It's like stepping into the pages of a fairytale. Wandering through charming towns filled with cobblestone streets. Walking in the footsteps of kings and queens through medieval castles. Cultures as fascinating as the timeless relics you'll discover. Let Europe share its story and stir your soul. That's when you become a part of history.
Barcelona, Spain
The 1992 Summer Olympics revealed to the world what Europeans and seasoned travelers already knew - Barcelona is one of the world's greatest treasures. Vibrant and earthy, commercial and cultural, this city of two million residents is the capital of Spain's autonomous region of Catalonia. Stroll along the wide, tree-lined promenades of Las Ramblas and marvel at the spires of Gaudi's Basilica La Sagrada Familia. Or visit the former Olympic Ring on the hill of Montjuic - also home to world-class parks, fountains and museums. Barcelona, which nurtured such artistic giants as Picasso, Dali, Miro and Casals, is definitely a traveler's paradise.
Gibraltar, Great Britain
The Rock crouches over the sea like an ancient stone beast, looking Sphinx-like to Africa. Beneath the white cliffs of this natural fortress grows a profusion of palm, pine, and cypress. No fewer than 600 varieties of flowers thrive here, some not found anywhere else on Earth. Gibraltar's stunning setting is matched by its history - five countries have battled for 13 centuries to control the passage between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The result made for a cultural melting pot. Veiled Moroccan women in caftans
and vacationing Englishmen and Spaniards stroll along the narrow, steep lanes. And visitors to a 15th-century cathedral pass through a blue-tiled courtyard, once part of a 13th-century mosque. Helmeted bobbies, pillar-boxes, and pubs make for a bit of Britain in the Mediterranean. Gibraltar is a fascinating place, from its caves and batteries to the Barbary apes gamboling on the slopes of the Rock.
Excursion Highlights
City and King’s Bastion Tour
Soak up the history, culture, and beauty of Gibraltar on a combination mini-coach/walking tour featuring some of the city's most iconic spots. In addition to strolling along the battlements of King's Bastion fortress, there will be plenty of photo stops including Europa Point, Gibraltar's southernmost tip, and picturesque Catalan Bay.
Cable Car and Great Siege Tunnels
Gain a unique perspective on Gibraltar's fascinating history on this guided tour featuring panoramic views from Europa Point, cable car stops at all stations, an encounter with Barbary Apes, a narrated walk through the 18th-century Great Siege Tunnels and a visit to the fascinating Gibraltar Crystal Factory.
Spain’s Marbella and Puerto Banus
Travel to the jet-set resort of Marbella. You will experience the charm of the Old Town on your own or enjoy something to eat in a plaza lined with orange trees, a 15th-century Town Hall, and trendy boutiques. You will cap your day off with a visit to the picturesque port of Puerto Banus - a favorite haunt of the rich and famous.
The largest port on the Mediterranean, Marseille is France's second largest city and a virtual melting pot of peoples and cultures. It is also a place of striking contrasts, from the fishing boats and pleasure craft of the picturesque Vieux Port to the modern Canebiere. Dominating the harbor is the infamous Chateau d'If, the rocky prison from which Alexandre Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo escaped. Marseille is also the gateway to Provence. Explore the countryside around Arles and Avignon, immortalized in the canvases of Van Gogh, Cezanne, Matisse, and Picasso.
Excursion Highlights
Aix-en-Provence and Notre-Dame de la Garde
Discover Aix-en-Provence on a fascinating guided walk around the old town, before exploring the city's elegant shops, boutiques, and galleries. After lunch on your own, return to Marseilles for a delightful narrated drive that passes by the stunning Notre-Dame de la Garde cathedral, and Le Vieux Port.
Marseille City Drive and La Corniche
This tour is designed for passengers who prefer to see some sights from the motorcoach with little or no walking involved. Travel along the Corniche President Kennedy, Marseille's long scenic coastal road, on this narrated city drive. Soak up the stunning views of the Mediterranean's rocky coves, secluded beaches, and islands before enjoying free time in the city center for shopping and lunch.
Avignon and Pont du Gard
Visit the Pont du Gard bridge, and view part of this incredible 30-mile-long Roman aqueduct built in 40 A.D. Then travel to beautiful Avignon, where you will explore the medieval city that boasts breath-taking architecture, the Palace of the Popes, quaint narrow lanes and fabulous boutiques, galleries, and cafés.
Marseille (Provence), France
Genoa, Italy
Genoa is the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria. Many regard Genoa as having the largest historic city center in Europe as a result of having been, for centuries, a powerful commercial center seaport and city-state. It was the birthplace of Christopher Columbus and its maritime roots have fostered a dialect that has, absorbed elements of Neapolitan, Calabrese, and Portuguese over the centuries. Genoa's harbor is a bustling swarm of activity, which makes it a great launching point for the sprawling metropolis of Milan.
Excursion Highlights
Genoa Walking Tour: Via Garibaldi and Famed Palazzos
Experience the cultural riches of the Genoese Republic on a guided walking tour along the famed Via Garibaldi. As you stroll down this historic street, visit three extraordinary palaces, each a treasure trove of paintings, tapestries, and furnishings. Then, enjoy independent sightseeing in this cosmopolitan city with historic charm.
Portofino, Santa Margherita, and Rapallo
Explore three charming Ligurian villages; Portofino, Santa Margherita, and Rapallo, on a guided tour that includes independent exploration. Each world-class destination has an atmosphere all its own and you will enjoy learning the history of each as you take in the landmarks and browse the quaint shops and outdoor cafés.
Milan with Time On Your Own
Visit Milan, the most important city in northern Italy, on a tour that celebrates its cultural and historical offerings. Begin with a guided walk through the heart of the city that highlights it’s most popular landmarks. Then, explore this fashion and design mecca independently, enjoying superlative shopping and culinary delights.
Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy
Livorno is the gateway to glorious Tuscany. Visit Florence (the cradle of the Renaissance) home to the Duomo, the Uffizi, and the Ponte Vecchio. Here the Medici fostered a city-state whose cultural legacy is as great as classical Athens. Giants like Dante, Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Galileo infused the West with a new creative spirit. Then there is Pisa, Florence's rival for political power. Pisa, a brash, commercial seafaring town rivaled the great maritime powers of Venice and Genoa. The city was a leader in art and architecture second only to Florence.
Excursion Highlights
Leaning Tower of Pisa
Here is your chance to get up close to one of the world's most famous landmarks - The Leaning Tower of Pisa. This guided excursion takes to the UNESCO World Heritage Site where you will see the city's most famous attraction along with other historically significant buildings and monuments.
Cinque Terre Hillside Villages
Experience the breath-taking beauty, charm, and romance of the Italian Riviera with this trip to the Cinque Terre and the Italian Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Roam the streets, take a motorboat tour of the coastline, and sample some of the famous cuisine and wines.
Florence: the center of the Renaissance
This guided walking tour brings you to the cultural center of Renaissance. You will visit the Historic Center of Florence, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and see such notable landmarks as the Accademia - home to Michelangelo's David, Il Duomo, the Baptistery, the Piazza Della Signoria, and the famous Uffizi Gallery.
Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
The gateway to the Eternal City, Civitavecchia has served as Rome's seaport since the 13th century. The port has a long and venerable history. The emperor Trajan built a pleasure villa near the modern city, while Bernini and Michelangelo designed the harbor fortifications. The Eternal City eternally beckons. The ancient capital of the Western World and the center of Christianity for nearly 2,000 years, Rome provides an inexhaustible feast. Visit the ruins of the Forum, view the splendors of the Sistine Chapel, or climb the Spanish Steps, once the heart of Rome's Bohemian Quarter. Rome has been a magnet luring the world's greatest artists, architects, and philosophers since the days of the Caesars.
