It's the ancient land of legends and kings, where empires were built and destroyed. Dreams and ideas came to fruition here, on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and in the grand halls of St. Petersburg. Today, the call of Europe is stronger than ever, with its brilliant mosaic of bygone eras and modern-day wonders.

Stand at the base of the temple of Poseidon and it's as if you were at the threshold of modern civilization. But look beyond the hilltops of Athens, to the intricate canals of Venice or the gothic cathedrals of Spain; gaze northward to the shores of Normandy or the cliffs of Edinburgh; reach for the great Viking waters of Norway or the virgin tundra of North Cape. Only then will you begin to comprehend the scope and history of this most wondrous continent.