MSC Cruises Ocean Cruises: 13 nights from Valencia with MSC Lirica
Nov 14, 2025

Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of Tenerife, is located in the north-east of the island. Its pleasent climate and commercial areas make the city the perfect place for walking and enjoying long hours of relaxation. There are lots of things to visit in the city such as its avenues, parks and Henry Moore's most famous sculptures, hidden treasures and historic buildings such as the Church of the Conception or the Carta Palace.

Do not miss the opportunity to taste local cuisine. Santa Cruz de Tenerife is a beautiful port located in Tenerife, the largest of the western islands of the Canary Islands archipelago. In the area around the port, there are wide avenues, squares, exotic green areas and some examples of modern architecture. At the heart of the city, near the sea, there is Plaza de España, built in the mid-20th century and once the site of the San Cristobal Castle (16th century).

The oldest part of the city is rich in religious monuments. The construction of the Church of San Francisco, one of the best examples of the Baroque style, began in the 17th century. The Church of Pilar, dated back to the 18th century, stands on the remains of an ancient temple. The city has also some green areas filled with exotic tree species. The Garcia Sanabria Park houses an important outdoor Sculpture Museum.

Another not to be missed place is the Maritime Park, a recreational area designed by architect César Manrique and located in the old Canary Islands commercial basin. Also known as the Black Castle, this circular defensive bastion was built in the first half of the 17th century with volcanic stones. From a naturalistic point of view, Tenerife is an island of contrasting landscapes. The wide beaches of fine sand in the south of the island give way to lush vegetation in the north.

Every year, the outfits of the island's capital prepare to host Carnival, declared International Tourist Interest and one of the most spectacular in Spain. Its privileged location makes it possible to enjoy beautiful beaches such as Las Teresitas, get to know the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or visit Teide National Park, the symbol of the island.

Recife

Recife and Olinda interpret the typical coastal area of north-eastern Brazil, one city is located on the hill, the other is at the river delta. One city was founded by the Portoguese while the other by the Dutch.
Pernambuco Region Recife, in accordance with the commercial character of its Dutch founders, is an occupied, modern and efficient city. Recife is the second largest city in the north-east of Brazil; in the northern zone there are many pleasent green disctricts, surrounded by museums and parks, while in the south there is the modern beach district of BoaViagem. Other beaches can be easily reached and there is also the nightlife that people expect from a city of almost 2 milion of Brazilians.

Buzios

Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro (whose name means January River in Portoguese) is a city in Brazil and the capital of the homonymous confederate state. Its population is almost 6,186,710 inhabitants (according to 2009 IBGE census), and its surface is 1,256 km2 while the population in the metropolitan area is almost 12 million habitants. Rio is the Brazil's second largest city after São Paulo and it was the capital of the state from 1763 until 1960, after Salvador da Bahia and before Brasilia.
The city is famous for its tourist attractions including: the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, Art Nouveau statue of Jesus called Cristo Redentor located on Mount Corcovado, the Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf) with its cable car, and its annual carnival, the most famous in the world. In Rio de Janeiro there is the largest forest within an urban area, theTijuca forest.