7-NT Mediterranean Marvels & Matches: Barcelona Open

Despite its small size, the island of Elba has been known since the beginning of recorded history. Called Ilva by the Ligurians and Aethalia by the Greeks, Elba passed to the Etruscans and later the Romans. It was ruled by Pisa in the Middle Ages, was a haven for Barbary pirates in the 16th century and then privately owned by the powerful Medici family.

The port is lined with ancient houses from as early as the 12th century. And the dominant citadel dates from then, as well. Below that, explore the grotto where Lord Byron used to daydream. Or climb the castle beside St. Peter’s church for a view of the villages of Cinque Terre clinging to the cliffs across the gulf.

Here on the French Riviera, Cannes is known for its beaches, chic boutiques and elegant nightspots around La Croisette promenade. It was a sleepy harbour until 1834, when Lord Brougham stayed here on his travels to Italy and began its transformation into a fashionable resort. It’s now home to the famous film festival and the immortalised handprints of A-list movie stars.

St Tropez has become synonymous with Côte d’Azur chic. First came the artists, and works by Matisse reside in the museum of art. Over the decades, the A-listers followed. Tall waterside houses line up with façades of dusky yellows and oranges, gleaming yachts bob lazily in the marina, and the narrow cobbled lanes of the old town make a pleasant place to stroll.

The port town of Sete hugs the tiny Mont St. Clair, and is caught between the Mediterranean and the Bassin de Thau, a salt lake directly behind it. It is crisscrossed by numerous canals which link the lake to the sea, and connected by 12 bridges. Along the quay, renovated buildings provide a multitude of architectural details from the 18th and 19th centuries. The life of the town is found in its squares: Place Leon Blum, with its fountain and Wednesday morning flower market; Place Aristide, with its old fashioned bandstand; and Place de la Republique, with its huge retaining walls and vaulted loggias. Sete retains its historic purpose as a fishing boat haven for North African trade; the old harbor dates from the time of Louis XIV.

Delve into the Picasso Museum or Miró Foundation. Explore the genius of Gaudí too, as you survey the city from Parc Güell, witness the extraordinary Casa Mila and Casa Batlló, and marvel at his unfinished masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia. After all that sight-seeing a shady spot in one of Barcelona's numerous cafés provides the perfect vantage point for watching the colourful street performers on Las Ramblas.

Delve into the Picasso Museum or Miró Foundation. Explore the genius of Gaudí too, as you survey the city from Parc Güell, witness the extraordinary Casa Mila and Casa Batlló, and marvel at his unfinished masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia. After all that sight-seeing a shady spot in one of Barcelona's numerous cafés provides the perfect vantage point for watching the colourful street performers on Las Ramblas.