Setting out from the port by coach, you will find it easy to relax and enjoy this driving tour of Spain’s most fascinating city, Barcelona, a lovely Mediterranean stronghold of architectural interest. You will drive along one of Barcelona’s most famous streets, the Passeig de Gracia, lined with different Modernist buildings, many of which were designed by architect Antoni Gaudí. Watch for Casa Batlló, an iconic Barcelona landmark and Casa Mila. You will drive by one of Gaudí’s masterpieces – the Sagrada Familia (Holy Family) Church (outside visit). This is a site not to be missed. Though construction was started in 1882 it is still unfinished. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the most-visited building in Barcelona, and immediately identifies the city around the world. From here you’ll head up to the viewpoint in Montjuic with the most exceptional views of Barcelona and its impressive harbor.
 

Please note: This tour will end  at  your Windstar hotel. This tour is available only to guests staying overnight in Barcelona. An inside visit to the Sagrada Familia is not included.   The Cathedral is closed to tours.

           

 

 

 

This pleasant excursion will take you along winding roads and through picturesque villages. You will discover the hinterland of the Balagne region. In the past, the Haute-Balagne was the most fertile region of Corsica, famous for its prolific production of honey, fruit and wine. Today a stark brightness characterizes the fire-ravaged landscapes of the interior. Acres of gnarled olive trees and wavy vestiges of dry-stone walls intermittently break up the pattern of pale orange rock. The Haute-Balagna coast still boasts many unspoiled places that you will explore as you travel along the coastal road to Lumio. This terraced village overlooking the gulf has an exceptional Romanesque church and is surrounded by excellent vineyards. From here, the road snakes leisurely through the interior to typical Corsican villages. Enjoy lovely views along the way, including those from Col de Salvi and Cateri village with its flower-bedecked balconies. At San Antonino, you will stop for a visit. You will pass the interesting Church of Aregno with its multi-colored walls and unique sculptures and stop in Ile Rousse where free time is allowed for browsing in this charming village before you return to Calvi. On the way to Ile Rousse you will enjoy a tasting of Corsican specialties,

 

Please note: This tour is not recommended for people who experience vertigo as  the  road is extremely winding.
 

                          

 

 

Calvi is an attractive town in an idyllic location between the sea and the mountains. As you explore, you will learn about Calvi's history, from its origins as a humble fishing village to a mighty Genoese stronghold, and now its current status as a picturesque vacation getaway. With your guide, begin your walking tour as you head to the entrance of the citadel perched on a rocky hill overlooking the port. You will cross the drawbridge and stop to enjoy a breathtaking vista of the red rooftops and the crystal-clear sea. Continue to the Place d'Armes and then to the St. Jean Baptiste Cathedral set at the highest point of the promontory. The cathedral, founded in the 13th  century, was partially destroyed during the Turkish siege in 1553 and rebuilt in the shape of the Greek cross. Your walk will take you to the home of Calvi's most famous son, Christopher Columbus, born in Calvi on October 12, 1451. After viewing the exterior of this fabled building, you will pass the 13th century Caserne Sampiero, formerly the Governor's palace and now a military building. Make your way to the Oratoire St. Antoine to admire its Italian frescoes, then stroll along the city's ramparts and wander through the Ville Basse. This bustling section of the town sits at a foot of the ramparts, and the Landry Quay features a lovely marina and a café-lined promenade.

 

Please note:  Wear comfortable walking shoes.

           

 

 

 

You will leave Calvi harbor in an air-conditioned coach driving slowly through town and sightseeing the old town of Calvi. Then you will be crossing the River Figarella, going deeper into the Corsican countryside on the road to the village of Calenzana with its 1700 inhabitants. Set amidst olive trees and located at the foothills of the Montegrossu, Calenzana is a trekkers’ paradise in the summer, and is a lively village all year around due to its long-standing agricultural tradition. In addition, wine making and cheese making are very important in this region. You will discover the village’s 17th century Baroque church with its three chapels and its winding old streets. At Domaine Orsini, you will experience the best of Corsican hospitality. In one of the most beautiful Corsican wine cellars you will get to taste some of the most delicious wines made in Corsica.  You will tour the winery. The wines bear the prestigious label “Appelation d’Origine Controlée-Calvi” (AOC-Calvi). The vinification process takes the best of tradition and the best of what modern winemaking has to offer. After harvesting, the grapes are left together with their skin for the maceration process as it was done in the old days so that the grape juice keeps all of its aroma and bouquet. But the quality has been tremendously improved with the use of stainless steel barrels in the winemaking process but aging, on the other hand, is done in oak barrels, like in ancient times.  A bottle of Orsini wine will be offered to each guest.

 

Please note: Bring euros. This tour is not recommended for those with vertigo and the roads are very windy.


            

 

 

 

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, and English-speaking driver/guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own car. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver /guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own.

 

Please note:  Capacity: 1-2 guests. Private cars are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private car, and English-speaking driver/guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the Rome area and does not exceed the duration of 4 hours. Recommended for physically challenged guests.

             

 

 

 

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, and English-speaking driver/guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own van. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver /guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own.

 

Please note:  Capacity: 3-6 guests. Private vans are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private van, and English-speaking driver/guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the Rome area and does not exceed the duration of 4 hours. Recommended for physically challenged guests.

           

 

 

 

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, and English-speaking driver/guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own car. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver /guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own.

 

Please note:  Capacity: 1-2 guests. Private cars are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private car, and English-speaking driver/guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the Rome area and does not exceed the duration of 8 hours. Recommended for physically challenged guests.

             

 

 

 

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, and English-speaking driver/guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own van. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver /guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own.

 

Please note:  Capacity: 3-6 guests. Private van are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private van, and English-speaking driver/guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the Rome area and does not exceed the duration of 8 hours. Recommended for physically challenged guests.

             

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

The beautiful peninsula of Cap Corse is a ribbon of sheer coast along a fault line, suspended at an altitude of 3,280 feet. Between two seas. The prelude to the beauties of Cap Corse will be found along the road called the Cliff Road which, starting you will journey on  from Bastia and it will a matchless view over the Tuscan Archipelago.  A 30-minute ride will take you to the small and colorful fishing port of Erbalunga  where you will have time to spend before re-boarding your motor coach for the 30-minute to Luri for another short stop.  Then on for a 60-minute drive to the marine of Pino and the sheer cliff of Nonza with its Genovese tower and a boundless grey beach — offering astonishing landscapes.

 

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring euros.  This tour is not recommended for people with vertigo as the road is extremely windy with several hairpin turns.

           

 

 

Bastia was founded by the Genoese in 1380, when they were looking for a naturally sheltered port to replace the ancient Roman city of Mariana and Biguglia (which had been destroyed by the Corsicans in 1372).  They needed a city and port which could assure the contact between their “Homeland” and their “colony”. Even if this small port was swept by terrible winds, it was protected by a rock,  easily defensible, and upon which a dungeon (or bastiglia) was built- and hence the name of the town Bastia. The numerous religious buildings dotted all over the island bear witness to the profound religious fervor of its inhabitants and their attachment to the Catholic faith. Despite this, the collective consciousness remains steeped in many pagan traditions,with relics of ancient beliefs. The mystical spirit of Corsica finds its true expression during the great Christian festivals, however the barrier between the natural and supernatural world is extremely permeable and Corsica is teeming with visionaries, faith healers, and mediums. This walking tour will take you to some purportedly haunted sites, and give you an overview of the superstitions and local legends which still hold sway.

 

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring Euros. You will have about 30 minutes to shop on your own.

            

 

 

 

Your journey from Bastia will lead inland to Oletta – a small village terraced up the hillside, and from where there is a lovely view of Saint Florent and over  the countryside of olive groves, vineyards, and pastures – small squares of property delimited by dry stone walls. Then the road climbs up to the San Stefano Pass, through chestnut and olive groves, and from there is a spectacular panorama down to the east coast and the Biguglia “étang” (pool) and in the other direction, across the Agriates Desert and the sea at Saint Florent.  You will climb a sinuous, narrow road, up to the Teghime Pass, where at an altitude of 1,759 feet ( 536M), the views are completely different in each direction. To the West: over extensive vineyards right to the gulf of Saint Florent. To the South: across mountains and valleys towards the chestnut forests of the Castagniccia. The East: past Bastia and the sea leading to Italy. Finally North: the mountainous backbone of the Cap Corse. The road turns and twists its way down to Patrimonio, offering picturesque views background. Patrimonio village is dominated by its church and high steeple (built in 1749). Of course, it would be impossible to be in the finest wine producing region of the island, without having a wine-tasting session!

 

Please note: The order of sites visited might vary.

            

 

 

 

Bastia was founded by the Genoese in 1380, when they were looking for a naturally sheltered port to replace the ancient Roman city of Mariana and Biguglia (which had been destroyed by the Corsicans in 1372). The Genoese needed a city and port which could ensure contact between their “homeland” and their “colony.” Even if this small port was swept by terrible  winds, it was protected by a rock, easily defensible, and upon which a dungeon (or bastiglia) was built- and hence the name of the town Bastua. You will be met by your tour guide for a walking visit of the old City and the citadel . During your city tour by foot you will enjoy a stop for a Corsican spuntinu and tasting of Corsican specialties.

 

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring euros.

 

            

 

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, and English-speaking driver/guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own car. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver /guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own.

 

Please note:  Capacity: 1-2 guests. Private cars are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private car, and English-speaking driver/guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the Rome area and does not exceed the duration of 4 hours. Recommended for physically challenged guests.

             

 

 

 

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, and English-speaking driver/guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own van. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver /guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own.

 

Please note:  Capacity: 3-6 guests. Private vans are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private van, and English-speaking driver/guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the Rome area and does not exceed the duration of 4 hours. Recommended for physically challenged guests.

           

 

 

 

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, and English-speaking driver/guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own car. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver /guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own.

 

Please note:  Capacity: 1-2 guests. Private cars are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private car, and English-speaking driver/guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the Rome area and does not exceed the duration of 8 hours. Recommended for physically challenged guests.

             

 

 

 

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, and English-speaking driver/guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own van. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver /guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own.

 

Please note:  Capacity: 3-6 guests. Private van are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private van, and English-speaking driver/guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the Rome area and does not exceed the duration of 8 hours. Recommended for physically challenged guests.