Countries/Territories Visited: Gibraltar, Spain, France, Italy, Slovenia, Greece, Albania, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Tunisia, Morocco, Ceuta 

The Pillars of Hercules is a travelogue written by Paul Theroux and published in 1995. The book follows the writer’s one and a half year journey along the shoreline of the Mediterranean coast from Gibraltar to Ceuta, the titular Pillars of Hercules.

Although the author planned to visit all countries that border the Mediterranean, the route had to be altered several times due to the elements, instability in several countries during the early 1990s and difficulties finding non-aerial modes of transport.

This trip is notable for having taken place during several significant world events such as the break-up of Yugoslavia and the independence of many of its former states. 

The like many of the author’s previous travel books, readers shouldn’t expect to find a traditional travel guide of any of the locations visited in The Pillars of Hercules. Theroux, as always, makes it clear that he is not tourist willing seeking out the roads less travelled even if it means skipping a locations typical top attraction.