Need to Plan a Trip? Honeymoon? Call the Gurus: 337-453-1932

Barcelona, French Riviera, Italian Riviera, Florence & Rome - May 2019

past tour

Barcelona, French Riviera, Italian Riviera, Florence & Rome - May 2019

12 Days + 2 Days Rome Extension

Price: PAST TOUR

Optional Excursions:

  • Park Guell & La Pedrera $105
  • Montserrat $89
  • Flamenco Dinner Show $119
  • San Gimignano: Medieval Sights & Tuscan Flavors $109
  • Food of Rome: Walking Tour of Trastevere $129
  • Iconic Sights: Vatican City $115

Trip Overview

Discover some of the world’s most sought-after destinations.

Enjoy memorable culture, architecture, and Mediterranean food on this guided trip, pausing to take sunny siestas in Barcelona and relaxing riposos in Italy. Sip sangria by La Sagrada Família, meander through medieval Avignon, and tour seaside villages, all while sneaking in opportunities to brush up on your Spanish, French, and Italian.

Your tour package includes

  • 10 nights in handpicked hotels
  • 10 breakfasts
  • 3 dinners with beer or wine
  • 7 sightseeing tours
  • Expert Tour Director & local guides
  • Private deluxe motor coach

Included highlights

  • La Sagrada Família
  • Carcassonne
  • Avignon
  • Papal Palace
  • Cap Ferrat
  • Nice’s Old Town
  • Monaco
  • Cinque Terre
  • Florence Duomo

Tour Destinations Map

Tour map to Barcelona, French Riveria, Italian Riveria Florence and Rome

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Overnight Flight1 night
Day 1: Travel day
Board your overnight flight to Barcelona today.


Barcelona3 nights

Day 2: Arrival in Barcelona
Included meal: Welcome dinner
Welcome to Spain! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.


Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Barcelona
Included meal: Breakfast

Discover why Barcelona is touted for its unparalleled architectural landmarks, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites.

  • Step inside La Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s famous masterwork-in-progress
  • Drive along Passeig de Gràcia, past Gaudí’s “House of Bones”
  • Visit Montjuïc, site of the 1992 Olympic Games, and Mirador de l’Alcalde Park
  • Pass Plaça d’Espanya


Enjoy a free afternoon in Barcelona or add an excursion.

Park Guell in Barcelona

$105 per person

On today’s excursion, discover the magnificent works of Antoni Gaudí, the famed Spanish architect known for his bold, distinct designs. Casa Milà is the first stop. Take a guided tour of this building, popularly known as “La Pedrera,” which was built by Gaudí between 1905 and 1910. Everything about the building is visually unique, from the wave-like stone structure and grandly designed roof to the apartment that reflects the style of the 20th-century bourgeois. Next, you’ll head to Park Güell, also designed by Gaudí. Your guide will lead you through the park, which contains stunning buildings, intricate stonework, and colorful mosaics. At the top of the park, marvel at the brilliant views of Barcelona.

Day 4: Free day in Barcelona
Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free day in Barcelona or add excursions.

Montserrat

$189 per person

Journey to the ninth-century Monastery of Montserrat, which inspired the composer Richard Wagner as he wrote Parsifal. Ride a high-flying cable car up the mountain and enjoy magnificent views of the Llobregat River Valley and—if skies are clear—the Pyrenees. A local guide leads the way to the secluded Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, where you may have a chance to see La Moreneta, Catalonia’s miraculous and beloved statue of the Black Virgin of Montserrat. Take some time to explore the monastery before descending the mountain by bus and driving back to Barcelona. Please note: Due to the ever-changing schedule of church activities, a viewing of the Black Virgin of Montserrat statue cannot be guaranteed

Flamenco Dinner Show

$119 per person

The clapping, the singing, the stamping—experience the dramatic art of flamenco dancing, one of Spain’s most celebrated traditions. Expressive and colorful, this Andalucian style of dance combines guitar playing (toque), song (cante), and rhythmic handclaps (palmas). Dinner will be served before the performance.

Provence 1 night
Day 5: Provence via Carcassonne
Included meal: Breakfast

En route to Provence, France, stop in the fortified city of Carcassonne. You’ll tour the medieval fortress settlement, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.


French Riviera 2 nights
Day 6: French Riviera via Avignon
Included meal: Breakfast

Make your way to Nice and the French Riviera by way of Avignon, where a local guide shows you around the city.

  • Stroll through the historic town center, which is surrounded by the city’s original medieval walls
  • Step inside the magnificent Papal Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Enjoy free time in the city for lunch


Day 7: Sightseeing tour of Cap Ferrat & Nice
Included meal: Breakfast

Set out to explore the French Riviera today.

  • Enjoy views of the Mediterranean Sea from the cliffs of Cap Ferrat
  • Tour the Villa Ephrussi, a mansion built by a member of the Rothschild banking family, and stroll through the villa gardens
  • Stop to explore Nice’s Old Town on your own before returning to your hotel


Italian Riviera 2 nights
Day 8: Italian Riviera via Monaco
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Leave France for the Italian Riviera today. Stop en route to explore the tiny principality of Monaco with your Tour Director.

  • Visit Le Rocher, or the Rock of Monaco, to see the cathedral and Old Town
  • Stop outside the Prince’s Palace, first built as a fortress in the late 12th century


This evening, sit down for an included dinner with your group.


Day 9: Sightseeing tour of Cinque Terre
Included meal: Breakfast

Join your Tour Director to discover Cinque Terre, an idyllic cluster of five villages set on seaside cliffs.

  • Board a train to Monterosso and soak in views of the pebble beach that the village is known for
  • Hop about a boat to the village of Vernazza and admire the colorful houses that dot the waterfront
  • Continue by boat to the dramatic coastal village of Riomaggiore
  • Learn about Via dell’Amore, one of the area’s most famous hiking paths, which connects two of the five villages
  • Enjoy short walks through each village before spending free time exploring, shopping, and eating
  • Admire the Liguria regions’ varied landscape as you transfer back to your hotel by train


Please note: The boat ride is weather-dependent. In the case of inclement weather, you’ll visit the villages by train. In addition, the specific villages you visit may vary.


Florence 2 nights
Day 10: Transfer to Florence & sightseeing tour
Included meal: Breakfast

Travel to Florence and set off on a guided sightseeing tour of the city at the center of the Renaissance.

  • Visit the legendary Florence Cathedral, known as the Duomo
  • Pass Giotto’s Campanile, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture
  • Walk past Piazza della Repubblica to the medieval Ponte Vecchio
  • Stroll along the Arno River and through the courtyard of the Uffizi Gallery to Piazza della Signoria, center of Florentine life


Day 11: Free day in Florence
Included meals: Breakfast,

Farewell dinner

Enjoy a free day in Florence or add an excursion.

Later, celebrate your trip at a farewell dinner this evening.

San Gimignano: Medieval Sights & Tuscan Flavors

$109 per person

Travel through the beautiful Tuscan countryside to discover the medieval village of San Gimignano. During the Renaissance, the rival Guelph and Ghibelline political factions flexed their muscles by constructing tall towers throughout San Gimignano; fourteen of those towers survive today. Later, visit a local winery for a taste of the area’s wines and a sample of olive oil and balsamic vinegar that you simply won’t find anywhere else. Then, enjoy lasagna during a light lunch.

Flight Home
Day 12: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on to explore Rome.


Extension to Rome

Extension to Rome
Have your sights on more art, history, and street life? Rome is sure to deliver. Only in the Italian capital can you sip cappuccino in front of the Pantheon and have an audience with the pope all in one morning. See the city’s highlights during guided sightseeing, and then look to your Tour Director’s expert suggestions to uncover even more.

Rome 2 nights
Day 12: Sightseeing tour of Rome
Included meal: Breakfast

Travel to Italy’s capital city and follow in the footsteps of the ancient Romans on a guided tour of the Eternal City.

  • Soak up over 2,000 years of history in Imperial Rome, viewing the Arch of Constantine and the Arch of Titus
  • Enter the Colosseum, the largest amphitheater of the Roman Empire
  • Stop at the ruins of the Forum, once the setting of parades, elections, and trials
  • Pass by Palatine Hill to see Circus Maximus, the stadium where ancient Romans raced chariots, and the Baths of Caracalla


Day 13: Free day in Rome
Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free day in Rome or add excursions.

This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.

Food of Rome: Walking Tour of Trastevere

$129 per person

Meet up with a local guide for a culinary-themed walking tour of Trastevere. This historic neighborhood is located across the Tiber River and is home to some of the Rome’s best shops, bars, and restaurants. Step inside four handpicked eateries, each of which showcases the area’s rich culinary traditions. You’ll enjoy tastings of an aperitivo, pasta, pastries, and gelato—all quintessential Italian foods. Over an aperitivo and glass of wine, your guide will talk about the various flavors and cooking techniques that have come to define the local cuisine. Watch locals go about their daily lives as you stroll along the charming trattoria-lined streets during your tour.

Iconic Sights: Vatican City

$115 per person

This guided tour takes you inside Vatican City—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most sacred places in Christendom. This independent city-state within Rome serves as the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and is home to the Pope. Upon arrival, turn on your pre-distributed headset and dive into the Vatican’s rich history with your local guide. First, visit the Vatican Museums, which are more than 500 years old and house many of the world’s most important Classical- and Renaissance-era sculptures. Next, step inside the Sistine Chapel, whose frescoed ceiling is arguably Michelangelo’s greatest masterpiece. Finally, pay a visit to the enormous St. Peter’s Basilica, the epicenter of the Roman Catholic faith. The artists who have contributed to its glory are some of the best Italy has ever known: Bramante, Peruzzi, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Masterpieces await at every turn, from Bernini’s magnificent bronze canopy to Michelangelo’s Pietà. Please note: Should this excursion fall on a Sunday, it will be moved to another day of the tour. Backpacks are not allowed in the Vatican, and shorts and sleeveless shirts are strictly prohibited. Due to closures of certain entrances and pathways, wait times may extend to several hours during busy travel months.

Flight Home
Day 14: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.