6 nights. Spain, France, Italy

Travel Idea: Mediterranean Cruise Escape

Discover the magic of the Western Mediterranean on a 6-night cruise aboard the elegant Costa Diadema. This journey is perfect for 2 adults looking for a mix of culture, cuisine, and coastal beauty in Spain, France, and Italy. Enjoy comfortable accommodations, varied onboard dining, entertainment each evening, and relaxing sea days between iconic ports. Explore historic cities, charming seaside towns, and world‑class museums while savoring Mediterranean food and wine.

Your cruise: “6 nights. Spain, France, Italy” on Costa Diadema

As your travel agent, I recommend preparing for your trip with a mix of practical guides and inspiring reading. For planning and sightseeing, consider:

• Rick Steves Guides: “Rick Steves Spain,” “Rick Steves France,” and especially “Rick Steves Italy” for clear walking tours, museum highlights, and cultural tips.
• Lonely Planet: “Lonely Planet Western Europe” or the individual guides “Spain,” “France,” and “Italy” for detailed city maps, restaurant suggestions, and neighborhood overviews.
• DK Eyewitness: “DK Eyewitness Mediterranean” or “DK Eyewitness Italy/France/Spain” for their excellent illustrations, cutaway diagrams of major sites, and visual itineraries.
• Rough Guides: A bit more in‑depth, ideal if you like cultural background and less touristy recommendations.

For more inspiring reading before or during your cruise:

• “A Traveller’s History of Italy” by Valerio Lintner – a concise introduction to Italian history.
• “Spain: A History” edited by Raymond Carr – for a deeper understanding of Spain’s past.
• “Sixty Million Frenchmen Can’t Be Wrong” by Nadeau & Barlow – a lively look at French culture and mentality.
• Mediterranean cooking books (e.g., “The Food of the Mediterranean” by Claudia Roden) to get a taste of the cuisines you’ll encounter.

If you share your planned ports of call (for example, Barcelona, Marseille, Savona, or Civitavecchia for Rome), I can recommend more specific city guides and short books tailored to each stop on your Costa Diadema itinerary.