Barcelona to Rome by boat

At the end of the Ramblas, where the trees turn to palms and Barcelona meets the sea, Christopher Columbus stands atop an enormous cigar, his arm outstretched, apparently gesturing towards the New World. It was in Barcelona that Columbus was first received by the Spanish royalty, who commissioned his exploring in the name of Spain. Even further back, Barcelona was an ancient Roman port, then called Barcino. It covered an area now occupied by the Barri Gótic, a district of atmospheric streets and winding back alleys showcased in Woody Allen's 2008 film Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Find your way out of this labyrinth and you'll be within sight of the monument to the great Italian. And thanks to a 20-hour ferry link, and the possibilities of cheap flights to Barcelona and from Rome, you can combine these two great cities with ease.

At the end of the Ramblas, where the trees turn to palms and Barcelona meets the sea, Christopher Columbus stands atop an enormous cigar, his arm outstretched, apparently gesturing towards the New World.

It was in Barcelona that Columbus was first received by the Spanish royalty, who commissioned his exploring in the name of Spain. Even further back, Barcelona was an ancient Roman port, then called Barcino. It covered an area now occupied by the Barri Gótic, a district of atmospheric streets and winding back alleys showcased in Woody Allen's 2008 film Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Find your way out of this labyrinth and you'll be within sight of the monument to the great Italian. And thanks to a 20-hour ferry link, and the possibilities of cheap flights to Barcelona and from Rome, you can combine these two great cities with ease.

Read the original story on The Independent