Mediterranean Shores – Barcelona to Spain

Madrid’s Catalan rival, Barcelona, is fiercely proud of its cultural identity forged from a melting pot of artistic talent. Enriched by its past when the paths of great masters like Picasso, Dali and celebrated architect Gaudi crossed, the city’s cosmopolitan character ensures its status as an unsurpassed centre of culture. Explore the ruins of the Gothic District or simply stroll along the famous Ramblas.

Marseille, a port city in southern France, has been a crossroads of immigration and trade since its founding by the Greeks circa 600 B.C. At its heart is the Vieux-Port (Old Port), where fishmongers sell their catch along the boat-lined quay.

Nestled on a rocky spur in the north-west of Corsica, the port of Calvi offers its whiteness between two sapphire-coloured bays. Capital of the Balagne region, the Genoese city benefits from an exceptional natural setting between the abrupt relief of the central chain, fertile hills and long sandy beaches. From the promontory of the Notre-Dame-de-la-Serra chapel, built in the 19th century on the ruins of a 15th century sanctuary, you will not miss the sublime panorama of the seaside, the mountains and the Calvi citadel. A little further west, you will have the opportunity to discover with the peninsula of Revelatta, a wilder and more preserved part of Corsica.

Ajaccio is the capital of Corsica, a French island in the Mediterranean Sea. A port city on the rugged isle’s western coast, it was the birthplace of French Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte in 1769. His ancestral home, Maison Bonaparte, is now a museum displaying family heirlooms.

Madrid’s Catalan rival, Barcelona, is fiercely proud of its cultural identity forged from a melting pot of artistic talent. Enriched by its past when the paths of great masters like Picasso, Dali and celebrated architect Gaudi crossed, the city’s cosmopolitan character ensures its status as an unsurpassed centre of culture. Explore the ruins of the Gothic District or simply stroll along the famous Ramblas.