Civitavecchia (Rome) → Barcelona (10 nights)

There’s more to Rome than its ancient architecture. The Eternal City is home to a seemingly endless array of hidden gems. The artistic-minded can enjoy fashion aristocracy, street art, vespa jaunts to The Appian Way and toss coins into fountains. Or you can stroll by appointment to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and the Pope’s private quarters at the Vatican. Explore the historic ruins of The Colosseum, Caravaggio churches, the Spanish Steps and The Pantheon. Learn how to make pasta the true Italian way, hunt truffles, nibble gelato, sip coffee and sink into a 3000 year old pool for a wellness experience. An ode to homespun pasta at a Renaissance piazza. When in Rome, fusing old with new makes it simple to indulge in whatever you like.

A paradise of fairytales, flower-festooned footpaths, and cliff-hugging towns, Amalfi – and its eponymously named coast – rises vertically between impossibly blue sea and sky upon one of Italy’s most romantic coasts. Amalfi town delivers with its dramatic Duomo, an 11th century marvel, stunning Emerald Grotto, and hand-painted ceramics. High in the hills awaits tiny Ravello, with lofty aristocrat dreams of enchanting gardens in Villa Rufolo and knock-out-views on the Terrace of Infinity at Villa Cimbrone. Positively perfect Positano is a UNESCO-protected masterpiece where steep streets are lined with boutiques and chic terraces perfect for sipping limoncello and pastel-hued houses tumble down the cliffside stretch beside Spiaggia Grande beach.

Cagliari fans out from the steep slopes of Il Castello, the hilltop citadel built by Pisan rulers in the 13th century, home to the opulent Cathedral of Santa Maria and bloody Elephant Tower, where trophy heads once hung. The seven-kilometre expanse of Poetto Beach unfurls from the Devil’s Saddle (Sella del Diavolo) on St. Elia promontory, past a string of beachfront eateries where legendary Sardinian seafood is enhanced by crisp chilled Vermentino. Across the waves, the irresistible waters of Capo Carbonara Marine Reserve teem with colourful coral fans and kaleidoscopic sea creatures.

March into a hidden Spanish gem with centuries of deeply ingrained culture and history. Not forgetting gourmet cuisine fit for a king. Take part in cookery lessons, wine samplings and coffee workshops, or the heart stopping elevator to the top of the Castillo. Head back to Roman times at the theatre and sanctuary for relics and mosaics. Inspect weaponry at the military museum and explore shipwrecks, artefacts and Mediterranean history at museums. View delightful street art in the bustling city centre and sample the traditional sailor tipple, Asiático. Cartagena has sites you won't see in the rest of Spain, from Roman ruins, Byzantine walls and Belle Epoque architecture to marble streets and war memorials.

Enjoy the epitome of Spanish charm. Slowly discover Andalusian riches to reveal Picasso’s birthplace, the Alhambra in Granada, Mezquita in Cordoba and the Ronda valley. Explore ancient heritage sites, dance the flamenco, dare to hike the Caminito del Rey trail and delve into white villages sprinkled amongst mango groves and avocado orchards. Sip cocktails by day and sangria by night. And as you watch the sun slip down, reflect upon this gateway of delights.

Enjoy the epitome of Spanish charm. Slowly discover Andalusian riches to reveal Picasso’s birthplace, the Alhambra in Granada, Mezquita in Cordoba and the Ronda valley. Explore ancient heritage sites, dance the flamenco, dare to hike the Caminito del Rey trail and delve into white villages sprinkled amongst mango groves and avocado orchards. Sip cocktails by day and sangria by night. And as you watch the sun slip down, reflect upon this gateway of delights.

At the crossroads of Europe and Africa, this once rakish, countercultural Moroccan city has retained its bohemian, beguilingly artistic feel. People watch the demi-monde from the Petit Socco, heart of Tangier’s seductive café scene, before strolling the Kasbah and cobblestone Grand Socco among a tangle of streets saturated in colour from tiles and painted cedarwood shutters and doorways. Iconic must-visits might include the 64-year-old Librarie des Colonnes, a sumptuous bookshop of literary greats; Café Hafa, for sunset sweet mint tea overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar; and El Morocco Club, for a nightcap on its rooftop terrace or in the city’s only piano bar.

Blue-domed cathedrals, cobbled alleyways and leafy plazas shaded by giant Ficus trees set the scene for magical moments in Alicante, gateway to Costa Blanca beaches, jagged mountains and medieval villages. Wander through the narrow streets of El Barrio and gorge on turrón and tapas, then climb the steps to timeless Santa Cruz, where whitewashed houses, flecked with colourful pots, cling to steep staircases on the flanks of Mount Benacantil. High above lies the mighty Castel de la Santa Bàrbara, a 1,000-year-old sandstone citadel commanding spectacular views of the glittering Mediterranean and the tile mosaic of palm-fringed Explanada de España on the harbourside.

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.