Mediterranean Coastal Journey: Spain, France & Italy

Barcelona
Barcelona is an enchanting seaside city with boundless culture, fabled architecture and a world-class drinking and dining scene. Barcelona's architectural treasures span 2,000-plus years. Towering temple columns, ancient city walls and subterranean stone corridors provide a window into Roman-era Barcino. Fast forward a thousand years to the Middle Ages by taking a stroll through the shadowy lanes of the Gothic quarter, past tranquil plazas and soaring 14th-century cathedrals. In other parts of town bloom the sculptural masterpieces of Modernisme, a mix of ingenious and whimsical creations by Gaudí and his Catalan architectural contemporaries for which this city is so well known. Barcelona has also long-inspired artists, including the likes of Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró, whose works are in bold display in the city's myriad museums.

La Sagrada Familia
La Sagrada Familia, the Holy Family, is a church of the people, built by the people, with the money of the people. While it is not the cathedral of Barcelona, it is widely known due to its unique architecture and phenomenal design initiated by architect Antoni Gaudí. Work on the exploratory church began in 1882 and continue to this day, but with modern technology and the rising number of visitors and donations, the church’s completion date has rapidly become closer. The facades of the church are breathtaking in their intricate and artistic details all of which were inspired by Gaudí. The church is divided into parts including the apse, chapels, cloister, crossing and transepts, crypt, glory façade, the nativity façade, the passion façade, the main nave and the sacristies.

Choice on Tour: National Museum of Art or Castle of Montjuic by Cable Car
During your stay in Barcelona, you’ll have the choice between 2 activities. Your first choice is a visit to Catalunya’s National Museum of Art, one of Spain’s largest museums, in the company of a local guide. Your second choice is to hop on a cable car and ascend the Montjuïc Castle for bird-eye views over the bustling port.National Museum of Art of Catalunya - NEO Day 3Activity Level: 3Travelers picking this choice should expect to be on their feet inside the museum for about 60 minutes while the local guide provides a tour of the museum's highlights. They will then have free time to explore the rest of the museum on their own.Castle of Montjuic by Cable Car - NEO Day 3Activity Level: 3Travelers picking this choice need to be aware that it's not suitable for people with vertigo, as the cable car is suspended between 50 and 200 feet above ground. The ride takes 7 minutes each way.

Costa Brava


Winery Visit


Choice on Tour: Cosquer Cave Museum or Marseille Soap Experience
During your stay in Marseille, you’ll have the choice between 2 activities. Your first choice is to delve into the area’s prehistoric past with a visit to the Cosquer Cave, an outstanding example of primitive rock art admirably replicated in the Villa Méditerranée museum. Your second choice is to hop on a local ferry and discover one of the city’s heritage trades during a visit to the museum of “Marseille” soap, which has been crafted in the area for over 600 years.Cosquer Cave Museum - NEO Day 7Activity Level: 2Travelers picking this choice will access the reproduction of the cave via automated motorized vehicles with seats. The time in the cave will be approximately 30 minutes during which they will be able to admire the exact reproductions of prehistoric cave paintings. Each traveler will receive an audioguide for the duration of the visit. The total visiting time is approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes.Marseille Soap Experience - NEO Day 7Activity Level: 2Travelers will cross the old port by a local ferry and visit the museum of a local soap factory to discover the history of this ancient craft. A hands-on demonstration of soap-cutting is included in the tour. The activity is approximately 1 hour.

Impact Moment


Aix-en-Provence
The abundant springs that supply the "City of a Thousand Fountains" have given this unofficial capital of the Provence its name. Aix-en-Provence is excellently located between the Mediterranean, the French Riviera, and the Languedoc-Rousillon region. It has been the seat of a University for 600 years and continues to be a center of learning for the study of Law. The city retains a certain distinction due to its cultural life and its handsome 12th and 18th century mansions as well as Roman ruins and its medieval cathedral. Thermal baths, a picturesque fresh produce market and the lively artisanal craft and wares market highlight the city's many attractions.

French Riviera
The "Côte d'Azur" is that portion of the Mediterranean coast in southeastern France that extends from Menton in the north to Hyères in the south. The region is dotted with both large cosmopolitan centers like Nice, Antibes, and Cannes and smaller towns and villages lining the coast as well as straddling on precarious peaks and hilltops. The region is renowned for its glitzy towns and beaches where the rich and famous both play and hideout. The Alpilles shield the region from inclement weather giving the area mild temperatures year-round.

Monaco-Montecarlo


Portofino
Located in the center of the Italian Riviera, Portofino is a small fishing village turned playground for the rich and famous. The village is situated facing the sea and its small protected harbor. The village’s many colorful buildings boast many small cafes and designer boutiques.

Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre is made up of five small villages that cling to the rocky cliffs of the southern Italian Riviera. Each village has its own unique charms with views over the terraced vineyards and the small beaches of the Ligurian Sea. The villages are linked together by trains, hiking paths, and seasonal boat service. From the north to the south the villages are: Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso al Mare.

Florence
Florence is the regional capital of Tuscany and home to countless Renaissance masterpieces. The city developed great wealth during the late Middle Ages and was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance that produced great artists like Michelangelo, Raphael, Brunelleschi and many others. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with numerous museums, stunning architecture and charming piazzas. The city offers something for everyone from culture, to great food and excellent shopping (like their famous gold or leather).

Truffle Hunting


San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a picturesque hill town in the central part of Tuscany. The town developed great wealth in the middle ages and was home to 70 plus medieval towers. Today, only a handful of the towers are still intact, but at least one is open to the public. The hilltop location allows for beautiful panoramic views over the Tuscan Countryside. The town is also home to shops that sell a variety of Tuscan goods from pottery to wine, cheese and wild boar salami.

Mediterranean Coastal Journey: Spain, France & Italy

Hotel Catalonia Passeig de Gracia
Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 644, Barcelona, Spain


Park Hotel San Jorge
Av. Andorra, 28, Costa Brava, Spain


NH Collection
37 Bd des Dames, Marseille, France


Hotel Apollinaire
25 Boulevard Dubouchage, Nice, France


NH Collection Genova Marina, Genoa
Molo Ponte Calvi, 5, Italian Riviera, Italy


Hotel Borgo di Cortefreda, Chianti Countryside
Via Roma,, Tuscany, Italy