is the excellent quality of its restaurants and the diverse regional and international cuisine.