Spain, France & Italy: A Coastal Grand Tour

Welcome to Barcelona. You have 2 nights to explore the city.

Breathe in the cultural heart of Catalan; an elegant blend of high energy and undisturbed tradition. Muse over the origins of captivating Gaudi architecture within the enchanting labyrinth that is the Gothic Quarter. Savour the flavours of fresh tapas and crisp cava in breezy plazas, tranquil terraces and coveted cafés, or glide down to a shimmering beach club to unwind. Imagine a visit to peaceful Passeig de Gracia, where modernist buildings merge to showcase iconic global labels. And, as dusk falls, prepare for urban action and swing by the lively bohemian bars to fiesta on the leafy stretch of La Rambla. If you’re serious about style, this colourful city provides plenty to celebrate.

Spain’s third city runs at its own frequency — less frenetic than Madrid, less self-conscious than Barcelona, and considerably better at paella. The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias is one of the most dramatic pieces of contemporary architecture in Europe, its gleaming titanium structures rising from the former riverbed of the Turia. The old city delivers the Mercado Central, one of Europe’s finest fresh produce markets, and the Barrio del Carmen with its layers of Roman, Moorish and medieval history compressed into a single walkable neighbourhood. Valencia invented paella — the real version, made with rabbit and chicken over orange wood — and eating it here, in the city where it began, is the only proper introduction.

Leave craggy coastlines behind and venture to the heartland of the biggest Balearic. Where endless authentic charm, history and nature await. Celebrate at Spain’s oldest winery, shop chic Palma boutiques and marvel at blossoming UNESCO-limestone mountains aboard a vintage train. Experience a tranquil monastery, art at a historic hacienda and tons of protected wildlife. Delve into nature at reserves, feast on wood-fired paella at lively hangouts, pilgrimage to historic churches and tour old-world Mallorcan villages. And as for sapphire seas that frame spotless beaches – Mallorca is truly an immense Balearic beauty.

Palamós sits on the Costa Brava at a point where the overdeveloped stretches of the coast give way to something quieter and more considered. The town has been a working fishing port for centuries and its harbour still operates as one — the daily fish auction at the Confraria de Pescadors is one of the most authentic maritime traditions on the Spanish coast. The Palamós prawn is famous enough to have its own festival, sweet and intensely flavoured from the cold deep waters of the Cap de Creus submarine canyon. Beyond the port, the old town climbs gently from the waterfront and the coves of the surrounding coastline offer swimming and walking well away from the crowds.

Lounging under a Provençal sun, Marseille is the oldest city in France yet seemingly grows younger each day. A multi-cultural melting pot with top-notch museums, galleries, smart squares and hip port-side bars, where you can tuck into a bowl of bouillabaisse, its famous fish stew. Meander past fountains built under the reign of Napoleon III and city hall erected during Louis XIV. Fall in love with the Calanques cliffs for a bit of French coastline drama, or wind through cypress trees and lavender fields to Avignon and Aix-en-Provence, famously once home to Van Gogh, Cézanne, and author Peter Mayle. Chase light, ripening Syrah grapes and drink in the nuances of terroir. From Marseille’s boisterous roots to its French coastline drama and nearby classic Provence, wander at will and fall in love with it all.

Genoa is the city that serious Italy travellers know about and everyone else flies over. The historic centre — a UNESCO World Heritage site — is a dense labyrinth of medieval caruggi, narrow lanes too tight for cars and barely wide enough for two people, lined with hole-in-the-wall bakeries, focaccerie and the kind of trattorias that have been serving the same menu for generations. Genoa invented pesto, and eating it here — on trofie pasta with green beans and potato, the way it was meant to be served — is a different experience to anywhere else. The Strada Nuova palaces reveal the city’s extraordinary Renaissance wealth, while the old port, redesigned by Renzo Piano, offers one of Italy’s most successful examples of industrial waterfront transformation.

Where Nice is grand and Cannes is performative, Villefranche-sur-Mer is simply beautiful. The bay is one of the deepest natural harbours in the Mediterranean — the water runs an extraordinary shade of blue even in winter — and the citadel-framed waterfront of pastel buildings has changed little in centuries. The old town descends in steep colourful terraces to the harbour, where fishing boats still outnumber tourist vessels and the cafés open early. Jean Cocteau decorated the Chapelle Saint-Pierre in 1957, turning a fishermen’s chapel into one of the most quietly extraordinary pieces of art on the Riviera. Nice is twenty minutes along the coast and worth every minute — the old town, the Matisse Museum and the Cours Saleya flower market are all within easy reach.

Plunge into Tuscany’s capital of culture. Once casa to legendary Michelangelo, Florence now shelters some of the Renaissance’s greatest masterpieces. Immerse in the relics of antiquity; catch a glimpse of the heavens in the famous Uffizi gallery, visit the iconic terracotta-tiled Duomo and step into an oasis of sculptured serenity at Giardino di Boboli to forget the world beyond its leafy walls exists. And as the sun sets over the Ponte Vecchio, relax in an elegant terrazzo with a rich refined Tuscan red, and reflect on the city’s Medici dynasty – Hurry Slowly.

There’s more to Rome than its ancient architecture. The Eternal City is home to a seemingly endless array of hidden gems. The artistic-minded can enjoy fashion aristocracy, street art, vespa jaunts to The Appian Way and toss coins into fountains. Or you can stroll by appointment to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and the Pope’s private quarters at the Vatican. Explore the historic ruins of The Colosseum, Caravaggio churches, the Spanish Steps and The Pantheon. Learn how to make pasta the true Italian way, hunt truffles, nibble gelato, sip coffee and sink into a 3000 year old pool for a wellness experience. an ode to homespun pasta at a Renaissance piazza. When in Rome, fusing old with new makes it simple to indulge in whatever you like.

Your holiday comes to an end today. Interested in extending you stay? Ask us about our amazing range of packages available or speak with a Cruise Travel Advisor who will be able to customise your holiday with you.