Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world. Its magnificent harbor made it a logical trading port as far back as the Phoenicians, as well as a departure point for 15th century voyages sponsored by Prince Henry the Navigator, patron of Portuguese explorers. The city is rich in architecture, from Romanesque and Gothic to Post Modern, and criss-crossed by monument-studded grand boulevards. Today it is seeking a place on the world stage by hosting, in addition to its own active cultural calendar, film festivals, art, fashion, and design shows, book fairs, marathons, and rock concerts.

The breathtaking scenery of Portugal’s southernmost region has long made the Algarve region a magnet for those seeking winter sun. And Portimão is a perfect example: golden sandy beaches beneath dramatic cliffs, the aroma of fresh sardines on the grill and some of the best golf courses in Europe – what could be better? This, maybe: the fabulous Autodromo Algarve Racing School, better known as the Poritmao Circuit puts you behind the wheel of a professional F1 racecar on a F1 track, pretty hard to beat.

Modern-day Casablanca retains some of the atmosphere and history of times gone by yet is a thoroughly modern city. Frenetic yet welcoming, Casablanca remains a lively destination. Especially in Djemaa el-Fna, the huge square in the medina is teeming with open-air food stalls, jugglers, storytellers and snake charmers. The architecture of its French-colonial past can be seen in the graceful white buildings, with their soft lines and attention to detail.

Tangier, a Moroccan port on the Strait of Gibraltar, has been a strategic gateway between Africa and Europe since Phoenician times. Its whitewashed hillside medina is home to the Dar el Makhzen, a palace of the sultans thats now a museum of Moroccan artifacts. The American Legation Museum, also in the medina, documents early diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Morocco in an 1821 Moorish-style former consulate.

The heart of Cadiz is its old town, cloistered within a bastion ringed by the sea. Here tiny cobblestone streets lead into beckoning café-filled squares, where you can sip while appreciating the Moorish architecture. Or visit Seville, where the locals are devoted to bullfighting, flamenco, and fiesta. Food too, it appears, as Seville is credited with the invention of tapas. Join in with the locals as they graze from bar to bar, making an entire meal out of the experience. The city also has a rich history evident in its old quarters and landmarks – an immense lavishly ornamented cathedral, and the Alcazar palace, exquisitely decorated in Moorish style.

The charming old quarter in Cadiz makes it easy to see why the small town is frequented by Spaniards on holiday. Its intriguing ancient streets, delightful plazas and flower-filled balconies make exploring a must. Along the way, restore your energy at any of the mouth-watering tapas bars offering some of the countrys finest seafood and typical Andalucian cuisine.

The charming old quarter in Cadiz makes it easy to see why the small town is frequented by Spaniards on holiday. Its intriguing ancient streets, delightful plazas and flower-filled balconies make exploring a must. Along the way, restore your energy at any of the mouth-watering tapas bars offering some of the countrys finest seafood and typical Andalucian cuisine.

The towering Rock of Gibraltar is a sight to behold. Overlooking the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea from a height of 1,400 ft, it is a natural fortress, in a strategic position to control all naval traffic between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Only three miles long and a mile wide, this peninsula attached to the Spanish mainland juts out into the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates continental Europe from North Africa, a distance of only 14 miles. One feature most unusual for Europe is the troupes of semi-wild and curiously tailless Barbary macaques that have taken up residence on The Rock’s upper reaches.

Málaga is the lively capital of the Costa del Sol, famed for its beaches and mild climate, and gateway to Andalusia, with its Moorish architectural heritage. The city’s Alcazaba is a fine example, an 11th century citadel sitting in majestic splendor overlooking the African coast. It contains three magnificent palaces and graceful gardens with ornate fountains. In addition to their rich cultural heritage, Malagueños are also very proud of their most famous citizens – Picasso, for whom there is a museum commemorating his birth here, and actor Antonio Banderas, so far without a monument.

Strategically located along historic sailing routes, Cartagena has been colonized by a veritable who’s who of Mediterranean superpowers over the millennia, resulting in a rich and multi-layered cultural heritage, and a history both glorious and turbulent. From atop a hill, Concepción Castle served as a fortress for Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, Arabs, and Castilians. The 13th century Old Cathedral stands on the remains of a Roman Theater just discovered in 1987. More recent architectural contributions include modernist designs of public buildings and private dwellings by pupils of the famous architect Antoni Gaudi.

One of the countrys biggest and bustling cities was defended against the Moors by the legendary Spaniard “El Cid.” Work up an appetite taking in la Calle de Los Caballeros and La Lonja, Valencias old stock-exchange building of 1483, and reward your curiosities with a Paella Valenciana, Spains most famous contribution to the worlds tables.

Dynamic Barcelona is all about architecture, from the magnificent medieval buildings of the Gothic Quarter to the Modernist movement typified by the work of Antoni Gaudi. Though his materials were stone and metal, his forms were organic, awash in curves, swirls, and colors. His masterpiece is the amazing Church of the Sagrada Familia, colossal and as yet unfinished, though construction began in 1882. A contemporary contribution to the scene is Ricardo Bofills post modernist National Theater of Catalonia, an imaginative combination of classical and modern design, with a greenhouse-like lobby.