Star Collector: Southern Spain & Canary Islands

Barcelona, located in Catalonia Spain, is Europe's largest metropolis on the Mediterranean coast, and one of the world’s major global cities. Today, Barcelona balances itself on the cutting edge of architecture, intellectual life, and style. Indeed Barcelona won the 1999 RIBA Royal Gold Medal for its architecture, the first time that the winner has been a city, and not an individual architect. Read more about Barcelona, Spain

Tarragona is a city located in the south of Catalonia, on the east coast of Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea. It is home to a large port and university. A number of good beaches, some awarded a prestigious Blue Flag designation, line the Mediterranean coast near the city. Read more about Tarragona, Spain

Palma de Mallorca is the major city and port on the Mediterranean island of Majorca, and capital city of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands in Spain. It is situated on the south coast of the island on the Bay of Palma, and almost half of the total population of Majorca live there. Visitors are spellbound by its blue waters, white beaches, lush foliage (almost 40 percent of the island is protected countryside), and 300 days of sunshine each year. Read more about Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Valencia city, the administrative capital of the Valencian community and the centre of the region of L’Horta, is situated in the centre of the Spanish Mediterranean coastline. The Old City of Valencia, with its monuments, museums, and gardens, is a major tourist attraction. Here one finds the Gothic building of La Lonja that has been declared by UNESCO as a universal heritage monument. Read more about Valencia, Spain

Cartagena is a Mediterranean city and naval station located in the Region of Murcia, SE Spain. The rich Carthaginian heritage extends as far as the Sea Wall, built by Charles III in the 18th century, and which defines the old quarter. Overlooking the Mediterranean there are two elements that are clearly connected with the sea: the prototype of the submarine by the inventor Isaac Peral; and the National Museum of Maritime Archaeology. Read more about Cartagena, Spain

Malaga is a lively, prosperous city on Spain's fabled Costa del Sol aside the Mediterranean Sea, just 100 km east of the Strait of Gibraltar. The city’s warm winter temperatures (average daytime of 17 C) make it an ideal place to visit any time of year. The archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabian and Christian eras convert the historic centre into an ‘Open Museum’ displaying its rich history of more than 3,000 years. Read more about Malaga, Spain

Malaga is a lively, prosperous city on Spain's fabled Costa del Sol aside the Mediterranean Sea, just 100 km east of the Strait of Gibraltar. The city’s warm winter temperatures (average daytime of 17 C) make it an ideal place to visit any time of year. The archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabian and Christian eras convert the historic centre into an ‘Open Museum’ displaying its rich history of more than 3,000 years. Read more about Malaga, Spain

More than any other city, the likeable, lively and cosmopolitan city of Tangier has become Morocco’s face to the world. With a long history dating back to the Phoenicians, and a rich culture - an interesting mix of African and European influences - to explore, Tangier is a fascinating port of call. Of historical interest is the Medina, the old walled city that is home to alleyways filled with tea houses and shops selling trinkets. Read more about Tangier, Morocco

Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, lies in the western Iberian Peninsula aside the Atlantic Ocean and the Tagus River. As one of the oldest cities in the world, it is rich in Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Modern and Post-Modern constructions. The city is also crossed by historical boulevards and monuments along the main thoroughfares. Read more about Lisbon, Portugal

Funchal is the capital of Portugal’s Autonomous Region of Madeira an archipelago 880 SW of Portugal and 600 km NW of Morocco, in the north Atlantic. Funchal’s harbour offers plazas lined with shops, colourful houses spilling down hillsides, due to its almost amphitheatre-like formation, and a profusion of flowers. For a fine view of the magnificent bay, take the unique downhill basket sledge ride. Read more about Funchal, Portugal

Santa Cruz de la Palma (commonly known as Santa Cruz) is the capital the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands. The port is of great importance and is the communications hub between Europe, Africa and the Americas, with cruise ships arriving from many nations. Not surprisingly, the city has a real cosmopolitan mix due to immigrants from Latin America, Africa and Western Europe. Read more about Santa Cruz de La Palma, Spain

San Sebastian is a city and municipality located in the north of Spain, on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and 20 km south of the French border. The first sight of the shimmering scallop-shaped bay, with its crescents of golden sand and turquoise waves, is most impressive. As it is also in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, the local cuisine is unrivalled. Read more about San Sebastian, Spain

Las Palmas, the ninth largest city of Spain, is situated on one of the smaller islands of the Canary Islands that are located just off the NW coast of mainland Africa. About twenty percent of all inhabitants of the entire group of islands live in this city. It is set in magnificent scenery of two bays and their beautiful beaches. Read more about Las Palmas, Spain

Santa Cruz de Tenerife (commonly known as Santa Cruz) is the capital the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands. The port is of great importance and is the communications hub between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, with cruise ships arriving from many nations. Not surprisingly, the city has a real cosmopolitan mix due to immigrants from Latin America, Africa and Western Europe. Read more about Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain