ROME 2 ROME

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• Although the border between Algeria and Tunisia is open government advisories recommend not going there. The alternative is flying via Europe and a lot of back tracking. So until the situation improves this itinerary will fly direct from Casablanca in Morocco to Tunis in Tunisia and skip Algeria altogether. It is possible to travel here but you should be aware of the situation on the ground. Do your own due diligence. If you are keen to have a look you could fly return from Marseilles which has cheap flights which only take an hour and a half. Just head off for a few days or more and resume the trip when you get back to France. You can use the information for Algiers from the guide. For the moment it's probably best just to stay in the capital. You will need to apply for a visa in your home country beforehand and it is not a quick or simple process.

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WHEN - 

• Anytime of the year would do but if you don't want to brave winter (which means carrying bulky winter clothes) the peak and shoulder months for Rome are mid March to early September.

• As the trip is over 3 months it would be best to start by mid July so that it's not too cold in Italy the second time around. You should avoid Ramadam this way too.

• Check the security situation in Algeria and Tunisia before you go. Remembering that government advisories err on the side of caution. If you want to shorten the trip or avoid these countries you could fly from Casablanca to Palermo - Naples or Rome. 

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START & FINISH - 

• Rome & Rome

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COUNTRIES - 

• Italy, France, Monaco, Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia

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BORDER CROSSINGS - 

• 9 - All countries are good except Algeria which needs a visa. (They are looking at changing it)

• Tunisia requires a hotel booking.

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BOOKINGS -

• If you book your European train tickets online you will save money the earlier you do it. Things like the Vatican you can "skip the queue" by booking online and save wasting a lot of time lining up for tickets.

 

VISAS - make sure you have 6 months left in your passport and probably the only place you                        will need a visa for is Algeria which you may not be going to anyway.

• New Entry Requirements for Travel into EU in 2025

• Italy - France & Spain are Schengen Countries

• Gibraltar

• Morocco

• Algeria - have a look at this guide to Algeria.

• Tunisia

 

HOTELS -

• Most hotels are available on Booking.com unless otherwise stated. This means you can book them a long way out and have free cancellation and no payment until you arrive at the property. Just read the conditions on each one. Hopefully there will be two or three of you splitting the bill. 

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•  Hotels chosen are usually 3*** or 4 or 5 if they are good value. They are chosen firstly for their location, value for money, positive testimonials regarding cleanliness and service and features like rooftop terraces and great views. 

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• Since the end of Covid a lot of prices have gone through the roof. So if the selected hotel is out of your price range click on the location map and choose something cheaper nearby. Or you might prefer something else but try to stay in the same area.

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TIPS -

• As with all trips you should take US$ cash or €uros for back up and emergencies. You will need some extra on this trip for small places that don't have ATM's. Also there is a Black Market in Algeria which takes US dollars and Euros.

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• Travel as light as you can. It's a big trip and you'll be getting on and off a lot of transport. Washing some of your clothes in the shower will save time and money. Take a bit of line with you to hang them up.

 

HISTORY -

• Roman, Ottoman, Celtic, Hannibal, Greek, Genoan, Arabic, Phoenician, Celtiberian, British, Berber, Maghreb, French, Carthaginian, Etruscan, Goths, Byzantines, Longobards, Normans, Cosa Nostra.

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COSTS - 

• Dearer in Europe and during peak season. Some real bargains especially for hotels in parts of Africa. It's a long trip so pace yourself and your budget. Most transport is reasonable and there aren't many flights involved. 

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B4 IT'S 2 LATE - 

• Tunisia before the tourists start flocking back in numbers. Algeria before they discover it.

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MAJOR CITIES -

• Rome, Florence, Turin, Nice, Monaco, Marseille, Barcelona, Valencia, Granada, Malaga, Tangier, Fez, Marrakesh, Algiers, Tunis, Palermo, Naples.

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UNIQUE - 

• Vulcano Island

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FAMOUS - 

• The Holy Grail, The Shroud of Turin

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ACCOMMODATION HIGHLIGHTS - 

• Moroccan Riad - Traditional house for the wealthy centered around a fountain and Andalusian courtyard

• Saharan Desert Camps - under the stars

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EATING - 

• Northern Italy - Balsamic Vinegar - Parma Ham - Parmesan Cheese - Zucca Tortelli - Carbonara - Porchetta - Abistecca alla Fiorentina - Gelato - Ditta Artigianale (Florence) - Caffe Al Bicerin (Turin) - Tortellini Bolognesi -      Tagliatelle alla Bolognese - Lasagna Verdi Alla Bolognese - Mortadella - Bagna Cauda - Suppli - Ferrero Rocher - Nutella - Panna Cotta - Cacio e Pepe - Roman-style pizza - Bucatini all’Amatriciana - Gianduiotto Chocalate Turin  

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• France - Aioli - Socca - Salade Nicoise - Ratatouille - Bouillabaisse & Rouille - Bourride  - Soupe au Pistou - Daube Provencale - Pan Bagnat - Tarte Tropezienne - Tapenade -    Pissaladiere - Les Deux Garçons - Papilles by Laurane - Fenocchio’s - Nougat -              Beignets de Fleurs de Courgettes -​​​​ Madeleines - Moules Marinière - Clapassade -        North African Food (Marseille) - Marseille Pizza, Cassoulet - Calisson -                        Pork Charcuterie - Terrines - Steak Tartare - Confit Duck - Apricot Sorbet - Marzipan               ​

• Monaco - Barbajuan - Bouillabaisse - Gerhard's Café

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• Spain - Paella - Tapas -  Pa Amb Tomaquet - Botifarra And White Beans - Foie Gras - Bacalla - Prawn Carpaccio - Catalan Rice Dish - Fideua - Suquet And Cim i Tomba -        Suquet de Peix, Cim i Tomba - Canelons - Xuixo In Girona - Crema Catalana - Gazpacho - Pescaito frito - Ajoblanco - Gambas al Pil-Pil - Albondigas - Croquetas - Escabeche - Gambas al Ajillo - Jamon Iberico - Patatas bravas -                                Plato de los Montes de Malaga - Solomillo al Whisky - Tortilla, Arros de Cabra de Mar - Sipia amb Pesols - Calamars Farcits Suquet de Peix - Arros Negre - Joell -              Sweet 'botifarra' sausage with apple - Xuixo - Chicken with Crayfish -                        Beef with Wild Mushrooms - Palamos Prawns - Rocambolesc - Can Xapa Chocolate - Esqueixada de Bacalla - Bacalla amb Samfaina - Mandonguilles amb Sipia - Fricando - Anec amb Peres - Calcots - All i Pebre - Arros a Banda - Esgarraet - Bunyols - Gazpachuelo Malagueno - Tarta Malaguena - Ensalada Malaguena -                        Fried aubergine with honey - La Choclaterie - Hotel Don Miguel 

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• Gibraltar - Fish and Chips - Calentita - Rosto - Rolitos - Sunday Roast - Fideos al Horno - Gatsby's - Torta de Acelga - Japonesa - Timeout Cafe - Jumpers Wheel -              Lord Nelson - Cork & Fork 

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• Morocco - Moroccan Chicken Bastilla - Tagine - Couscous - Kefta Meatball Tagine - Rfissa - Tangia - Chicken with Preserved Lemon and Olives - Lamb or Beef with Prunes - Harira - Mechoui - Fish Chermoula - Makouda - Bissara - Brochettes -                Orange cake at Nomad - Moroccan Eggplant Fritters - Tangia - Briwat - Casa Aladdin -Tfaya, Zaalouk - Msemen - Chebakia - Sardines - Sfenj 

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• Algeria - Maqouda- Garantita - Tajine Zitoune - Chakhchoukha - Chorba Frik - Rechta Mahjouba - Couscous - Makroudh - Mechoui - Bourek - French patisseries -          French boulangeries - Moloukhiya - Shakshouka - Korsa - Mkartfa - Tlitli - Karentika - Berkoukes 

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• Tunisia - Shakshuka - Brik a l'oeuf - Couscous - Lablabi - Slata Mechouia - Makroudh - Merguez - Chorba - Poulet Meshi - Delget Nour Dates - Lablabi - Tunisian Pastries -Harissa - Tunisian Tagine - Koucha - Mloukhia - Asida - Fricassee -                        Orange cake at Nomad - Lamb a la Gargoulette 

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• Sicily - Arancini - Caponata - Raw red prawns - Busiate al pesto Trapanese -             Pane Cunzatu - Pasta alla Norma - Pasta con le Sarde - Sarde a Beccafico -       Involtini di Pesce Spade - Cannoli - Granita con brioche - Pane con Panelle -         Pasta cu Maccu - Involtini Sicilian - Pasta Chi Vruoccoli Arriminata - Cassata -   Calamari ripieni -  Sicilian pasta - Orange Salad - Frutta Martorana -                     Ricotta with honey - Crispelle di riso - Pane Cunzato Malvasia - Scaccia - Timballo        

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• Southern Italy - Margherita Pizza - Spaghetti alla Vongole - Arancini - Cannoli - Granita - Caffe Mexico (Naples) - Spaghetti alla Puttanesca - Parmigiana di Melanzane -               Soppressata di Ricigliano - Melanzana al Cioccolato - Torta Ricotta e Pere -                  Risotto alla Pescatora - Neapolitan Pizza - Caprese Salad - Totani e Patate - Polpette -   Pesce all’Acqua Pazza - Fritto Misto di Mare - Broccoli and Salsiccia -                              Scialatielli ai Frutti di Mare - Spaghetti alla Nerano - Provolone del Monaco -                Goat Cheese from Monti Lattari - Ndunderi from Minori - Delizia al Limone -                  Torta Caprese - Gnocchi alla Sorrentina - Treccia, Cuoppo d’ Amalfi -                            Mozzarella di Bufala Campana - Spaghetti alla Positano with Tomatoes - Fried pizza - Sfogliatella - Baba - Amalfi lemons 

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DRINKING - 

• Northern Italy - Aperitivo - Negroni - Campari - Prosecco - Americano - Aperol Spritz - Bellini - Limoncello - Amari - Grappa - Sambuca - Barolo wine - Lambrusco

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• France - Pastis - Rose Wine - Cognac - Absinthe - Monaco - Mana Espresso -          Noilly Prat - Dry Vermouth - Picon - Ricar

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• Monaco - Pastis - Beer with coriander - La Cervoise - La Segurane

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• Spain - Sangria - Sherry - Cerveza - Agua De Valencia - Rebujito - Cava - Kalimotxo - Queimada - Orxata - Vermut - Carajillo - Clara - Horchata - Tarongino - Vichy Catalan - Melody - Licor 43 - Aromes de Montserrat​ - Anís del Mono - Rom Cremat -  Ratafia

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• Gibraltar - Rockocoa - Lord Nelson - Top of the Rock Café - Jury's Café & Wine Bar 

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• Morocco - Mint Tea - Citrus Juice - Almond milkshake - Alcohol is available but expensive. It may pay to bring some duty free with you. Tourists can drink outside but locals have to drink inside. Without windows!

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• Algeria - Mint Tea - Coffee - Wine - Fresh OJ, - Heineken - Casablanca -                  Stork and Flag beers -  drinking in public and near a mosque are not done. Women should be wary about drinking with Moroccan men, Cafe Tontonville

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• Tunisia - Maghrebi Mint Tea with pine nuts or almonds -  Boukha - Coffee -                Fruit juices - freshly squeezed lemon drinks - Thibarine - Pastis - Condor Hammamet -  Local wine making industry is 2000 years old, Celtia is local beer. You can buy alcohol from supermarkets and Liqour Shops

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• Sicily - Malvasia Wine - Digestivo - Freshly squeezed orange juice - Marsala -        Amaro Averna 

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• Southern Italy - Doc Tramont - Doc Ravello - Doc Furore - the True Limoncello -      Aperol Sprit - Coffee - Nocciola - Gambrinus - Lemon Granita - Lemonade Cocktail - Prosecco - Negroni - Bellini

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