Arabia, Africa & India

Ashdod (Jerusalem), Israel

The largest port in Israel, Ashdod is a gateway to Jerusalem, the 5,000-year-old walled city that is considered sacred to more than a third of the people on Earth. Numerous sites exist nearby, including the Jewish sacred Western Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre said to be the site of Calvary and to contain a piece of the true cross.

Meander along the seaside promenade, or dip your toes in the Dead Sea waters, long known for their health benefits. Visit the Bar-Gera Museum to view a collection of art by artists who were either banned or persecuted by the Nazis and other fascist governments. The Yad Vashem Memorial Museum is dedicated to the six million Jews who
lost their lives during the Holocaust.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates is strategically located at the crossroads of East and West, and the traditional trading routes from Asia and the Far East to Europe and further afield are even more significant today than they were hundreds of years ago. Nestled at the very heart of the Islamic world, the country is unique in its embrace of the Western world. Here you can see the contrasts of the nomadic Bedouin people, and the opulence and splendor of the Sheiks, set against a backdrop of Western lifestyles.  Explore Condé Nast Insider Tips for Dubai

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

Originally built by Emperor Trajan who had a villa here, Civitavecchia has flourished as a major port for Rome since the 13th century. Today it is an important ferry terminal and for many travelers the gateway to the Eternal City, Rome. The Renaissance fortifications that surround the harbor area were begun by Bramante and completed by Michelangelo in 1535.

Seville, Spain

With its warm weather and attractive scenery, Andalusia was settled successively by Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Vandals. But it was the Moors who graced it with a rich medieval culture of silver filigree, arches and arabesques, and the domes and minarets of its mosques, making it the center of the most highly developed civilization of the Middle Ages. Sherry wines, well-disciplined horses, brave bulls and the flamboyant flamenco are all part of its allure. Seville has been called "the most interesting town in all of Spain," and this pretty city, sparkling in the Andalusian sun, has played its part as the setting for Don Juan, Carmen, and Rossini's famous barber.

Aqaba (for Petra), Jordan

Aqaba is a sleepy fishing village with a long and historic past. At various times, the port was a stopover on ancient caravan routes, a garrison for Roman troops and meeting place for pilgrims en route to Mecca. Recent excavations have revealed a third-century church, one of the worlds oldest. In medieval times, Aqaba was an important part of Palestine before being absorbed into the Ottoman Empire, a time when Lawrence of Arabia figured in local history. Today Aqaba is important as Jordan's only deep water port and the jumping-off point for excursions to Petra, the country's premier historical attraction.