By traveling so far and wide, this epic voyage visits a collection of cities and
countries that have developed over time and across waves of conquest,
destruction and renaissance. Many of these destinations are home to UNESCO
World Heritage sites that allow you to gain a hands-on appreciation for the
heritage and history that came before.
Spanish colonial architecture competes with skyscrapers in Manila, where you’ll
find one of the four Baroque Churches of the Philippines, a UNESCO World Heritage site
since 1993. Located in Intramuros, Manila’s walled Old City, the 16th-century San
Agustin Church fuses European design with local materials that created a new
tradition of church-building in the Philippines.
Penang has long been a crossroads of east and west culture and today it boasts a
thriving arts scene and colorful carnivals. The well-preserved heritage buildings of
Penang’s capital, George Town, were designated a UNESCO World Cultural
Heritage site in 2008. Unlike other sites called out for their historical significance,
George Town remains a diverse and thriving blend of old and new.
Halfway between Gibraltar and Barcelona, the port city of Alicante is known for its
glistening architecture, medieval castle and predictably buzzing nightlife (this is
Spain, after all). It’s also home to Palmeral of Elche, a haven of date palm trees
that was originally laid out during the construction of the Muslim city of Elche in
the 10th century AD, when the bulk of the Iberian Peninsula was Arab. It was
designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000. With over 200,000 palm
trees, it’s a perfect oasis to wander within as you ponder your world cruise, which
will draw to a close in Barcelona.
2023 WORLD CRUISE / 15
BEYOND THE HORIZON. . .
ARE MODERN
CITIES STEEPED
IN ANCIENT
TRADITIONS