Day 1: Following an early morning home collection by our door to door taxi service, we join our platinum executive tour coach and make our way to Kent for our short sea crossing to France. Upon our arrival we continue our journey through the French countryside before we reach our overnight hotel.
Day 2: After breakfast we continue our journey through France, travelling through Lyon, before crossing the border into Italy. Our destination is Diano Marina, staying at the Hotel Bellevue for 6 nights on a dinner bed and breakfast basis.
Day 3: Today is a day of leisure to get to know Diano Marina at your own pace. This beautiful sweeping stretch of coastline, sheltered by the Maritime Alps, which curve between Tuscany and France’s Côte d’Azur, is a lovely base for our tour.
The area was dedicated to Diana, the Roman goddess of hunting, and a statue in her honour sits on the seafront at the western end of the city. Like many of the Riviera towns, Diano Marina, often dubbed “the city of the orange trees”, has a palm lined promenade with shops, bars, cafés and restaurants. The bustling town centre houses lovely pastel coloured Art Nouveau buildings and a range of cultural attractions which add to its old world charm.
If you love history add the Palazzo del Parco to your day. This 20th Century villa is the town’s cultural heart and home to the library and civic museum, where you’ll find an impressive ten exhibition halls. For some quiet time take a pew at the neoclassical St Antonio Abate Church with its exquisite marble altars, Corinthian columns and beautiful Raffaele Resio frescos.
For a leisurely stroll, Diano Marina’s beach is impressive, stretching out over three kilometres, providing a beautiful backdrop to your free day.
Day 4: Today we are joined by a local guide and enjoy a scenic coastal drive along the Riviera of flowers to the beautiful resort of San Remo with its medieval centre and picturesque harbour. San Remo is Italy's own Monte Carlo, a sun-dappled Mediterranean resort with a casino, a clutch of ostentatious villas and lashings of Riviera-style grandeur. Beaches aside, San Remo (spelled Sanremo in Italian) hides the atmospheric lanes of a medieval district called La Pigna. La Pigna, is the oldest part of the city and its tiny streets and covered alleyways wind up the hill to the gardens and sanctuary at the top. Some of the historic buildings, churches, and squares have been restored, and there are signs describing them along the way. The Madonna della Costa Sanctuary is a symbol of the city. A beautiful cobblestone mosaic dating from 1651 leads the way to the sanctuary, and the dome atop the sanctuary was erected between 1770 and 1775. Inside are an ornate altar and organ
and beautiful paintings and statues dating from the 17th to 19th centuries. Of course, San Remo's century-old casino is itself is a magnificent work of architecture, built in the Liberty Deco style. Visitors can enjoy the theatre and restaurants located inside the casino, which is right in the center of the city. The casino is connected to the Piazza Colombo and Via Matteotti shopping and entertainment area.
After some free time we continue along the coast, turning inland to the medieval village of Dolceacqua. This village is a place of much character and charm and is a treasure to the Italian Riviera. Claude Monet, who in 1884 stayed nearby, was enchanted by the village of Dolceacqua. The Impressionist Painter drew the view of the village, and the Castle of the Roman bridge of Dolceacqua, and in his letters wrote: “… the place is superb, there is a bridge that is a jewel of lightness …”. Today the medieval village of Dolceacqua is still identical to how Claude Monet painted it in the late 1800s.
Whilst here we have an included Ligurian lunch serving local specialities and accompanied by wine produced from the beautiful region.
Day 5: Today we are once again joined by our local guide and head for one of the most fashionable resorts on the Italian riviera as we travel to the palm tree lined resort of Santa Margherita Ligure. This coastal town, located in a protected bay in one of the most beautiful stretches of the coast, is considered the Pearl of Tigullio. Its history is very ancient and dates back to Roman times. Santa Margherita began to transform into the beautiful coastal town we know from the second half of the 1800s, when the nobility from all over Europe began to discover the wonderful cities of Liguria. Because of its proximity to Portofino, not only is it surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes, it is immersed in luxuriant vegetation, with gardens, flower beds, palm and pine trees on the sea front. It also has a lovely view of the arch of the bay, where traditional cottages sit right on the sea, surrounded by interesting Art Deco buildings and a stunning seafront promenade. From here we enjoy a relaxing boat ride along the coast and around the headland to Portofino, one of the most iconic places of the Italian Riviera. Known all over the world, this picture postcard resort is nestled in the green headland, with its tall colourful houses arranged in a semi-circle around the famous Piazzetta. Portofino is a village of very ancient origins, documented in the imperial age with the name of Portus Delphini; the central part of the town still retains the Roman road system. Be sure to visit the Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta, better known as the small square: under its arcades there are shops and boutiques, restaurants and ice cream parlors, which surround the marina.
Day 6: This morning we cross the border into France and head to the Principality of Monaco and Monte Carlo. Driving along the scenic Grand Corniche, the high mountain road, you will have stunning views over the principality and Riviera. At just eight square miles, the Principality of Monaco is the smallest and almost certainly wealthiest sovereign-state, with possibly more millionaires than anywhere else on earth. Nicknamed 'The Rock', this tiny capital is built against the mountains, and sprawls down to the glittering shores of the Riviera. There is a fascination with Monaco's ruling Grimaldi family, especially since Prince Rainier III’s marriage to the former film star Grace Kelly. Take a stroll around the famous Formula 1 circuit; visit the Cathedral, browse the sumptuous boutiques and marvel at the fabulous parks and gardens of this tiny paradise. We later spend time in probably the most famous region of Monaco: Monte Carlo. Here you can rub shoulders with the rich and famous, or if you feel lucky take your chances in the famous Grand Casino where the lavish interiors are still decorated in the Belle Époque style. (any attraction fees today are subject to individual choice and payment).
Day 7: Today is a day at Leisure in Diano Marina.
Day 8: Sadly, we bid farewell to our hosts and make our way to our overnight hotel in the Dijon area.
Day 9: After breakfast, we make the journey to Calais to board the mid-afternoon ferry back to Kent. Upon our arrival we continue homewards to Norfolk, where our door to door service awaits to return you home.
Holiday Information:
8 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Price: £1302pp
Single Supplement: £169(Limited Availability) (Will be allocated a twin or double sole use at the overnight hotel, but the main stay will be a true single room)
Insurance: £POA Due to crossover renewal dates over the festive period, new insurance policies cannot currently be purchased online. Please contact our office in the new year for further details.
Tour Reference: EUR1838
This tour will be undertaken in one of our Platinum luxury executive coaches. You will have extended leg room, airline style seats with adjustable headrests and USB charging points, along with all the facilities present on our executive touring vehicles.
Deposit Required: £70pp
Balance Due: 10 weeks prior to departure