Barcelona → Fusina (Venice) (10 nights)

Breathe in the cultural heart of Catalan; an elegant blend of high energy and undisturbed tradition. Muse over the origins of captivating Gaudi architecture within the enchanting labyrinth that is the Gothic Quarter. Savour the flavours of fresh tapas and crisp cava in breezy plazas, tranquil terraces and coveted cafés, or glide down to a shimmering beach club to unwind. Imagine a visit to peaceful Passeig de Gracia, where modernist buildings merge to showcase iconic global labels. And, as dusk falls, prepare for urban action and swing by the lively bohemian bars to fiesta on the leafy stretch of La Rambla. If you’re serious about style, this colourful city provides plenty to celebrate.

Leave craggy coastlines behind and venture to the heartland of the biggest Balearic. Where endless authentic charm, history and nature await. Celebrate at Spain’s oldest winery, shop chic Palma boutiques and marvel at blossoming UNESCO-limestone mountains aboard a vintage train. Experience a tranquil monastery, art at a historic hacienda and tons of protected wildlife. Delve into nature at reserves, feast on wood-fired paella at lively hangouts, pilgrimage to historic churches and tour old-world Mallorcan villages. And as for sapphire seas that frame spotless beaches - Mallorca is truly an immense Balearic beauty.

Unearth the Med’s master of restoration and renovation behind honey-hued Valetta’s fortified walls. Strewn with a mass of well-preserved history - head back in time to hand-carved shelters, a maze of subterranean tombs and stone-age temples. Discover war secrets beneath the limestone streets, skim the Grand Harbour aboard a dghajsa, step into state history and get your fill of art and Fat Ladies in museums. But it’s not all ancient history - watch buzzing bars spill out onto limestone alleys, treat yourself to Michelin-starred Maltese cuisine, neighbourhood watch and dive over wrecks. Malta may be Europe’s tiniest capital, but she packs a might punch.

Dip in a Mediterranean mass of rich history, cuisine and abundant nature. Wander through historic cities, Roman sites, Greek temples and expansive vineyards. Skirt around simmering Mount Etna’s fertile lava lands, survey Grecian archaeology inland at Valle Dei Templi Grecian, seek out tumbled ruins at sea-facing Selinunte and drop in to Casale to admire ornate mosaics. Attend an Etna Rosso wine tasting, head for peace at the nature reserve and liven up at the Baroque old town of Sciacca. And for a final taste of Sicily, feast on olive oil drenched pasta - you won’t leave this honey-hued region unfulfilled.

Flock to Gallipoli like young Italians to sip fizzy prosecco and rich local Salentine wine. Lounge at a bohemian lido beach club, find bliss at Purity Beach or snorkel into craggy coastal caves and grottoes teaming with life. Follow fishermen with their fresh catch to local trattoria serving savoury zuppa di pesce and fish prepared all ways. Historians connect to the past via a bridge tethering a tiny, fortified island completely surrounded by 14th-century walls whilst gourmands venture to the outlying scenic Salentine region to plunder underground olive oil mills and photographic small villages. Gallipoli has got it all.

Comely Kotor Bay, a lesser-travelled amphitheatre etched into the Adriatic coast of Montenegro, welcomes with hypnotic jade waters encircled by emerald-crowned slopes. Sheltered in the fjord’s angelic embrace, Kotor Old Town beckons as a fairy-tale city whose formidable walls, Romanesque churches and medieval bastions have witnessed the highs and lows of masked carnivals and devastating earthquakes. Italian and Mediterranean influences flavour the cuisine, where gelato and brodetto accompany fresh Adriatic seafood. Uphill, the Church of our Lady of Remedy affords spectacular views of Kotor’s red-tiled UNESCO World Heritage rooftops, a manmade jewel amongst landscapes where the inspired will wander.

Unleash your artistic soul in Ravenna, where 1500-year-old churches are embellished with intricate mosaics and Byzantine art. Flooded crypts, columnar bell towers and Dante’s tomb make this Emilia-Romagna city divine. The Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, once the home of bloody King Theodoric the Great, is one of eight UNESCO treasures. Feast on Adriatic octopus in Piazza del Popolo, pedal through pine forests in nearby Cervia, cross invisible borders in espresso-sized San Marino, or discover the canals and flamingo-flecked wetlands of Comacchio.

Delve into an explosion of Slovene natural wonders packed with architecture, adventure and picture-perfect towns humming with Adriatic allure. Meander Koper’s medieval cobbled old-town lanes for fine Venetian architecture then tuck into lively Tito Square with its Bell Tower and beautiful Praetorian Palace. Head to underground wonderlands at the mystical Škocjan Caves to gasp at stalagmites and stalactites. Zag along the crazy cobalt-blue waters to nearby Piran for just-off-the-boat seafood. Stroll the stony streets and Tartini Square, climb the hill to walk amongst medieval walls then wander to the Church of St George for the most magnificent views.

Delve into ancient palaces, century-old galleries, and modern-day exhibits as you whirl through Venice. Walk through masterpieces, catch an opera, gaze at medieval buildings, blow Murano glass and drift down the Grand Canal by gondola to visit churches, convents and campi “squares” that vary in spirit and scale. Cross hump-backed bridges, reach teeming Piazza San Marco’s Basilica and Doge’s Palace, or duck down passages to escape reality. From palazzos to perfumeries and the must-see Bridge of Sighs, you’re only moments from a place of beauty in this liquid-gold city of treasures.