Italy, Venice : The serenissima

Venice might once have been engulfed by the water just like the city of Atlantis, where it not for the maintenance work carried out by the cities devoted protectors, and the efforts of the international community. Huge efforts go into restoration and protection, for example by building removable flood gates to help the protect the city from the wear of time and of the tides. As we float through the canals, Venice reveals to us its history and traditions: from its days as a formidable military and commercial power (...)

Rome, the city where 28 centuries of history converge. The cradle city of Western civilization, Rome has a history which stretches back over more than 2500 years. The centre of the Roman Empire, the heart of the catholic religion in the Vatican, Rome manages to combine Roman amphitheatres, Renaissance palaces, and Baroque fountains into an incredibly harmonious whole. Rome is an open-air museum.

Florence is an historic and artistic jewel, bedecked with the most beautiful pieces of Renaissance art. The red roofs and yellow walls of Florence look radiant against the lush green countryside. Founded in the Roman era in 59 BC, it was no more than a small provincial town until the 12th century, when it experienced an economic and artistic boom which continued up until the 16th century. The high concentration of merchants in the city meant that it acted as an economic and cultural crossroads.

Florence is an historic and artistic jewel, bedecked with the most beautiful pieces of Renaissance art. The red roofs and yellow walls of Florence look radiant against the lush green countryside. Founded in the Roman era in 59 BC, it was no more than a small provincial town until the 12th century, when it experienced an economic and artistic boom which continued up until the 16th century. The high concentration of merchants in the city meant that it acted as an economic and cultural crossroads.

Located in the heart of the Tuscan countryside and amidst remarkably beautiful landscapes, Sienna is the incarnation of a Medieval city. Its rivalry with Florence extended to urban design; the city's residents have fallen under its Gothic charm and have preserved their city as it was between the XIIth and XVth century.

Italy, Sicily : Private visit around the palaces of Sicily

From Palermo to Syracuse, Princess Carine DI GANGI takes us on a tour of the most beautiful palaces of the island, and gives us a glimpse into the lives of the great Sicilian families. Our tour of the Island starts in the capital, with the Gangi Palace, referred to as the « Versailles  » of Sicily. It was here that Claudia Cardinale and Burt Lancaster danced a waltz during the shooting of Lucchino Visconti’s « The Leopard ». Next, we meet with Princess Raffadali in her 15th century palace, followed by a visit to the residence of the Count.

Nicosia is the only capital city in the world which continues to be divided in two, as it has been since the Turkish invasion in 1974. Some of the magnificent Venetian walls of the city have been preserved. Inside visitors wander through a picturesque network of medieval lanes, stopping to visit the Museum of Byzantine art. Paphos, situated on the eastern side of the island, was consecrated, in ancient times, to the Goddess Aphrodite.

Legend has it that Aphrodite was born on Cyprus, « The Island of Love ». 
The island is scattered with monuments that give evidence to its rich and varied history, orthodox monasteries stand beside byzantine churches, and Greek and Roman relics. Limassol is the main town and Port on the South side of the island. The port here has taken over as Cyprus’ principal port since Famagouste was abandoned it lies within the occupied zone.

It is difficult not to succumb to the charms of this small archipelago, floating between Orient and Occident. Malta owes a great deal of its architectural heritage to the Knights of Saint Jean, buildings such as the Auberge de Provence, which has since been converted into the National Museum. 
Nevertheless, this maritime crossroads, has always remained open to the influx of Mediterranean culture. The capital, La Valette, is a surprising mixture of baroque architecture and military construction, evidence (...)

Tunisia 1 : The desert

The Tunisian part of the Oriental Grand Erg, runs along the border between Algeria and Tunisia. It is about 400 km long, 140km wide, and stretches from Nefta to Ghadames. In the Tunisian part, the width of the “grand erg” is maintained thanks to the compact mass of the patchwork of dunes. Mirage or reality? That is the question that comes to mind when you first glimpse the town of Tozeur in the distance. But as you get closer, you realise that this oasis, with its forest of lush palm trees, is 100 percent real.

Tunisia 2 : Crossing Tunisia

The principal town of Tunisia, Tunis, has been recognised as its capital since the decree of the Almohades on the 20th September 1159, and its status was confirmed by the Hafsides dynasty in 1228. Despite the European appearance of the Avenue Bourguiba, we quickly return to the authentic spirit of Tunis in the Medina, considered to be one of the most beautiful on the oriental side of the Mediterranean. Glancing up, the eye is immediately met by the starry silhouette of the Minarets, or the (...)

Tunisia 3 : Between tradition and modernity

Djerba, is synonymous with sun, warm seas and white beaches. Since the days of Homer, poets have been inspired to sing its praises. Ulysses supposedly passed through. It has been Christian, Vandal, Byzantine, and then Arab. Nabeul is one of the most important of the chain of towns which line the coast of the gulf of Hammamet. The environment here is one of lush gardens and orchards.

Israël 1 : Jerusalem and the story of Humanity

From West to East, the four divisions of the city of Jerusalem stand side by side, Christian, Armenian, Jewish, Muslim. Because it brings together Israeli, Christian and Muslim religious traditions, the town, which can be seen in its entirety from the top of the Mount of Olives, is awash with famous monuments, all very close to one another. The dome of the Rock in the Omar Mosque, built in the 7th century is the oldest Muslim monument in the town.

Israël 2 : Biblical past and modernism

Though they have, to a certain extent been transformed by the passage of time, the monuments of the Holy Land are still some of the most respected and reputed destinations for Christian pilgrims. The faithful come from all over the world to gather in Bethlehem, Nazareth, Capernaum, Jericho, on Mount Thabor, by Lake Tiberias, or on Mount Camel. On the banks of Lake Tiberias is Capernaum, the old town of Galilee, which is referred to in the Gospel: « Now when Jesus heard that John had been taken into  (...)

Morocco 1 : Casablanca, Fes and Marrakech

Morocco is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the Mediterranean. The four Imperial cities of Morocco: Marrakech, Fez, Rabat and Meknes are the jewels in her crown. Fez is a perfect example of an oriental city, unchanged since the 12th Century, it’s Medina (old town) is the largest in the Arab world. Famous for the strong blue colour of its ceramics, it is undoubtedly the artistic and intellectual capital of Morocco.In Marrakech, we drift amongst the charms of the ramparts, the gardens, the souks, (...)

Morocco 2 : Treasures and memories of the south of Morocco

Taroudant sits on a rocky outcrop looking out over the valley of the oued (river) Ouarzazate, which, in itself, forms a part of the Valley of the river of Souss, which runs beside the edge of the town. This fertile plain, which opens out onto the Atlantic, is surrounded by two mountain chains. The High Atlas to the North and to the East, and the Anti-Atlas to the South and to the West.

Marocco : The Imperial cities: Meknes, Marrakech, Fes

The greater part of Morocco’s history is found in the country’s heart, in the imperial cities. Each succeeding sultan and emperor from the Moroccan dynasties has chosen his capital city. With a 12 century history, Fes is the city to explore the remnants of Andalusia culture. Both modern and traditional, the city, founded by Sultan Idris the 1st, combined contemporary elements with 13th century relics edified by the Marinids. The Bâb-Boujloud gate offers us an enrapturing discovery of the historical city through (...)

Jordan 1: Amman and the North

The Kingdom of Jordan is strewn with the traces of its fertile history, the influence of Greek, Roman and Muslim rulers. In the desert, however, the over-riding influence is that of the Muslim princes, who built houses in this once fertile land, where they came to hunt. Castles such as Quasr el Kharaneh , and Quasr al- Amra once stood amongst orchards in a land rich with game.

Jordan 2: Petra and the South

Although the Kingdom of Jordan does not have access to the oil wealth of its immediate neighbours, it does possess a rich historical heritage. Historic sites bear witness to the country’s fertile past. A stunning example is Petra, which dates back to the Nabatean period. Cut into the rock of the cliffs, PETRA, « the pink city », was the capital of the Nabateans, a caravan people who transported myrrh, incense, and other precious commodities of the far East towards the Mediterranean. In the South, is the  (...)

Jordan: 2000 years of history

The Kingdom of Jordan is strewn with the traces of its fertile history, the influence of Greek, Roman and Muslim rulers. Amann, the capital, is dominated by the ‘citadelle,’ the name given to the Umayyad palace which sits on a hill in the centre of the city. The domed wooden structure dates back to the 8th century. Archaeologists have discovered both Greek and Nabatean relics here. Not far away, looking out over the Dead Sea, is Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have passed away, as well as  (...)

For some Cairo is captivating, for others unbearable, but it is impossible to remain indifferent to it. It is one of the principal destinations on any visit to Egypt, whether one is passionate about history, or simply a fan of the cities of the Orient. The buzz of the streets, its old quarters, ancient mosques, Coptic monuments, the medieval town of Fatimides, and the citadel of Saladin…these are some of the many important attractions of Cairo, a city famous for its prestigious role in history. At the Museum of  (...)

Egypt 2: Luxor and the Nile Valley

Luxor, the capital of Upper Egypt, and the area around it, contain a number of extraordinary sites which should feature on the must-do list for any visitor: the temple of Karnak, a conglomeration of religious structures, that of Luxor, one of the largest temples in Egypt, and the necropolis of Thebes.
The Temple of Karnak, to the North of the town, is a massive archaeological excavation site, where a number of temples have been unearthed.

Egypt : The treasures of the Nile valley (part2)
Gizeh – Saqqara – Edfou

For almost three millennium, the Nile valley has been home to one of the most brilliant civilisations in history. The invention of a written language, consisting of ideograms called hieroglyphs, not long after the appearance of the cuneiform in Mesopotamia in 3300 BC, marked mankind’s progression out of the prehistoric period. The Egypt of the Pharaohs developed rapidly, reaching its golden age in the 8th century BC, and leaving in its (...)

Egypt : The treasures of the Nile valley (part 3)
Philae – Kom Ombo – Ramesseum – Karnak

It is one of the principal destinations on any visit to Egypt, whether one is passionate about history, or simply a fan of the cities of the Orient. For almost three millennium, the Nile valley has been home to one of the most brilliant civilisations in history. The invention of a written language, consisting of ideograms called hieroglyphs, not long after the appearance of the cuneiform in Mesopotamia in 3300 BC, marked mankind’s progression (...)

Egypt : Cruise on the Nile Valley, in the footsteps of Agatha Christie


The Nile, the legendary river that has always sparked our imagination. Aboard the famous ship Steam Ship Sudan while accompanying her archaeologist husband in 1933, the queen of intrigue, Agatha Christie, found inspiration for her most famous novel « Death on the Nile », which takes place a country that represents the quintessence of mystery. The heiress Linette Ridgeway is found assassinated aboard the Karnak during a cruise on the Egyptian river.

Spain : The ardent soul of Seville

Seville, capital of Andalusia, is famous for its monuments. The Alcazar, was built under the reign of Emir Abd al Rahman. It has been a royal residency for more than seven centuries, and today, the Spanish royal family retain the use of the upper floors. The cathedral, the largest gothic structure in the world, contains various treasures, such as the immense Spanish-Flemish altarpiece, the peaceful Orange Grove, as well as relics of the ancient mosque of which the Giralda was once the Minaret.

The isle of beauty more than merits its name; red mountains, pine forests, chestnut groves, and rock formations tumble down into the turquoise blue sea, giving you a hint of the many glorious sites to be discovered. Calvi has become the tourism and finance capital of the Balagne, in the North of Corsica. The special charm of Lumio lies in the small pedestrian lanes that make up the village centre. The road skirts around the village, passing through the square, which is the central meeting place for local residents..