The Sea That Shaped the Western World
The Mediterranean is the inland sea lying between Europe, Africa and Asia, known as the cradle of ancient Greece, Rome and the Phoenicians and as one of the world's great holiday regions. Its shores are shared by more than twenty countries, from Spain and France in the west to Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and Egypt in the east. The climate, with warm, dry summers and mild winters, has shaped a way of life of long lunches, evening promenades and food built on olive oil, fresh vegetables, bread, fish and wine.
That lifestyle has been recognised by UNESCO, which has listed the Mediterranean diet as intangible cultural heritage. The sea is also an archive of civilisation, with ancient harbours, temples, theatres and fortified towns on almost every coast. Travellers can move from the ruins of Paphos to Turkey's Aegean coast, from the Baroque streets of Malta to the Roman walls of Croatia's Dalmatia, and feel the layers of shared history change with each stop.
Islands, Rivieras and Coastal Cities
Islands are the sea's signature. Sicily and Sardinia offer mountains, ancient sites and beaches of striking clarity, while Corsica adds wild, scented maquis, and Mallorca pairs sheltered coves with a lively cultural capital in Palma. In the Aegean, Mykonos and Paros show the whitewashed Cycladic ideal. Each island has its own food, from Sicilian arancini and cannoli to Mallorcan ensaimada, and a loyalty among visitors that brings them back year after year.
On the mainland, the French Riviera and the Amalfi coast set the standard for glamour, with terraced villages, lemon groves and yacht-filled harbours, while cities such as Barcelona, Marseille, Naples and Athens bring culture, markets and nightlife. A tourist board can use that diversity to speak to families, couples, foodies, sailors and culture seekers, and a single Mediterranean showcase can link them all.
Read the full The Mediterranean guide on Visit Travel Group, or see VisitTheMediterranean.co.uk on Visit Travel Group.