Mediterranean Dreams: Italy & Spain

Breakfast at the hotel. Leave Rome early this morning to transfer to the beautiful city of Florence. To break up this journey, stop in Orvieto*, a quaint town especially known for its renowned Duomo, European Gothic architecture and the San Patrizio Well, a masterpiece of hydraulic engineering in which you can immerse yourself, descending into the bowels of the earth.

Next, take a break in Assisi, a majestic hilltop town known for its medieval architecture and the Basilica of St. Francis, a huge 2-level church. In the early evening, arrive in Florence, the heart of the Italian Renaissance, and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure exploring the city and the Italian cuisine in this gourmet paradise. We recommend an evening excursion of the city that includes a delicious dinner**. Overnight stay in Florence.

*Please note: Upon arrival at Orvieto you'll need to take a funicular to reach the hilltop meeting point as it's not accessible by bus. We advise you to take cash to pay for your ticket upon arrival at the station.

** Optional Illuminated Florence Tour with Dinner excursion: Depart from the hotel and stop at Piazzale Michelangelo where you can admire Florence from the best hill of the city with the most interesting viewpoint, continue to the center from where a night walk will begin to enjoy the illuminated city. The walk will end with a typical Florentine dinner.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today head to the Historic Centre for a guided walking tour of Florence and discover the hidden secrets of the Tuscan capital. Start discovering the up-market Piazza Repubblica, before heading to Loggia del Mercato Nuovo, a building within which a local market takes place.

Keep exploring the streets of Florence before arriving at the beautiful and well-known Ponte Vecchio, the most iconic bridge in the city and one of its main symbols. You will then walk through the Piazza della Signoria, the heart of Medieval Florence with the imposing Palazzo Vecchio. End the tour admiring Piazza San Giovanni, home to the impressive Florence Cathedral, with its iconic Brunelleschi cupola and the famous Giotto Belltower.

Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to continue exploring the captivating sights of Florence. Why not explore the city in more depth with one of our optional excursion to either the Uffizi* or the Leaning Tower**? Overnight stay in Florence.

*Optional excursion to The Uffizi: The Uffizi Gallery, designed in the mid-sixteenth century by Giorgio Vasari, consists of 90 museum rooms that host the most important and famous paintings in the history of art: works by Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, in addition to numerous paintings by Flemish and Dutch painters exhibited in chronological order. A visit to this museum is a real journey through time by means of art.

Please note that this activity can de purchased up to 30 days before departure of your trip. This optional is not available on Mondays.

**Optional Half-Day Tour to Pisa & The Leaning Tower: No trip to Italy is complete without a photo at the iconic leaning tower, so don't miss your chance to take a day trip to Pisa! Enjoy a guided walking tour of Piazza dei Miracoli and its monuments spending time at the legendary Leaning Tower of Pisa, learning all about the history of this University city along the way.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, leave Florence early in the morning to transfer to the city of Venice. During the journey, stop in Bologna and discover the lively, historic capital of the Emilia-Romagna region. Enjoy some free time before continuing with your journey. Later, make another stop in Padova, a city rich in beauty, which retains traces of its glorious past, and one of the most important cultural capitals during the fourteenth century.

Finish the day in the historic and enchanting Venice Mestre, the mainland town connected to Venice by rail and road bridges over the lagoon. Spend the night at your leisure and embrace the convenience of numerous transportation options, such as the frequent trains/buses to Venice center. The train station/bus stop is at walking distance from your hotel and it will take you to the iconic Venice center.

Venice was built across more than 100 small islands; it is a pleasure to explore by foot as you get lost in the labyrinthine streets, stumbling across hidden cafes and cultural gems along the way. Get out and discover the plentiful delights of this eternal city, such as the immense Piazza San Marco. Overnight stay in Venice Mestre.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, embark on a walking tour of Venice to discover all the beauty this city has to offer. Enjoy a guided walking tour through the City of Canals to learn about the history, culture and artistic heritage. Stroll through the most emblematic neighborhoods, see Venice's famous markets and pay a visit to the iconic Rialto Bridge.

The rest of the day is at your disposal to continue discovering this unique city at your own pace. Alternatively, we recommend taking part in one or both of the following optional activities: first, you can enjoy a quintessentially Venetian gondola ride* and then you can take part in an excursion to Murano and Burano islands**. Overnight stay in Venice Mestre.

*Optional Gondola Ride Experience excursion: One of the most well-known characteristics of Venice are its historic gondolas. You can be a part of this legacy! Experience an unforgettable gondola ride through the charming waterways of Venice including the iconic Grand Canal. The quintessential Venetian experience! Note: Please note that it is a shared gondola (up to five people for each one) so you might have to share it with other people.

**Optional Half-Day Murano and Burano excursion: Discover the most beautiful islands in Venice, enjoying the enchanting scenery of the Venetian lagoon. The tour includes two stops to visit Murano and Burano and discover their typical artisan products: the centuries-old glass processing in Murano, the fine lace in Burano. Enjoy the original colorful buildings as you tour this enchanting area.

Why not upgrade your trip with our Must Sees of Italy package of 2 excursions, available in the next step of the booking process!

Breakfast at the hotel*. It's time to continue your European tour, as you head for Spain! At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for your flight to Madrid. Touch down in Madrid, the enigmatic capital city of Spain, known for its fast-paced atmosphere, classical architecture and beautiful plazas and parks.

Transfer to the hotel and spend the rest of the day exploring at your own pace. Madrid is well-known for its brilliant gastronomic scene and lively nightlife, so be sure to get out after dark to experience the amazing atmosphere of the capital. Overnight stay in Madrid.

*Depending on the flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day.

Breakfast at the hotel. Make your own way to the nearest pick-up point and discover Madrid aboard a double-decker tour bus. Hop-on and hop-off the bus as many times as you wish and enjoy the city at your own pace. There are two different routes available. Route 1 (blue) will take you to discover the Historical Madrid and includes a complete historical, artistic and monumental tour. Discover the beautiful Paseo del Prado or admire magnificent buildings, legacy of the Habsburgs period.

The second route (green) goes through Modern Madrid. Discover the city beyond historical landmarks and royal monuments. The itinerary will take you by the impressive KIO towers, Museum of Public Art and Real Madrid stadium.

The rest of the day is free to enjoy the world-class cuisine, excellent shopping and limitless cultural treasures of Madrid at your leisure. We recommend a half-day excursion to the city of Toledo.* Overnight stay in Madrid.

*Optional Afternoon Excursion to Toledo: Set off this afternoon for the historic city of Toledo, known as the 'City of Three Cultures' for its fusion of Jewish, Muslim and Christian histories. Discover this once powerful Imperial City and its eclectic mix of architectural 

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy a day to discover Madrid at your leisure. Why not soak up a little culture at the incredible Prado Museum or go shopping along the Gran Via? For an afternoon stroll, we recommend El Retiro Park, home to a beautiful boating lake, stone fountains and the elegant Crystal Palace.

Alternatively, why not enjoy an excursion to Ávila and Segovia*? As night falls, be sure to get out and enjoy Madrid's vibrant nightlife! The city is known for its many rooftop bars where you can enjoy sunset drinks alongside excellent views of the city! Overnight stay in Madrid.

*Optional Excursion to Ávila & Segovia: Set off for the charming city of Ávila, one of the best-preserved medieval fortified cities in Spain. Enjoy a walking tour through the old town to discover its Gothic palaces, fortified cathedral and Romanesque-style churches. Visit the incredible Walls of Ávila and enjoy free time to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site at your own pace. 

Next, set off for Segovia, where you'll stop for a gastronomic lunch before continuing the day with a guided tour of the exterior of Segovia Cathedral and an atmospheric walk through the old Jewish Quarter. Finally, enjoy a guided visit to the magnificent Alcazar of Segovia, a castle said to have inspired Walt Disney and one of the most enchanting medieval fortifications in Europe!

Breakfast at the hotel. Leave the capital behind as you transfer to the train station to catch a high-speed train to Barcelona. Arrive in the Catalonian capital and transfer to your hotel. A vibrant city, known for its artistic heritage and the amazing architecture of Gaudi, spend the remainder of the day at your leisure, exploring the historic streets of the Barrio Gothic or strolling along the seafront in the old fishing neighborhood of Barceloneta. Overnight stay in Barcelona.

Breakfast at the hotel. Discover the city today on a combined walking and bus tour of Barcelona. Find your own way to the meeting point at Barcelona's Estació del Nord to meet your guide and set off on a walking tour of the historic neighborhoods of Born and the Gothic Quarter. Stroll along some of the most emblematic streets in the city before reaching the incredible Barcelona Cathedral, famed for its magnificent Gothic architecture. 

Continue the walking tour to uncover the secrets of one of the oldest parts of the city. Next, board an air-conditioned coach for a panoramic tour of Barcelona's most important sights. See the beautiful Mediterranean Coastline and Port Olympic, pass by the old fisherman's quarter of Barceloneta and head inland to the leafy neighborhood of Montjuïc. Famous as the stage for the 1992 Olympic Games, learn how this event transformed the city.

Take the Montjuïc cable car for amazing views across the entire city and visit MNAC Viewpoint for captivating panoramas of Barcelona. On the way back to the meeting point, drive along spectacular Passeig de Gracia to see some of the most emblematic architecture of Gaudi, such as Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. End the tour and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure, making the most of the city's incredible beaches or indulging in Barcelona's many tapas bars. Overnight stay in Barcelona.

Important information: Please note that time and days in Barcelona can be changed according to the availability of the walking and bus tour of Barcelona. It will be confirmed 15 days before arrival. However, all included excursions are already guaranteed.

In case that the Barcelona city tour is not available because of external causes such as a religious or an official event, a national holiday or demonstrations, a 1-day-pass of the hop-on-hop-off bus will be offered.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy today in Barcelona to explore at your leisure! Why not get to know the vibrant neighborhood of El Raval or pay a visit to Park Guell in Gracia, the fantastical creation of architect Antoni Gaudi? For an afternoon stroll be sure to visit Parque de la Ciudadela, one of the most popular green spaces in the city. On the other hand, don't miss the chance to visit the world-famous La Sagrada Familia, perhaps the most famous of all of Gaudi's architectural masterpieces*! Overnight stay in Barcelona.

*Optional Fast Track Sagrada Familia & Gaudi's Artistic Works: Visit two of the most important landmarks in Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. Admire Gaudí’s mastery and learn about the symbolism of his incredible works. Discover some of the most emblematic modernist monuments in the city and walk by two of the most important Gaudí works: La Pedrera and Casa Batlló.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy your final day in this magical, vibrant city and soak up the charms of Barcelona. Whether you're heading to the beach or uncovering the treasures held in the city's museums and art galleries, you're sure to fall in love with this lively regional capital. Overnight stay in Barcelona.