catalonia, corsica & côte d’azur | a mediterranean voyage from barcelona to monte carlo

The capital of Spain's Catalonia region is one of the country's -- maybe even Europe's -- most beautiful and vibrant places. A city of contrasts, it is like no other in Spain; this is most evident in its architecture, a marriage of Gothic spikes and modern curves. (One name to keep an eye out for is Antoni Gaudi, Barcelona's most famous architect.) Barcelona is also a city of distinct neighbourhoods. The old city -- Ciutat Vella -- is the heart of everything, with museums, shopping and cafes. Then there's the port area, Port Vell, which features bars, restaurants, shops, an IMAX theatre and the largest aquarium in Europe. (Port Vell is different from the working port area where cruise ships dock, but it's not too far away.) Enchanting and ancient, the Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter) is the centre of the old city and brings together the best of Barcelona in a series of narrow streets, shops, cafes and magical corridors. One of Barcelona's best attributes is that while it seems large and spread out, its neighbourhoods are surprisingly walkable and easily accessible by bus, metro or even on foot (in comfortable shoes). Don't miss a stroll along Las Ramblas, replete with produce and flower stands, a historic opera house and maybe even a glimpse of Marilyn Monroe calling to you from the balcony of the Erotica Museum. Just be sure to rest your feet now and then over a few plates of tapas (which are meant to be shared, but we won't tell if you don't) and an ice-cold pitcher of sangria or a bottle of cava, the region's sparkling wine.

Located on Spain's Costa Brava, the medieval coastal city of Palamos features scenic beaches, verdant hills and a number of scenic coves ideal for snorkeling and swimming. However, the landscape is not all the city has to offer visitors. Its Old Town gives a glimpse into the city's past and for the more curious, there's even a fishing museum honoring its status as a former fishing village. --By Shayne Thompson, Cruise Critic contributor

If you had never been to the Mediterranean coast, and had to create the ideal small seaport town from scratch, Sete would be it. The town is almost like a movie set, with its small pristine harbor, sidewalk cafes, lighthouse, canals and hilltop church. One would almost expect to see Cary Grant wandering among the art deco buildings or seated in a canal-side cafe sipping an aperitif.

Sete is a small port on the southern coast of France that time seems to have passed by. Its size prevents the larger cruise ships from stopping there, and as a result, it retains a charm and an unspoiled quality (only the small ships of Windstar, Silversea and Radisson currently call here as part of seven-day western Mediterranean itineraries). It is a real working port, or actually ports, with the old port area in the southern end filled with pleasure boats and the small cruise ship dock, while the commercial port is out of sight on the other side of town.

The Canal Royal is the focal point, as all major attractions and shopping areas are along (or within easy walking distance) of this central waterway. While Sete has some interesting attractions, the real pleasure comes in just being there, enjoying this relatively unspoiled French coastal village.

Marseille, gateway to Provence, is France's largest port and second largest city, with a vast history stretching back more than 2,000 years to its foundation by the Greeks in the 6th century BC. While much of the city is urban sprawl, it has a spectacular setting between dramatic limestone hills and the Mediterranean, and the once-industrial streets now feature stylish shops and cutting-edge art galleries, thanks to investment from its role as European Capital of Culture 2013. Most cruisers make a beeline for Le Vieux Port, a buzzing, picturesque harbour lined with boutiques, restaurants and cafes. This district attracts an eclectic crowd, from local fishermen to millionaires venturing ashore from James Bond-style mega-yachts. All gather to soak up Le Vieux Port's charming atmosphere, browse its bustling markets and tuck into a bowl of Marseille's classic signature dish, bouillabaisse (a rich fish stew).

Sanary-sur-Mer -- located in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur region of southeastern France -- has just about everything you'd expect of a seaside village in the French Riviera. It's got its fair share of historic buildings to explore, including a medieval Romanesque watchtower, a 16th-century chapel and Eglise Saint Nazaire, a 19th-century church in the style of the Gothic Revival. It's still an active fishing village with fishermen selling their catch on the wharf each morning and quaint wooden boats bobbing in the marina throughout the day. There's a traditional open-air market at Kennedy Square, just a few steps from the tender point at Quai du Levant, where you can buy French baguettes, a dizzying number of cheeses (some of them pretty stinky), fruit and pastries, perfect for an impromptu picnic aboard your ship later in the day. Sanary's coastline is also dotted with a number of small but worthy beaches for sunbathing, swimming and snorkeling when the weather cooperates. Locals told us that their town is the "sunniest place in all of France" and the data backs up the claim with an annual average of only 61 days of rain -- mostly during wintertime. The only thing to note is that Sanary-sur-Mer is known for being windswept -- especially in the winter and spring -- due to the mistral, a wind current that blows in from the Rhone Valley. Swells can make tendering to and from this port a bit bumpy. The modern-day diving industry was born in Sanary-sur-Mer, and oceanographer Jacques Cousteau owned a home here for most of his life. The surrounding area is internationally renowned for vineyards and olive groves so it's no wonder you can book a ship-sponsored, wine-tasting tour to nearby Le Castellet or Bandol.

Lovely, much more laid back than other -- splashier -- Cote d'Azur resort towns like Nice, Cannes and Monaco, Villefranche, whose old town dates back to the 14th century, evokes a romantic, historic feel. For those weary of sightseeing, it's a terrific port for hanging out and relaxing.

Calvi is Corsica's second cruise port; most ships who call at the French island visit Ajaccio. The historic city is located in the northwest region of the island, and is known for its 15th-century citadel with granite walls, which is built into a rocky outcropping at the entrance to the harbor. Calvi and its neighboring coastal villages are set against a mountain backdrop, and the views from your ship at anchor outside the harbor are stunning. Tours take passengers to explore some of the villages nestled in the hills, and independent explorers can easily tender into Calvi and spend a few hours exploring the citadel, shopping on the pedestrian boulevard or sampling local French delicacies (try the local charcuterie, sheep and goat cheese, wine and honey).

Arriving by ship into the Monte Carlo harbor is an amazing experience. If your docking time is before dawn, you'll see the lights of the principality twinkling throughout the mountains that surround the harbor and the beautifully lit Grand Casino at center stage. If you arrive during daylight hours, you are faced with the sight of one magnificent yacht after another vying for space in the little harbor.

Monaco is a self-governed sovereign nation under the protection of France. It has been ruled by the Grimaldi family for the past 700 years (with a slight diversion during the French Revolution), and its 1918 treaty with France decreed that if the prince -- any Grimaldi prince -- failed to produce a son, the territory would be ceded back to France upon his death. This was changed in 2002. If Albert II, the current prince, fails to produce a male heir, the throne will be passed to his sister Caroline.

Monaco, which comprises a miniscule 485 acres in total, and is Europe's smallest state after the Vatican, is barely west of the Italian border and surrounded by France on all sides except for the 2.5 miles of coastline. If you are looking at Monaco from your ship in the harbor, you can't tell where the principality ends and France begins. (Hint: Somewhere around the Middle Corniche.) As tiny as it is, it contains five sectors, of which Monte Carlo is the best-known. The principality, which is home to the most millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the world, has no natural resources; its national economy is based on tourism and banking.

The two go hand in hand in this idyllic slice of the Cote d'Azur. The wealthy Europeans who do their banking here expect -- no, demand -- the best, and cost be damned. This makes it harder for workaday folks to enjoy a stay (rooms go for an average of $700 a night in a nice hotel), but coming in on a cruise ship for the day gives one a sense of James Bond cool.

If you're lucky enough to be in Monaco during the third week in May, you can actually see part of the Grand Prix Formula One race from the comfort of your cruise ship. We were surprised to see that the track is actually in the middle of the city and goes under an overpass within direct view of the cruise ship dock.

However, whenever you are fortunate enough to visit Monaco and the dazzling district of Monte Carlo, you'll find plenty to do. In fact, these 485 acres offer so much, you'll need to come back to explore again.