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Live the dream of sailing the Italian and French Riviera aboard the world’s largest and most luxurious 5-masted sailing yacht! This collection of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful islands and ports is a yachtsman’s fantasy, a traveler’s dream.
Depart the USA on any regularly scheduled flight to Rome, Italy.
Rome beckons with its amazing ruins, chic avenues and incredible sights. This most engaging of international cities has it all: ancient monuments like the Coliseum and Forum, time-honored sites such as the Spanish Steps and Pantheon, artistic masterpieces like the Pietá and Sistine Chapel in Vatican City – plus fabulous restaurants and beautiful people everywhere you look. This is a city for walking, watching, and being endlessly delighted.
The ancient Greeks referred to Corsica as Kalliste, “the Most Beautiful.” Henri Matisse was equally captivated, calling it a “marvelous land” where “all is color, all is light.” Corsica was the birthplace of Napoleon, and was controlled for centuries by Genoa and did not become a region of France until 1768. The approach to the medieval city of Bonifacio is impressive and awe inspiring, perched high atop a seemingly impenetrable limestone cliff.
Palombaggia is the most famous beach of Corsica, and has justifiably been voted one of the Top 10 best beaches in Europe. Flanked by mountains and umbrella-shaped pines, Palombaggia is a beautiful 2 km stretch of powdery golden sand and shall crystal clear blue water. A delightful mix of French (government) and Italian (neighbor), the nearby port of Porto-Vecchio attracts A-list celebrities and water sports lover from around the world. And the Old Town is full of discoveries, from Napoleon’s childhood home to the Porte Genoise gate, which frames an intoxicating view of the harbor, saltpans, and mountains. Compare the white sand to the ocean of white linen at the marina, and your glass of rose to the pink of the rocks supporting the five bastions of the Old Town.
Arriving by sea, you can seethe imposing Medici fortifications built in the 15th century to protect the town from the pirate attacks of Barbarossa and his ilk. Once in the horse shoe-shaped bay, the views out to sea are just as arresting, as the old Roman villas built facing the water can attest. Later on, Napoleon chose the island for his exile because of its sublime climate and the “gentle manners of the islanders.” Although he only stayed for nine months, his legacy is everywhere. Perhaps you’ll visit the nearby countryside with its small villages and dramatic mountain passes. Head to one of the 150-odd white pebble beaches.
Viareggio is a fantastic hub to visit neighboring Pisa, Lucca and Florence. We’ll offer special excursions to these iconic UNESCO sites in Tuscany. If the landscape evokes a sense of the familiar it is because the great masters have used it as a backdrop for their friendly beach with fine sand surrounded by a National park with a forest of pine trees. The mayor of Viareggio has extended a personal invitation for gay travelers, and promised you’ll find plenty to do in this sun-soaked section of Italy.
Portovenere is the gateway to one of Italy’s greatest treasures, Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Historic, spectacular, multi-colored terraced villages overlooking the Ligurian Sea. Set amid some of the most dramatic coastal scenery on the planet, these five ingeniously constructed seaside villages are rich in color, charm and simplicity. Rooted in antiquity, Cinque Terre’s five villages date from the early medieval period.
Small but chic, St. Tropez is a lively town whose beaches are legendary, both for their beauty and for the beauties on them. yet there is a serene side to this village. Follow the narrow lanes from the waterfront, and you’ll arrive a the oldest part of St. Tropez, where twisting narrow streets open onto tiny squares and fountains. Grea views can be had from the 16th century Citadel, but the most interesting views are from a chair in a sidewalk café: sit on the terrace and watch the fascinating, flirtatious French Riviera pass by.
Cannes is the epicenter of the French Riviera – a world of exclusive boutiques, palm-fringed boulevards, sun-drenched beaches, and elegant sidewalk cafés. glittering Cannes is the archetypal Mediterranean resort city discovered by wealthy English nobles who came to the sunny south of France to escape their drafty old castles during the dreary British winters. Cannes’ highflying lifestyle has attracted notables and the notorious ever since. Every year, the stars flock to celebrate the Cannes film Festival at the colossal Palis des Festivals. for those not seduced by Cannes’ hedonistic air, there’s enough natural beauty to make a trip worthwhile: the harbor, the bay, the clutch of islands off the coast and the old quarter, Le Suquet, all spring into life on a sunny day.
Last departure 1–10 Jul 2016 · Europe, Russia · with Coda Tours
Last departure 8–15 Oct 2016 · Europe, France · with Coda Tours
Last departure 3–11 Oct 2017 · Europe, Italy · with Coda Tours