Mediterranean Allure: Fine Wine & Cuisine

Today you’ll arrive in Rome and check into Hotel Massimo D’Azeglio

After breakfast meet your group and travel to Siena in the Tuscany region. Enroute make a very special stop and enjoy a guided tour of Brolio Castle and Ricasoli winery with wine tasting. A 4-course lunch menu is included with local pairing wines.

After lunch, transfer to Siena to settle into your hotel, NH Hotel Siena.

Dinner tonight will be at Dario Cecchini’s Officina della Bistecca. The Officina menu is the result of many years work, with a long family tradition behind it.

Today, Castello Nipozzano awaits you. The ancient defensive stronghold of Florence from the year 1000, the Castello Nipozzano is the most celebrated and historic property of the Frescobaldi family. According to popular belief Nipozzano means “without a well” – testimony to the area’s lack of water and ideal circumstances for the cultivation of grapevines. The first documentation about the renowned wines of Nipozzano dates from the Renaissance when great artists such as Donatello and Michelozzo Michelozzi regularly purchased wine from the estate.

Enjoy a tour, wine tastings and lunch in this beautiful setting.

Later, transfer back to Siena in the afternoon for time at leisure.

After breakfast , venture to the heart of Chianti Classico with a visit to Poggerino. The vineyard area is approximately 11 hectares planted mainly with Sangiovese, a vine also chosen in the construction of most of the new plants in which its great potential is being tested. Poggerino wines are produced exclusively with grapes from these vineyards. All stages of production, from the processing of the vineyard to the vinification and marketing are managed by the owners themselves.

Discover Poggerino vineyard and winery with a tour, followed by lunch and wine tasting.

Afterwards, transfer the port at Civitavecchia to board Oceania’s Allura for your 10 night Mediterranean cruise.

Salerno is a port city southeast of Naples, in Italy. Atop Monte Bonadies, the centuries-old Arechi Castle has sea views, plus Museo Medievale del Castello, exhibiting medieval ceramics and coins. In town, built on the ruins of a Roman temple, is Salerno Cathedral. It has Byzantine bronze doors, a baroque crypt and a marble altar. The terraced Minerva’s Garden has been growing medicinal plants since the 14th century.

Today you’ll enjoy a group hosted tasting, tour and lunch with Mt Etna’s famous Graci family in Taormina (Sicily). You’ll also have time to enjoy magnificent panoramic views on the way up to the town, where you can stroll down medieval lanes past stunning palaces. See the famed Greek theatre and its fantastic view of Mount Etna. Or take a trip to the volcano itself and get a first-hand look at cones, craters and lava streams from previous eruptions and a fantastic view over the Gulf of Catania. Venture into the countryside and its lovely hill towns, one with a Norman castle built of black lava, and visit beautiful old Catania.

Discover the myriad of cultural layers of Malta, from its amazing prehistoric temples at Tarxien to beautiful walled medieval Mdina, nearby Rabat, and Marsaxlokk, a colorful fishing village. Admire the stunning scenery and wander through imposing churches and down the streets of fortified towns where the Knights of St. John once held sway.

With its youthful spirit and natural beauty, the Balearic island of Ibiza (or “Eivissa,” as it’s known locally) appeals to those who love the outdoors. The beach-blessed coastline is majestically rugged, and the hills are covered with olive and fig trees. The capital of Ciudad de Ibiza offers a multitude of diversions, especially in the historic Dalt Vila district. Visit its 16th century Castle of Ibiza and the churches and Museum of Contemporary Art inside the fortified walls. With its cobblestone streets, Ibiza is a scenic city to walk. Two of the most popular beaches are Talamanca and Ses Figueretes.

The City of Arts and Sciences is an impressive collection of attractions, including an opera house and performing arts center, IMAX cinema, planetarium, science museum and oceanographic park. Visit the Gothic city of Requena, featuring perfectly preserved 100-year-old wine cellars. In Lladró’s City of Porcelain museum, explore the production facilities, or nearby visit the National Ceramics Museum, located in the former palace of nobility.

Visit the magnificent Gothic cathedral and the amazing La Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece. Enjoy the lovely Montjuic Gardens, Gaudí’s other fabulous structures, the charming squares of the old Gothic Quarter and the Ramblas, Barcelona’s famed downtown promenade. Or visit beautiful Montserrat and its monastery in a breathtaking setting high in the mountains.

Today you’ll enjoy your private hosted tasting, tour and lunch with the family at the historic and peerless Clos Cibonne in Provence

The quintessential Côte d’Azur resort town, Cannes has long been a playground for the rich and famous. Its epicenter is La Croisette, a boutique-lined boulevard with a legendary seven-mile beach. While it’s easy to spend a day here people-watching, be sure to venture up Susquet Hill and wander the winding streets of the old town. The 12th century Chapel of St. Anne and the eclectic collection of art in the Museum of the Castre will be of interest. The hilltop also affords phenomenal views of Cannes and the Lérins Islands lying just offshore.

Drive along the famous Grand Corniche with its stunning views of Monaco and the Old City; then stroll through this marvelous quarter and its pink Grimaldi Palace. And don’t forget the Casino. Explore the wonderful old villages along the Côte d’Azur from Nice to medieval Eze or Cannes, Grasse and lovely St. Paul de Vence – each one a jewel to be savored.

Your incredible journey ends today in Monte Carlo. Interested in extending your holiday? Ask us about our amazing range of accommodation and touring packages.