45-night Brilliant Brazil & Iberia Voyage

Itajai has many wonderful Brazilian beaches, among them Molhes, Praia Brava and Jeremias. There are plenty of fashionable bars and cafes along the sandy white beach for visitors to enjoy. The city has charming rural areas, an enchanting natural landscape, and a rich cultural heritage. Marejad is the biggest festival in the city, showcasing attractions relative to the ocean and the Azores.

Visitors can explore the colonial part of town with its main focus around the central square. In close proximity are several beaches and resort hotels.

The entire city of Parati (Paraty) is considered a national monument as it was deemed by UNESCO to be one of the world’s most illustrious examples of Portuguese colonial architecture. A virtual museum within a tropical paradise, it is located southeast of Rio de Janeiro. The streets are lined with beautifully whitewashed buildings and many have colorfully painted trim. Motorized vehicles are forbidden on the majority of the narrow, cobblestone streets, so you can wander freely, absorbed in the tranquility and meticulously preserved architecture. Highlights of this quaint city include numerous churches, in particular the Portuguese Baroque-style Church of Santa Rita, built around 1720. Once all of the city’s beauty is explored, take some time out for a leisurely stroll along the shore or dine at any of the waterfront restaurants serving locally caught fish. There are also several shops in the historic area catering to local artisans and merchants.

The volcanic peaks of the Cape Verde Islands appear like stepping-stones across the Atlantic. Porto Grande on Sao Vicente boasts a charming waterfront area where the pace is pleasantly slow and the people friendly.

Madeira has been described as "Island of Eternal Spring". It is renowned for its wine, which many feel ranks among the world’s best. Funchal has a wide selection of resort hotels where watersports, golf and tennis are popular. Visitors can tour the 15th-century cathedral, orchid gardens of Quinta das Cruzes, and buildings associated with Christopher Columbus. Madeira’s discoverer, Zarco, is believed to have lived in the house Quinta das Cruzes. Now it displays furniture and paintings and is surrounded by fabulous gardens. The stunning 15th-century design of Sé Cathedral features white stucco with contrasting black basalt and red tufa rock; the ceiling is inlaid with ivory. Located near Town Hall, the Museum of Sacred Art contains art from several islands, including a group of 15th- and 16th-century paintings of Portuguese and Flemish schools. Visit colorful Mercado dos Lavradores during the morning to see flower vendors and fish and produce stands.

Melilla, Spanish Morocco in Northern Africa is still governed by Spain. This fishing village thrives on harvesting anchovies and sardines.

Alicante is located on Spain’s Costa Blanca in the Levant Region, along the country’s southeastern coast and is a tourist resort and commercial port. The region is marked by lush mountain ranges. During the Gothic era of the fifteenth through sixteenth centuries centuries, art and architecture flourished in Alicante and the remainder of the Levant Region. Immense palaces and grandiose churches were built with elaborate baroque details. Visitors can see a third century BC fortress - the citadel of Santa Bárbara built by ruler Amilcar Barca, a Carthaginian, Arrabal Roig - the old quarter, the Baroque town hall (1701-60), the Church of Santa María (14th century), and the Renaissance church of San Nicolás de Bari (18th century).