7 nights. France, Italy, Spain

Day 1

valencia, spain

Departure: 16:00

Valencia values its huertas, or orchards, of citrus fruit trees, which thrive despite the dry conditions. Here visitors will discover monuments to water, or fountains, and celebrations of vegetation, or gardens. This provincial capital, the third largest city in Spain, also boasts a range of museums and ancient monuments and buildings, all with a distinctly Moorish and nautical feel. Valencia is the birthplace of both paella and orxata de chufas, and it provides the most genuine setting for tasting them. From the Old Town rises the Gothic and neoclassical Seu, Metropolitan Cathedral. Its tower, the Micalet, offers a sweeping view of the historic city centre. The interior of the cathedral is notable for its cool simplicity and simple, yet beautiful, six-panel altarpiece. The Museu de la Seu, the Cathedral Museum, holds among other lesser treasures, two large Goyas and one of Spain’s several supposedly authentic Holy Grails. Nearby is the Llotja de la Seda, the former silk exchange, with its handsome pillars. Whether you prefer the modern or the old, Valencia has everything to offer. You can lose yourself at night in the historic centre and walk in front of the illuminated cathedral or visit La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, the City of Arts and Sciences, the city's avant-garde side.

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Day 2

provence(marseille), france

Arrival: 13:00 - Departure: 19:00

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 3

genoa, italy

Arrival: 09:00 - Departure: 17:00

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 4

Civitavecchia (Rome), italy

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 19:00

Modern and old, past and present go hand in hand, all the time. Whether you're in Rome for 3 days, 3 weeks or 3 months, be ready to step into the world’s largest open air museum. Rome will charm you and it will hardly leave you unmoved. It will surprise you, as it has so much to offer to any visitor, and its beauty has merely been slightly obscured by the passage of time. Rome is one of the world's most photogenic cities - not surprising when you remember what's here - The Vatican, the Trevi Fountain, St Peter's Square, Spanish Steps, Colosseum... Whether you spend your time sightseeing, or lounging in cafés watching the world go by, it will be your turn to star in your very own Roman Holiday. If you can plan to stay for as long as a week, you won't run out of things to do and you'll still feel like you're leaving too soon.

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Day 5

sicily (palermo),italy

Arrival: 11:00 - Departure: 20:00

Life in Palermo is intense. People and buildings are tightly packed into every available space and chaotic markets make the narrow footpaths impassable. Lush gardens exist along poor narrow streets, and drying laundry resembles the festive banners of a public celebration. 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 7

ibiza, spain

Arrival: 12:30 - Departure: 23:00

Port de Sant Miguel is a small beach resort with a white sandy beach on the north west coast of Ibiza. This small settlement was once the fisherman’s port for the nearby village of Sant Miquel de Balansat. The resort is situated in a small sheltered inlet surrounded by steep cliffs which are topped with pine woodland and scrub. At the head of the cove is a small sandy beach. Behind the beach there are a number of shops, bars and restaurants. (Note: The text is already in English and does not require translation. English is spoken in Ireland with some regional dialects and accents, but the written language remains the same.)

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Day 8

valencia, spain

Arrival: 07:00

Valencia values its huertas, or orchards, of citrus fruit trees, which thrive despite the dry conditions. Here visitors will discover monuments to water, or fountains, and celebrations of vegetation, or gardens. This provincial capital, the third largest city in Spain, also boasts a range of museums and ancient monuments and buildings, all with a distinctly Moorish and nautical feel. Valencia is the birthplace of both paella and orxata de chufas, and it provides the most genuine setting for tasting them. From the Old Town rises the Gothic and neoclassical Seu, Metropolitan Cathedral. Its tower, the Micalet, offers a sweeping view of the historic city centre. The interior of the cathedral is notable for its cool simplicity and simple, yet beautiful, six-panel altarpiece. The Museu de la Seu, the Cathedral Museum, holds among other lesser treasures, two large Goyas and one of Spain’s several supposedly authentic Holy Grails. Nearby is the Llotja de la Seda, the former silk exchange, with its handsome pillars. Whether you prefer the modern or the old, Valencia has everything to offer. You can lose yourself at night in the historic centre and walk in front of the illuminated cathedral or visit La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, the City of Arts and Sciences, the city's avant-garde side.

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7 nights. France, Italy, Spain

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