Art & History in the Mediterranean - A Voyage from Malaga to Marseille

Fly by scheduled flight. Arrive and transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. The remainder of the day is free before we meet for dinner this evening.

After breakfast in the hotel a morning tour will take us to the 14th century Castillo de Gibralfaro, built on a hill overlooking the city and once considered the most impregnable fortress in Iberia. Continue to the impressive 16th century cathedral which was built on the remains of a mosque. With its mix of Renaissance and Gothic styles it has been declared a national landmark. Alternatively, our Picasso tour will start in La Merced Plaza to view the house where he was born before we continue to the Museo Picasso which contains over 200 pieces of his works. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before we transfer to the MS Hebridean Sky moored in the city. Sail this evening.

In the early afternoon we arrive in Spain’s main naval port of Cartagena. Enter the deep natural harbour through two fortified rocky headlands for an afternoon of exploration in this historic city that dates back to the Phoenicians. Hannibal used it as his capital city on the Iberian peninsula and named it after Carthage in North Africa whilst the Romans used it as a strategic port and administrative centre. The city walls remained intact until the 20th century creating a dense historic centre. Take the lift or walk up to Concepcio Castle for amazing views of the city and harbour, view the Roman Theatre and the archaeological site of Molinete where work continues to uncover the Roman city. Later enjoy a stroll along the tree-lined harbour promenade as we return to the MS Hebridean Sky.

A morning walking tour will explore this vibrant city and visit some of the fine Baroque buildings including the 15th century Gothic Silk Exchange and the old ‘El Carmen’ quarter where we see the Cathedral. Construction of the cathedral began in the 13th century but took nearly 300 years to complete and is a fascinating mix of Gothic, Baroque and Rennaisance styles. Alternately, visit the Fine Arts Museum, one of the best in Spain with works by Valencian, Flemish and Spanish masters including Van Dyck, Goya and Velazquez as well as interesting archaeological pieces. Later we visit the Colegio del Patriarca with its wonderful Renaissance courtyard, church and museum with works including The Last Supper by Ribalta. The afternoon is free to explore further at your own pace.

Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands, has a rich history dating back to the Phoenicians when it was under the control of Carthage, the principal North African city at that time, before flourishing under Roman rule. This morning there is a choice of tours. Join us as we drive to Valldemossa, a quiet and traditional town with narrow streets and lanes constructed with blonde stone. Each doorway and street is lined with beautiful green plants and flowers making the town one of the most beautiful in Mallorca. Popular with artists, we can see some of the studios during a walking tour which will include the 13th century monastery linked with the composer Frederic Chopin, who lived here during the winter of 1838-39. Alternatively, explore Palma including the cathedral, Spain’s second largest Gothic church, before we continue to the lovely Plaza Mayor. Later take in the impressive views from Bellver Castle, a unique structure in Spain due to the fact that the building is entirely round. For many centuries the castle was used as a prison but today it houses Palma’s History Museum containing artefacts and pottery from the Talaiotic, Roman, Arab and Spanish periods. After lunch on board the afternoon is free to explore further at your own pace.

Over breakfast we arrive in Menorca, the most northerly of the Balearics and the least dedicated to tourism. The island offers pastoral countryside, historic towns and superb beaches. This morning choose to join an island drive including the mysterious rock mounds (talayots) and megalithic stone monuments which were erected some 4,000 years ago before making our way to aristocratic Ciudadella, the architectural showpiece of Menorca. Situated at the head of a long channel from the sea, the city has had its share of disputes over sovereignty, and its character reflects the influence of Moorish, Turkish and Spanish rule. Alternatively, enjoy a few hours exploring the pretty harbour town of Mahon at your own pace before we sail in the early afternoon.

During the second Punic War in 218 AD the city of Tarraco was established as a garrison which developed into the main military base for the Roman army in Spain. Today we can still see remnants of the Roman period as we explore the city by foot. See the impressive walls that once surrounded the city, the 2nd century amphitheatre and the Roman Circus where chariot races were held. After lunch on board there will be time to explore more of Tarragona at your leisure. Maybe see the 12th century cathedral, visit one of the food stalls in the market or take in the street art whilst strolling in the old town.

Arriving on the Costa Brava and the port of Palamos, we travel inland to Medieval Figueres, an impressive town of Modernist and Neoclassical architecture that is most renowned as the birthplace of Salvador Dali. Our tour includes the impressive 18th century castle of St Ferran and the old city walls before continuing to the Dali Theatre Museum. Designed by Dali himself, the museum takes us through the life of the artist. After lunch in the city you can choose to return to the ship and spend the afternoon at leisure or drive along the coast to the archaeological site of Empuries. Founded by Greek merchants in the 6th century BC as Emporion, it was a commercial hub and became a major port. In 218 BC the town was taken by the Romans who built an even greater city above the Greek town.

The ‘Cote Vermeille’, or rocky coast, is one of the most beautiful parts of the Mediterranean and has inspired some of the world’s most famous artists. We will drive the short distance to Collioure which has always been a source of inspiration for artists. Here we will have time to explore the colourful streets and visit the local artist studios and the 12th century Royal Castle. This afternoon choose to explore the historic town of Port Vendres independently or join a tour to the charming town of Ceret located in the foothills of the Vallespir Mountains. After a walking tour of the town we visit the wonderful Musee d’art Moderne containing works from Picasso, Chagall and Dali as well as pieces drawn in Collioure by Matisse.

From our berth in Marseille, we will offer a choice of excursions today. You can choose to head inland to Aix en Provence which was founded by the Romans in the 1st century and is renowned as the home of artist Paul Cezanne. We will visit his studio which still houses his equipment and the objects he used for models and the Jas de Bouffan estate, Cezanne’s parents’ country house which contains many of the painter’s celebrated works. We will continue to the ‘Terrain des Peintres’ which is located on the heights of Aix en Provence, a few hundred metres from the Atelier Cezanne. It is famous for the wonderful views of the Montagne Sainte Victoire which Cezanne often painted in the latter part of his life. After lunch in a local restaurant we will spend some time in Aix with its leafy boulevards and public squares lined with 17th and 18th century mansions. Alternatively spend the day in Avignon, the great City of the Popes which boasts a number of splendid museums, churches and palaces. Our guided walking tour will include the Palais des Papes, one of the wonders of Provence and the largest and most important Medieval Gothic buildings in Europe, built in the 14th century as a fortified palace for the pontifical court. We also visit the cathedral and the famous Pont Saint-Benezet, a bridge that spans the Rhone between Villeneuve les Avignon and Avignon, and the Pont du Gard, one of the wonders of antiquity, built by Agrippa in 19 BC in order to provide the city of Nimes with fresh water from the Uzes area.

Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight to London.

Itineraries are subject to change.