7 nights. Malta, Spain, France, Italy

Day 1

messina, italy

Departure: 18:00

Messina is located in the northeast of Sicily, Italy. It's only a 5 km journey across the Straits of Messina to the region of Calabria on the mainland. It's the third largest city on the island of Sicily. Trips by land and sea allow for the exploration of every nook and cranny of the Aeolian Islands, abundant with beaches and small coves where one can pause to explore, even if just for a few hours. The active volcano, Mt. Etna, towers over the landscape and reveals a vegetation interrupted by trails of black, solidified lava flows. Caves and varying environments alternate along its slopes; traverse them to reach the peak, where a large "mouth of fire" awaits. A definite must-see is Pollara Beach on the island of Salina; Pollara was created by a crater formed by the six volcanoes that make up Salina, around 13,000 years ago. The Ancient Theatre, one of the greatest of the Greek-Roman era, is nestled in a spread of olive, orange and almond groves that fill the air with their exotic scents.

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Day 2

valletta, malta

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 17:00

The wee capital of Malta, the city is less than 1 sq km in size, but has loads to offer visitors. Valletta is known as one of the most densely packed historic areas in the world, with its 7,000 years of history. It's no surprise then, that the City of Valletta was officially recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1980. Built by the knights of St John in the 16th and 17th centuries for military and strategic reasons, Valletta was later spruced up 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 grand palazzi sit alongside pubs and shops. Recently, the city has seen 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. Evidence of this are the 19 historical warehouses still standing dating back 250 years and the historic Quay Wall, where the Knights of St John and European merchants used to unload their goods. 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, pubs and restaurants. It’s particularly romantic at night when lit up. There are loads 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's the capital and biggest 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, 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's 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: 07:00 - Departure: 18:00

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, nestled between rugged 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 Marseille still retains traces of its tumultuous past, this ancient city is today very active and attractive. It has a powerful charm which encourages visitors, to wander 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

genoa, italy

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 16:00

Genova is a city of contrasts: it's a city of art as well as an industrial city. It has glass skyscrapers and medieval towers, business centres and unspoiled historic sites. Genoa is one of Italy’s most important ports that now accommodates Europe’s largest aquarium and the largest maritime history museum in the Mediterranean. Strolling down its narrow, twisting lanes, known as caruggi, visitors will discover architectural gems, some excellent museums and art galleries. Porta Soprana, the best known gate in the ancient Genoa city walls, gives way to the Piazza de Ferrari, with its Palace of the Doges and the Opera House. Along the Strade Nuove, a stunning avenue listed as a World Heritage Site, is where we find the Palazzi dei Rolli, a roster of aristocratic homes that are a reminder of the city’s imperial past. Genoa is an elusive and secretive city, it will take you to great bars, share its cuisine and give you a glimpse of culture, but it’ll have to get to know you first.

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Day 7

naples/capri, italy

Arrival: 13:00 - Departure: 20:00

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

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Day 8

messina, italy

Arrival: 09:00

Messina is located in the northeast of Sicily, Italy. It's only a 5 km journey across the Straits of Messina to the region of Calabria on the mainland. It's the third largest city on the island of Sicily. Trips by land and sea allow for the exploration of every nook and cranny of the Aeolian Islands, abundant with beaches and small coves where one can pause to explore, even if just for a few hours. The active volcano, Mt. Etna, towers over the landscape and reveals a vegetation interrupted by trails of black, solidified lava flows. Caves and varying environments alternate along its slopes; traverse them to reach the peak, where a large "mouth of fire" awaits. A definite must-see is Pollara Beach on the island of Salina; Pollara was created by a crater formed by the six volcanoes that make up Salina, around 13,000 years ago. The Ancient Theatre, one of the greatest of the Greek-Roman era, is nestled in a spread of olive, orange and almond groves that fill the air with their exotic scents.

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7 nights. Malta, Spain, France, Italy

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