Venice is all about romance. See the domes of San Marco, feel the history at the Bridge of Sighs, admire the Doge's Palace, enjoy opera at La Fenice, visit the Church of San Giorgio Maggiore, and take a gondola ride on the Grand Canal. Love fills the air in Venice.

Rovinj is a classic Mediterranean town with landmarks like the Baroque church of St. Euphemia, the clock tower, Balbi's Arch, and the old Town Hall near the harbor. The Franciscan monastery is to the east, and the Romanesque chapel of the Holy Trinity is to the south, the town's oldest monument.

The heavenly scent of lavender perfumes the air in the fields and valleys around the island of Hvar. Idyllically located just off the Dalmatian Coast, the island and the little port named after it have been a favorite getaway ever since the time of the Romans, the Byzantines, the Venetians, and even Austro-Hungarian royalty.

George Bernard Shaw said, "Those who seek paradise on earth should come to Dubrovnik." Indeed, Dubrovnik is a treasure by any measure made more precious by its miraculous restoration. Crowned by the Minceta Tower, the 10th-century city walls are the proud symbol of Dubrovnik's colorful history.

This stunning rock-walled chasm, splitting the coastal mountains of Montenegro, is the most extended arm of the sea in southern Europe. Boka harbors the medieval city of Kotor, one of the prettiest, unspoiled towns you can see. Founded by the Romans, fortified during the Byzantine era, and then ruled by Venice for much of its history, Kotor has been naturally preserved by its isolation.

Corfu is the lushest (and some say the loveliest) of all the Greek Islands, just a stone's throw from the Albanian coast. Nowhere is Corfu's stunning natural beauty more evident than in the small village of Paleocastritsa, where legend says Odysseus was washed ashore to be rescued by Nausicaa.

Star Clippers offers excursions in Corfu:

• Corfu Old Town & Kanaoni (the 'View of the Mouse Island')
• Panagias Monastery and panoramic transfer to Paleokastritsa
• Corfu by sea
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Each Star Clippers ship offers a traditional and elegant way to see the world. Feel the wind fill the sails and gently carry you from one gorgeous destination to the next. During your time on board, you can choose to relax on a sun lounger or cool off in one of the pools on the top deck, while more adventurous passengers may enjoy the opportunity to climb the rigging or even have a go at steering the ship. Alternatively, you can wander the interior areas of the ship and discover relaxing lounges, a revitalizing spa (Royal Clipper only), and a peaceful library.

Barreling under full sail through the narrow Strait of Messina past Scylla and Charybdis, where rock and whirlpool almost claimed Ulysses, you arrive in lovely Taormina. Perched on the shoulder of Mt. Etna, Taormina inspired Goethe to say, ' It is the most outstanding work of art and nature.'

Amalfi was a powerful republic of 70,000 people during the Middle Ages, rivaling nearby Ravello. For a sense of Amalfi's medieval glory, wander through the grand Duomo, which contains the remains of St. Andrew. In the evening, visit nearby Positano, which is said to be the most beautiful town in the Mediterranean.

Sorrento, whose city walls rise straight out of the sea, is located on the lovely Amalfi Coast and overlooks the Bay of Naples. Optional excursions might include taking a trip back in history to Pompeii, where the ashen remains of ancient Romans lie frozen in time.

The pastel houses of Ponza Town rise in neat terraced rows from the busy harbor, where sleekly groomed yachts and ramshackle fishing boats moor side by side. Happily, there are few tourists here, so it's a delight to wander through the unspoiled town.

Palmarola is a snorkeling heaven, part of a group called The Pontine Islands, located off the coast between Rome and Naples. A craggy landscape with pink coral beaches and emerald coves beckons, so don't forget your swimsuit and flippers. It's unique, isolated, and stunning.

Arrive in Rome: St. Peter's, with its breathtaking Sistine Chapel, newly restored to its former glory; the Spanish Steps, where all of Rome passes by; the Colosseum, where gladiators fought to the death, and the Pantheon, considered to be the perfect architectural statement of the ages. Disembark after breakfast and continue your independent trip back home.