France, Italy and Adriatic

Take a veritable journey through time as you stroll past the Colosseum, custodian of almost 2000 years of history, to the elegant streets of Rome which are home to the top names in fashion.

Toulon sits on the sun-kissed Côte d’Azur, almost exactly between Marseille and St Tropez. From here, seek out chic beaches and Provençal landscapes of dry stone walls and swathes of lilac lavender.
Toulon has associations with the French Navy that can be traced back to 1494 when Charles VIII established a naval shipyard here in the embrace of its natural harbour. It remains the home port of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier; models of this and ships throughout the ages can be found at the National Naval Museum, which was founded a century ago. Against today’s harbour backdrop of colourful fishing boats, sleek yachts and larger vessels you can still find the historic docks and workshops of Porte de l’Arsenal that have been here

The old port of Alghero has a distinctive Catalan feel that shines through in its old fortifications, most notably in the colourful dome and dominant gothic bell tower of the Church of San Francisco.
The legacy of ‘Little Barcelona’ extends to its culinary delights too. Paella features prominently among the charming bars and restaurants you’ll find in the maze of charming cobbled streets.

This Sicilian harbour has much to offer in the way of history and beauty. Its museum is noteworthy for its Renaissance masterworks. Nearby, the fashionable resort of Taormina awaits on an optional excursion.

Napoli, as it’s known to Italians, has a little bit of everything – ancient churches and universities, stunning parks, and wonderful restaurants. The Duomo is perhaps one of the most beautiful ancient cathedrals in the world. Take time to explore the Palazzo Reale, a palace built at the turn of the 12th century. Or visit the Museo Archeologico Nazionale to see one of the most comprehensive collections of Greco-Roman artefacts anywhere, including an abundance of mosaics from the buried city of Pompei.

Take a veritable journey through time as you stroll past the Colosseum, custodian of almost 2000 years of history, to the elegant streets of Rome which are home to the top names in fashion.