Marseille to Seville

Marseilles is disputed to be the oldest city in France with a history dating back 2600 years. After Paris it is the second largest city and boasts 300 days of sunshine per year. Historically, this was one of the most important trade centers in the Mediterranean. Today the town is bustling with options for visitors. SeaDream’s size allows preferred “parking” very close to town and doesn’t require the need for shuttle bus service like the larger vessels. Several guests will venture off to see Aix en Provence. Others will explore this unique city.

Collioure is one of the most picturesque coastal resorts on the Mediterranean coast of southwest France. With the backdrop of the Pyrenees mountains tumbling into the sea, discover its Old Harbor, impressive castle, narrow cobblestone streets, bijou boutiques, a special art trail, and secluded beachess. Collioure was first settled by the Phoenicians and Greeks as a trading port and over time has been occupied by Romans, Arabs, Spaniards, and the French. The Knights Templars built Collioure’s Chateau-Royal in the twelfth century, later used as a residence for the kings of Mallorca. Collioure has long been considered the birthplace of Fauvism, an expressionistic style of painting created by Henry Matisse and André Derain in 1905. Collioure is known for its salted anchovies, which are exported throughout France.

At the mouth of the Francoli River, on a hillside rising from the Mediterranean Sea, sits Tarragona, one of Spain’s most flourishing resort towns. In cultured Tarragona, a UNESCO World Heritage site, Roman history mingles with gorgeous sun-kissed beaches and a gastronomic setting that fills its boardwalks with unimaginable culinary aromas. Perhaps its biggest allures are the ruins of a seaside amphitheater and a mosaic-decorated museum, boasting one of the best collections of fourth- and fifth-century Christian documents in Spain, historical emblems made for inquisitive exploring. The Necropolis features Roman tombs and traces of the Forum stand among the alleys of the walled, medieval Old Town. Stroll the Old Town and visit the towering Romanesque Cathedral and one of its lively bistros. A walkway along the ramparts, the Passeig Arqueològic, leads to sweeping views of the surrounding community.

Valencia is the third largest city in Spain after Madrid and Barcelona. It has more than 2.5 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area. The city is recognized globally partly due to its Unesco Heritage Status as well as the City of Arts and Sciences. The Port of Valencia is a very busy commercial port. It is the 5th busiest container port in Europe and the largest in the Mediterranean. SeaDream docks as close to the city center as possible – just along the Grand Prix Raceway. SeaDream offers both day trips as well as a very popular evening adventure called “Valencia Buzzes at Night”.

Valencia is the third largest city in Spain after Madrid and Barcelona. It has more than 2.5 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area. The city is recognized globally partly due to its Unesco Heritage Status as well as the City of Arts and Sciences. The Port of Valencia is a very busy commercial port. It is the 5th busiest container port in Europe and the largest in the Mediterranean. SeaDream docks as close to the city center as possible – just along the Grand Prix Raceway. SeaDream offers both day trips as well as a very popular evening adventure called “Valencia Buzzes at Night”.

Dénia is a culturally diverse city on the Costa Blanca, situated on the northern edge of the Alicante province. It is halfway between Valencia and Alicante, and one of the oldest and most representative locations of the “Bous a la Mar” week-long festival (or “fiesta”) in July. Iberian ruins at Mt. Montgo represent evidence of prehistoric inhabitants in Dénia. In the 4th century, the town was a Greek colony of Marseille named “Hemeroscopion”, and allied with the Roman Empire during the Punic Wars. General Quintus Sertorius established a Roman naval base by the 1st century B.C.E. when the town was absorbed into the Roman Empire as “Dianum”. Once the Caliphate of Cordoba dissolved, after the Umayyad conquest of Hispania, Dénia became a Muslim kingdom known as the “Dénia Taifa”, created by a freed slave named Mujahid al-Siqlabi. The Muslim Arabs erected the castle fortress, which would later be rebuilt by the French in the 19th century during the Peninsular War. Dénia was captured by Christians in 1244 A.D., and the Muslim population was exiled. The town was declining, and eventually returned under the Crown of Aragon by 1455. Dénia continued to decline once the Expulsion of the Moriscos was ordered by King Philip III of Spain in 1609. The city fell to the French during the War of Spanish Succession, but once the Treaty of Utrecht declared Philip, Duke on Anjou as King of Spain in 1713, Dénia was returned to Spain. By 1803, Dénia was established as a trading port under the Spanish crown, and it began flourishing with its raisin exports. Dénia is known to be home to the iconic castle overlooking the city, which is now an archaeological museum with guided tours that guests love to visit. Since the 1960’s, the fishing and tourism market has made this port a thriving attraction, offering rich history, and other outdoor activities. Tourists can visit Macizo del Montgo Natural Park, Playa de las Marinas, and of course, visit the castle.

Cartagena was founded in the 3rd century BC and has been a major naval station. It is located in the Region of Murcia, southeastern Spain. Thanks to its strategic position on the Mediterranean, Cartagena has been inhabited by many different cultures which have left their mark on its rich cultural heritage during a glorious and turbulent history. It’s a very pleasant and relaxing city to walk around. SeaDream makes it easy is the yacht docks in the center of town. Guests have an option of a walking discovery adventure as well as resort golf at La Manga. Some guests also enjoy independent usage of the mountain bikes.

Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory located at the entrance of the Mediterranean on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula. Most visitors arriving by sea are impressed by the rock’s enormous visual impact. Only covering an area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 sq. km.) several sites are a must-see! Some of the “can’t miss” options include the Great Siege Tunnels, St. Michael’s Cave, The Moorish Castle, The Lighthouse at Europa Point and shopping – yes shopping. SeaDream docks at the passenger terminal and has the coaches for the land adventures just outside. It is an easy walk downtown to the duty-free area. Bikes are available should you want to bike up the rock.

The Unesco Awarded Seville is capital of Andalusia and is located between the Sierra Morena mountains and the Atlantic Ocean (60 miles away). Enjoying culture from the Romans, Visigoths, Muslims, Jews and Christians throughout the ages, and serving as the focal point of the Spanish Renaissance, Seville is rich in history and tradition. Your SeaDream yacht navigates 60 miles up the Guadalquivir River which is the only great navigable river in Spain, and docks in the heart of the city. When visiting Seville one can experience the city as it was centuries ago. The lovely winding streets and active public squares of the Barrio Santa Cruz allow the visitor insight into the oldest portion of the city, and the list of monuments and historic sites is seemingly endless. The Unesco Awarded highlights include the Alcázar palace complex, the Cathedral and the General Archive of the Indies. Whether you are embarking in beautiful Seville or enjoying it as a port of call, SeaDream has several options for you – check out the Land Adventures tab and prepare yourself for the famous Flamenco – The soul of Espana!