From Rome to Barcelona Adventure

We arrive in Rome and arrange your transfer to the hotel, leaving time for you to settle in. In the afternoon, we share practical information – either in person or via the notice board at reception.
Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

This morning we join a three–hour guided exploration of the Eternal City – a blend of a walking tour through Imperial Rome and a panoramic drive. We view the Arch of Constantine, the exterior of the Colosseum and the Imperial Forums, the Circus Maximus, the Baths of Caracalla, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, the Pyramid of Cestius and Castel Sant’Angelo. The visit ends at Vatican City at around 11:00 am, after which you can opt to visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. In the evening, we provide a transfer to lively Trastevere for dinner and atmosphere, with the return to the hotel at about 8:30 pm.

You have a full free day to continue enjoying Rome – a city where history reveals itself at every corner.

Today we travel north through Umbria. Our first stop is Orvieto, perched on a flat summit – we pause at the viewpoint for sweeping vistas, then take the escalators linking the lower town with the medieval centre to admire the magnificent cathedral, a gem of Italian Gothic. We continue to Castiglione del Lago on Lake Trasimeno, where you have time for a leisurely stroll and lunch. After lunch we drive to Siena in Tuscany and spend the afternoon discovering Piazza del Campo and the Duomo.

We leave Siena for Monteriggioni, a perfectly preserved walled hamlet of cobbled lanes and ramparts. We continue to San Gimignano, renowned for its medieval towers. After lunch, we head to Florence, arriving in the early afternoon at the Vittorio Veneto neighbourhood – from here we walk to the historic centre to soak up the Florentine atmosphere. If you wish, you can visit museums such as the Uffizi Gallery or the Accademia Gallery – note both are closed on Mondays. Dinner is included. Owing to municipal traffic rules, tourist coaches cannot enter the centre, so our drop–off is at Vittorio Veneto and we walk from there. The transfer back to the hotel is scheduled for 7:30 pm – comfortable shoes are recommended.

We begin with a photo stop at Piazzale Michelangelo – one of the finest viewpoints over Florence – then walk to the historic centre for a guided tour of the Renaissance city. We take in the Gothic Cathedral, the Ponte Vecchio with its goldsmiths’ shops and Piazza della Signoria with its medieval town hall. You have free time after the tour – comfortable shoes are recommended.

We depart Florence for Pisa, with time to admire the remarkable ensemble that includes the famous Leaning Tower. We then follow a scenic route along the Italian Riviera to Sestri Levante for lunch and a seaside stroll. In the mid–afternoon we continue to Monte Carlo in Monaco, where you can visit the historic casino, before finishing in Nice at around 8:00 pm. Please note that on this stage there may be times when the guide is not fully fluent in English.

We explore the Côte d’Azur and the Mediterranean. After breakfast, we take a short panoramic drive through Nice – along the Promenade des Anglais, past Place Massena and the characterful old port. We continue to Sainte–Maxime for a stroll through the historic centre and its picturesque harbour by the 16th–century Square Tower. From here we board a scenic boat across the bay to Saint–Tropez – once a fishing port, now known for sleek yachts – where you have time to explore and enjoy lunch. In the afternoon we travel to Marseille to discover the lively Vieux Port.

Today we delve into Provence. Our first stop is Aix–en–Provence, birthplace of Paul Cézanne – you have time to wander its narrow streets, fountains and pretty squares. We then visit Avignon for a leisurely walk and lunch within its walls on the Rhône – once the seat of the Catholic popes, later incorporated into France in 1791 – with the vast Palace of the Popes recalling its grand past. We continue to the Pont du Gard – admission included – to admire this astonishing UNESCO–listed Roman aqueduct, before heading on towards Catalonia and arriving in Barcelona in the evening.

This morning we include a panoramic tour of Barcelona – open to the Mediterranean and celebrated for Gaudí and Modernist architecture, lively Ramblas and the legacies of its World Expositions and Olympic Games. The tour ends at Maremagnum by the sea next to Columbus Square, where you can stroll this vibrant waterfront. The afternoon is at your leisure, and we return to the hotel at the end of the day.

After breakfast, our journey concludes – leaving you with lasting memories.