Halle, Germany, birthplace of composer George Friedrich Handel, holds an annual festival honoring his works. In 2009, the 250th anniversary of his death, it takes place June 4-14. Among numerous musical events is a performance of his “Messiah” oratorio on June 5, with tickets €15-€65 (near $21-$90). 

Contact Directorship of the Handel Festival (Stiftung Händel-Haus, Große Nikolaistrasse 5, 06108 Halle, Germany; phone +49 [0] 345 500 90 222, fax 500 90 416, www.haendelfestspiele.halle....

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571–1610) revolutionized painting in Italy with his passionate style, and his works and life are the focus of a 13-day/12-night cruise of MS Columbus, Sept. 20-Oct. 2, 2009.

The Columbus, built to carry 420 passengers, will have only 236 on this cruise, which includes Rome, Naples, “Magna Graecia” (classical-era Greek colonies) and Sicily in Italy; Valetta in Malta, and Tunis, Tunisia. There will be private concerts, lectures on art and volcanoes,...

In Porto, Portugal, the Porto Card offers free entrance or discounts at museums, monuments, shows, cultural institutions, restaurants and traditional shops and on tours and Douro River cruises. It also provides free travel on almost all metro connections and throughout the STCP network (buses, tram, aerobus and Guindais funicular) and on CP suburban train, Valongo-Coimbra.

Buy the card at post offices, hotels, travel agencies and FNAC shops. A one-day “walker” costs €3.50 (near $5); a...