A journey following key locations connected with Napoleon and his family during this pivotal period. Beginning in Rome, we explore sites linked to the Bonapartes, including the residence of Napoleon’s mother Letizia and collections that preserve the family’s memory in the city. Travelling north through the landscapes of central Italy, we stop at Canino, the small town closely associated with Napoleon’s younger brother Lucien Bonaparte, where his statue and tomb testify to the Bonaparte family’s wider European story. From the Italian mainland we cross to the island of Elba, where Napoleon spent his first exile in 1814–15. Here we explore the residences and fortifications connected with his brief rule of the island, gaining a vivid impression of daily life during this unusual episode when the former emperor governed a tiny Mediterranean principality. After exploring Elba we travel on to the French Riviera, where the next chapter of Napoleon’s story unfolded. At Golfe-Juan we stand at the place where Napoleon landed after escaping Elba in March 1815, beginning the extraordinary march on Paris that would restore him briefly to power. From the Mediterranean coast we follow the historic Route Napoléon through Alpine landscapes and towns associated with his progress northwards. Along the way we visit sites linked to the dramatic encounters that secured the loyalty of French troops and allowed Napoleon to advance without major resistance. Our journey concludes in Grenoble, one of the key cities that welcomed Napoleon during his triumphant advance during the Hundred Days.

Napoleon Bonaparte’s career reshaped Europe, but it was also marked by exile, resilience, and dramatic return. Following his abdication in 1814, the defeated emperor found himself banished to Elba. But the restrictions of the small island were too great for his restless ambition. Regularly receiving reports from France as to the unpopularity of the Bourbon regime that had replaced him on the throne of France, he determined upon the last great gamble of his career. Slipping away under the cover of darkness and evading the Royal Navy, he landed at Golfe Juan on 2 March 1815 and immediately commenced his march on Paris to regain his place at the head of the French Empire and prepare for what was to be his final campaign – Waterloo.

Day 1: Arrival in Rome
Fly from London to Rome airport and transfer to our hotel or if making your own travel arrangements meet us at the hotel. In the evening we gather for an introductory talk over drinks, setting the scene for the journey ahead. (D)

Day 2: Rome and the Bonapartes
Today we explore Rome through the lens of the Napoleonic era. We visit Palazzo Bonaparte, once the residence of Napoleon’s mother Letizia, and the fascinating Museo Napoleonico, home to the remarkable collection assembled by Count Giuseppe Primoli, Napoleon’s great-great-nephew. We also visit the magnificent Galleria Borghese, whose treasures include Canova’s celebrated sculpture of Pauline Bonaparte as Venus Victrix. (B, D)

Day 3: To Elba via Canino
En route to Elba we stop in historic Canino, home of Napoleon’s younger brother Lucien Bonaparte. Here we see his statue and visit his tomb in the Collegiate Church before exploring the town’s historic centre. We then continue to Piombino to take the short ferry crossing to Elba, where we spend the next two nights. (B, D)

Day 4: Napoleon’s Island – Elba
A full day is devoted to exploring Napoleon’s island exile. We visit the Villa dei Mulini, his principal residence overlooking Portoferraio, and the nearby Villa San Martino, his summer retreat. We also see Pauline Bonaparte’s favourite bathing spot and explore the formidable Stella and Falcone forts that guard the harbour. (B, D)

Day 5: From Elba to Nice
Owing to limited connections between Elba and France, we return to Rome before flying onward to Nice, where we spend the next two nights. (B, D)

Day 6: The Flight of the Eagle
Our day traces the dramatic opening stages of Napoleon’s return from Elba. We begin at Fort Carré in Antibes, associated with Napoleon’s brief imprisonment in 1794. At Golfe-Juan we stand where he landed in March 1815 before visiting Cannes, where his march on Paris began. In the afternoon we visit the Villa Masséna Musée, now home to an impressive collection and remarkable Belle Époque murals depicting descendants of Napoleon’s marshals. In the evening we stroll through the old town of Nice to see the modest house occupied by the young Brigadier Bonaparte when he took command of the artillery of the Army of Italy in 1794. (B, D)

Day 7: Along the Route Napoléon
Following the route taken by Napoleon and his small army in 1815, we drive through the dramatic landscapes of the Route Napoléon. Along the way we stop at several towns associated with his progress—St-Vallier, Séranon, Castellane, Barrême, Digne and Sisteron—before reaching Gap, where, like Napoleon, we spend the night. (B, D)

Day 8: La Prairie de la Rencontre and Grenoble
We visit the commemorative site of La Prairie de la Rencontre, where Napoleon famously confronted the 5th Line Regiment and won them to his cause. We then continue to the magnificent Château de Vizille, where the Estates General of Dauphiné met in 1788, an event that foreshadowed the French Revolution. Today the château houses the excellent Museum of the French Revolution. We end the day in Grenoble for our final night. (B, D)

Day 9: Departure
Depart hotel after breakfast for Lyon airport for the return flight to London unless you have made your own travel arrangements. (B)