7 nights. Malta, Spain, France, Italy

Day 1

sicily (palermo),italy

Departure: 17:00

Life in Palermo is intense. People and buildings are tightly crammed into every available space and chaotic markets render the narrow sidewalks impassable. Lush gardens exist along poor narrow streets, and drying laundry resembles the festive banners of a public festivity. Stroll along via Roma up to Corso Vittorio Emanuele, admiring the squares and the exuberant cathedral. The Palazzo dei Normani is an extraordinary fusion of styles, its Byzantine mosaics are a reminder of the city's Golden Age. The ruins of the Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti stand around the corner, with its pink domes shielding an exotic cloister garden. The National Gallery of Sicily, housed in the Palazzo Abatellis, has a superb collection of paintings and sculpture. In the mornings, don’t miss the massive open-air Capo market. Most of Palermo’s nightlife occurs in the beach district of Mondello. There you can join the strolling crowds of young Italians sampling fish from seaside kitchen stalls and eating gelato.

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Day 2

valletta, malta

Arrival: 09:00 - Departure: 17:00

The tiny capital of Malta, the city measures less than 1 sq km, has a lot to offer visitors. Valletta has been described as one of the most concentrated historic areas in the world, thanks to its 7,000 years of history. No wonder, the City of Valletta was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980. Built by the knight of St John in the 16th and 17th centuries for its military and strategic reasons, Valletta was later embellished into a fine example of baroque decorative art – most notably in the magnificent interiors of St John’s Co-Cathedral in the heart of the city. Shady atmospheric alleyways link grand squares, and glorious palazzi sit alongside bars and shop. Lately, the city has undergone some major changes to create a more vibrant urbanity, with the renovation of the main City Gate and the design of a new parliament building, as well as the renovation of the bombed-out Opera House. Valletta's natural deep water port, the Grand Harbour, is the biggest and the most impressive harbour in all the Mediterranean and was, for many thousands of years, the epicentre of Malta’s maritime activity. Proof of this are the 19 historical warehouses still stand dating back 250 years and the historic Quay Wall, where the Knights of St John and European merchants used to unload their wares. The Valletta Waterfront is also the gateway to Malta’s capital city. In fact, as one of the most successful Mediterranean ports, the Port of Valletta welcomes more than half-a-million cruise passengers into this open air museum. Recently, the waterfront has been revitalised into an attractive and vibrant gateway of shops, bars and restaurants. It’s particularly romantic at night when illuminated. There are tons of outdoor pursuits to enjoy thanks to the city’s moderate climate. From diving to sailing, cycling to rock climbing, there are a number of different adrenalin-busting options to satisfy adventurous holidaymakers. Just don't expect Valletta to be buzzing all night, its tranquility is a large part of its charm.

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Day 4

barcelona, spain

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 18:00

Barcelona is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within city limits,[7] its urban area extends to numerous neighbouring municipalities within the Province of Barcelona and is home to around 4.8 million people, making it the fifth most populous urban area in the European Union after Paris, the Ruhr area, Madrid, and Milan. It is one of the largest metropolises on the Mediterranean Sea, located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, and bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range, the tallest peak of which is 512 metres (1,680 feet) high.

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Day 5

provence(marseille), france

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 16:00

Marseille is the second largest city in France, the biggest Mediterranean port and the economic hub of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. Marseille is set in a beautiful location, snuggled between craggy limestone hills and a sweeping bay, and is rich with history, which wasn’t always pleasant. Marseille is a popular holiday destination, as it has 300 days of sunshine a year. Today Marseilles still keeps traces of its tumultuous past, this ancient city is today very active and attractive. It has powerful charm which encourages visitors, to stroll through its old districts around le Vieux Port, in the gardens with the ancient ruins or the gardens of Longchamp Palace and, of course, on the esplanade of Notre-Dame-de-la-Garde Cathedral, which overlooks the entire city Marseille is atmospheric and charming and a real must.

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Day 6

la spezia, italy

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 17:00

The city of La Spezia is located ubidacada in the region of Liguria, in Northern Italy, and is at the same time the capital of the province that has the same name, located in the Gulf of La Spezia, also known as Golfo dei Poeti (of the poets) since it was the residence for some time of important English poets such as Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) and George Byron (1788-1824). Said is the commercial port, one of the most important in Italy although La Spezia also hosts one of the biggest military industries of the country: OTO Melara. Although La Spezia stands out as a modern city (almost all the buildings were built from 1920), there are many places of interest in the surrounding area since the area has very beautiful villages such as Lerici, Portovenere (typical fishing village) and the Cinque Terre, where a national Natural Park has been developed. Cinque Terre, Portovenere and the islands of Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto, have been declared by the Unesco as world heritage.

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Day 7

naples/capri, italy

Arrival: 13:00 - Departure: 21:00

Capri is a beautiful picturesque escape situated 5 km from mainland Italy in the Bay of Naples. It is a celebrated beauty spot and coastal resort since the days of the emperors. It is a very popular destinations due to what it has to offer and that is its rural charm, slow pace of life and memorable views. Capri has constant sunshine and enjoys it's well deserved reputation as a Garden of Eden. Capri town is the main settlement on the island and is reachable via a funicular railway that runs from the dock in Marina Grande. The town's main square, Piazza Umberto, is a busy central area that contains a few shops, cafes and restaurants and is where the funicular railway terminates. Surrounding the square are the ''Torre dell'Orologio'', or Clock Tower and the islands main church, San Stefano. Anacapri is the islands second largest settlement and lies a couple of miles west of Capri town. Anacapri offers visitors many art and craft shops and also the chance to enjoy a trip on a chair lift up to the summit of Mount Solaro.

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Day 8

sicily (palermo),italy

Arrival: 09:00

Life in Palermo is intense. People and buildings are tightly crammed into every available space and chaotic markets render the narrow sidewalks impassable. Lush gardens exist along poor narrow streets, and drying laundry resembles the festive banners of a public festivity. Stroll along via Roma up to Corso Vittorio Emanuele, admiring the squares and the exuberant cathedral. The Palazzo dei Normani is an extraordinary fusion of styles, its Byzantine mosaics are a reminder of the city's Golden Age. The ruins of the Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti stand around the corner, with its pink domes shielding an exotic cloister garden. The National Gallery of Sicily, housed in the Palazzo Abatellis, has a superb collection of paintings and sculpture. In the mornings, don’t miss the massive open-air Capo market. Most of Palermo’s nightlife occurs in the beach district of Mondello. There you can join the strolling crowds of young Italians sampling fish from seaside kitchen stalls and eating gelato.

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7 nights. Malta, Spain, France, Italy

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