Best things to do in Rome, Naples, Dubrovnik (Croatia), Venice, Messina, Barcelona, Cannes, and Florence?? :-)

My fiance and I are going on a Mediterranean cruise for our honeymoon (June 2008), and since we only get to spend a very short amount of time in each location, we want to make sure we spend out time in the best way possible! We're both really into history, architecture, science, nature, animals, wine... We're also both in the medical field, so anything that combines any of that stuff or you think we might find interesting, please let us know!! Even good places to eat, and I'd like to buy artwork in each place we stop to hang in our new home, so advice on that too if you have it! Also, does anyone know what the deal is with buying wine and bringing it back to the US? I mean, we will be spending a lot of time in Italy... Here's our itinerary:

Rome, Italy (depart)
Naples, Italy (11 hours)
Dubrovnik, Croatia (12 hours)
Venice, Italy (overnight; 27hrs)
Messina, Italy (10 hrs)
Barcelona, Spain (10hrs)
Cannes, France (11hrs)
Florence, Italy (12hrs)
Rome (2 days)
Thanks!!
Wow thanks mareeclara! Pompeii is a place I've read a lot about and it never even occurred to me that we were going to be right there. We will definitely be visiting, I already found some sites that offer day trips from Naples. I can't wait! All of the info you gave is fantastic, thank you so much!

Your question is just so difficult to answer, so I just say "carpe diem" = seize the day/the moment. Don´t stress with what you have to see, when you come to those places, just enjoy and go where you want to! (Of course you could check out a little about the places, there is a lot of time until June.)

Enjoy your cruise and I wish you a Happy Honeymoon!

Happy Holidays!

I visted some of these places on my travels, some where I only spent a day.

Rome has lots to offer compared to other places, I guess seeing the Roman architechture is pretty cool. THere are those double decker buses ( which may be an option in other places like Barcelona and Florence, which I went on to see the more interesting places quickly and get a comentary ( headphones).....Things like the Pantheon and nearby Piazza Navarro, Trevi fountain and Vatican City.

Naples....I didn't go into the city per se, but I went on a tour to Pompeii and went thru parts of Naples ( which I was not overly impressed about)....I would recommend Pompeii however which was interesting.

Dubrovnik is a small but pretty town and the main "old part" of town is easily seen in a day. THere are lovely polished streets, I think of marble, but don't quote me. Walking around the wall is a great way to see the town and sea views...lots of good photo moments there!!! There is not a lot in the town apart from the old part, so I would spend my time there.....and meader the streets. I only had a night there and was satisfied with my time.

Venice is also another small town and you can easily walk around it in a day. THe main parts are the Rialto Bridge ( good markets nearby which have good things to buy for souveniers......and St Marco's square...the Doge's palace is worth going into ( you have to pay there)....I'm not sure if I paid to go into St Mark's Basillica...all I remember is that it was cold inside and very gold!!!
I didn't bother going on the gondolas.....highly expensive..but the "bus"boats are worth going on for canal views of the city.... which in the right light is stunning. Some of the back streets are pretty dark and dank to be honest, but you find little places here and there eg churches, I didn't go to any art galleries, but I have heard there are a couple worth seeing and the Murano glass factory is supposed to be good too, but I never saw it myself.

Messina...sorry didn't see
Barcelona....I only went for a day myself ( was staying south of the city) and went on I one of those double decker buses... I know there are 3 lines and you can choose which ones to go on. I did the one that covers the Sangrada Familia cathedral, which is amazing...in fact Gaudi achitechture is amazing and unique...there is a house...forgotton the name, which is famous and very worthwhile going to ( I know his "apartments"that he designed are on the same street a bit further down on the other side...its not far from La Ramabla.. the main drag in Barcelona which is shopping central).......

Cannes...did not visit.
Florence is very pretty and lovely to walk around. There are lots of art galleries including the one with Michealanglao's "David", which is the only thing in there worth seeing, but its very impressive I have to say ( there are 2 other copies in the city, one where it was originally and one overlooking the city on the otherside of the river ( take the double decker bus...it will take you to the main sights incluging that view...which has stunning views of the city)
THe Ufuzi is apparently excellent, but after standing in line for an hour to see David ( for 15 mins inside) I was not prepared to wait another hour or so to get in!
Ummm there are pretty buildings all around and the Duomo is pretty amazing ( mainly from the outside!).

And then back to Rome...hope it helps.