Italy, France and Spain

Glimpse Barcelona's remarkable architecture as you tour the city. Or experience Monsterrat, legendary home of the Knights of the Holy Grail. There's also a host of art galleries, museums and elegant shops to explore.

Valencia is an exhilarating mix of history, art and intellectual activity. Brave the 200 steps up to the summit of the amphitheatre, for a giddying panorama of orange rooftops and blue-domed churches. Valencia’s rich Hispanic culture is visible everywhere in the city’s architecture, often reflecting Roman, Visigoth, Moorish, and Aragonese traditions.

France's largest port is a lively mix of cultural influences, and home to more than a million inhabitants. Sip an espresso at a café on the Cours Julien, to capture the Marseille of old.

This island famed as Napoleon's birthplace is a perfect summer resort. Explore its fine sandy beaches and deep forests of pine and chestnut, which cover more than half the landscape.

Tucked into the Ligurian coastline between the cities of Genoa and Pisa, the charming and atmospheric La Spezia is one of Italy’s most important commercial harbours and home to its largest naval base. La Spezia is also the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Cinque Terre, a collection of five fantasy-like coastal villages perched immaculately on the contours of the coastline.

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.