DAY 1 – MONTE CARLO
Megayachts jostle for space while billionaires roll dice in the world’s most famous casino — welcome to Monte-Carlo, playground to the rich and famous. Royals and legends alike grace the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, gathering place for well-heeled locals and visitors since 1879. Supercars growl along well-dressed streets, past palatial hotels and fine dining restaurants showered in Michelin stars.
Delve into seafaring history at the Oceanographic Museum, a cliffside cabinet of curiosities, and explore the 13th century Prince’s Palace perched high on the monolithic Rock of Monaco, then soak up the Riviera sunshine at the Thermes Marins (thermal baths), dedicated to well-being and beauty.
Monte Carlo
DAY 2 – ROME
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.
Rome
DAY 3 – SORRENTO
Seductive Greek Sirens still sing from Sorrento’s shores and lure us into her astonishing beauty of Vesuvian sites, Amalfi hikes and a wealth of pretty Positano pleasures. Wander maze-like Centro Storico laced with hidden gardens and historic churches then prepare your palate for old-school pizzerias and lemony gelato in picturesque Piazza Tasso. Peer down into the Valle dei Mulini or venture to Lattari Mountain trails and dig into Italy’s most famous sites: ancient Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Hop a yacht across the Bay of Naples to chic Capri or round Sorenntina Penisola for ravishing Ravello’s terraced gardens. Between sips of luscious limoncello and a wealth of wonders, Sorrento smoulders with eternal dolce vita glamour.
Sorrento
DAY 4 – PALERMO, SICILY
Be drawn into a balmy blend of olive-strewn landscapes, starkly beautiful Greek temples, Byzantine mosaics, and ricotta-filled farm-to-table delights. Wander Palermo’s ficus-filled streets as you tour through the Florio family tale. Taste wine through a patchwork of fertile vineyards below rumbling giant Mount Etna and talented Teatro Greco, Sicily’s most dolce vita hill town.
Take in noble UNESCO heritage sites, tour leafy Villa Tasca, marvel medieval mosaic masterpieces at Monreale or Cefalù and continue the Greek theme to visit tumbled ruins and secluded temples. Welcome Baroque brilliance, Aztec chocolate, and modern-day charms in Sicily’s honey-hued deep south towns. From Michelin-starred temple dining to Trapani beaches and fishermen mending nets outside hipster bars – such contrasts are at the soul of this irresistible island.
Palermo
DAY 5 – SARDINIA
Cagliari fans out from the steep slopes of Il Castello, the hilltop citadel built by Pisan rulers in the 13th century, home to the opulent Cathedral of Santa Maria and bloody Elephant Tower, where trophy heads once hung.
The seven-kilometre expanse of Poetto Beach unfurls from the Devil’s Saddle (Sella del Diavolo) on St. Elia promontory, past a string of beachfront eateries where legendary Sardinian seafood is enhanced by crisp chilled Vermentino. Across the waves, the irresistible waters of Capo Carbonara Marine Reserve teem with colourful coral fans and kaleidoscopic sea creatures.
Sardinia
DAY 6 – MAHON, MENORCA
Beckon the buzz of a small UNESCO-listed island; proud of producing its own cheese, wine and rather distinguished gin. Sink into a lemon-scented laidback lifestyle that reflects elegant Georgian architecture, Spain’s oldest opera house, history, art and a monastery-based museum.
Off glittering turquoise shores, visit the Royal Naval hospital, shop for world-renowned shoes, amble amongst butterflies up coastal paths and rest for tapas in harbour-side tavernas. Celebrated yet discreet – unhurried Menorca is the low-key location to go and not to be seen.
Menorca
DAY 7 – PALMA DE MALLORCA
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.
Palma de Mallorca
DAY 8 – BARCELONA
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.
Barcelona
DAY 9 – IBIZA
Experience the magnetic vibes of Ibiza. Relax as you feel the gentle pull of vibrant island life. Experience Las Salinas salt flats, eat paella, sip sangria, meditate, shop boutiques….. do whatever you please.
DAY 10 – IBIZA
Hidden away are fincas, pine valleys, orange groves, almond trees and lush orchards. Retreat to renowned spas for wellbeing, yoga, massage and healing. Soothe in warm waters at private beach affairs. As darkness falls, cavort in bars and clubs where the world’s finest DJ’s thrill. Warm and easy-going, nature’s elements blend beautifully with island life. It’s little wonder that Ibiza has drawn artists, writers, gurus and beatniks for years. Some have neer left.
Ibiza
DAY 11 – MARSEILLE
Lounging under a Provencal 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 bouillabaise, its famous fish stew.
Meander past fountains built under the reign on Napolean 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, Cezanne, 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.
Marseille
DAY 12 – CANNES
Yacht-studded seas and palm trees form Cannes’ iconic Riviera backdrop. Yet inside are a swish marina, perfumed forests, casinos, iconic boutiques, cinematic heritage, and supermodels.
Stroll ancient narrow winding streets of the hilly Le Suquet and feel its medieval past, shop fashion labels on palm-flanked La Croisette, slide into sleek Michelin-starred restaurants, and lie low in plush beach clubs where glittering sea views take central stage. Peace seekers may ferry to leafy island Saint-Honorat and the 500-year-old monastery. Take a spin along the Cote d’Azur to moneyed Monaco or glitzy St Tropex. Cannes has curnves in all the right places – the oh so French social hub that defines seaside glamour.
Cannes
DAY 13 – GENOA
Pillow soft sponge cakes, nutty pesto and barrels of creamy gelato await in historic Genoa, where young Christopher Columbus first glimpsed the sea. Wander cobbled streets past Baroque palazzi in the UNESCO-listed old town, where coffee-scneted breezes drift through a labyrinth of alleyways near dazzling Piazza De Ferrari and its unmatched architecture. Dive into history among a treasure trove of galleries and museums in resplendant residences built for bankers and merchants who made Genoa one of the mightiest ports in the Med.
Surrender to the sunset serenade and heed the call of aperitivo as you stroll along Corso Italia beneath a fiery orange sky.
Genoa
DAY 13 – PORTOFINO
Tucked away in a fold of idyllic Italian coast, picturesque Portofino is a jet-set haven, where the summer residences of European nobility nestle among olive-covered slopes.
Beyond the luxury boutiques and pretty harbourside piazzas, pastel townhouses huddle around the water’s edge and the manicured sculpture gardens of Museo del Parco lead up to the Chiesa di San Giorgio, resting place of the dragon-slaying saint, whose yellow facade looks out towards Etruscan villas and Ligurian lighthouses on the hillside. An hour away lie the five picture-perfect hamlets of Cinque Terre, stacked above the Mediterranean in a tumble of pastel cubes piled precariously on rocky promontories.
Portofino
DAY 14 – PORTO SANTO STEFANO
Framed by Monte Argentario’s wild landscapes dotted with ancient lookout towers and fringed with hidden calas (coves) and lighthouses, Porto Santo Stefano is one of Italy’s best kept secrets. Steep streets spill down from the Spanish Fortress through a maze of cobbled passages that wind between terracotta rooftops to the old port, where fishermen unload their daily catch and sailboats bob in gin-clear shallows.
Follow the boardwalk towards waterfront eateries and glasses of ruby Chianti, visit the WWF-protected sanctuary of Orbetello Lagoon, home to pink flamingos and graceful egrets, or sail to the outlying islands of Giglio and Giannutri, scarcely trodden gems of the Tuscan Archipelago.
Porto Santo Stefano
DAY 15 – ROME
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.
Rome
