ItalyTraveller.com - Itineraries and Experiences

Itineraries - Dominating Sicily

Wed, 02 May 2007 17:02:09 +0200

Palermo, Sicily's vibrant capital, is a colorful concoction of grandiose churches, elegant palazzi, and more humble townhouses, all crowded into the streets and narrow alleyways which form the heart of the city.

Hop-on Hop-off Bus Palermo
Explore the Sicilian capital hassle-free with this hop-on hop-off bus tour.
Get your tickets now!

Traces of Palermo's Norman era can be seen in the Palazzo dei Normanni with its Palatine chapel, in the former Church of San Giovanni degli Eremiti, and in the city's imposing Cathedral.

On the outskirts of Palermo

The town of Monreale, just outside Palermo, offers more examples of Arabian-Norman architecture .
Built in 1174, Monreale cathedral houses mosaics depicting episodes from both the Old and New Testaments. The cloister, featuring some two hundred columns, is a major tourist attractions.

Complex of the Abbey of Monreale
High on UNESCO's World Heritage List, this pretty cathedral in Palermo is the most beautiful Norman church in Sicily. Explore the main place of Catholic worship in Palermo.
Get your tickets now!

Alcamo, with its 14th century Castle of the Counts of Modica and the 15th century Torre de Bellis, is situated on the road leading towards Trapani.
The town is known for the excellent wines produced here and for being the birthplace of Ciullo d'Alcamo, considered to be the first Sicilian poet to have composed verses in the Italian language.

Temples and statues made of bread

Having left Alcamo, after just a few kilometers, we come to Catalafimi. Here at the beginning of May each year one of the most keenly-felt popular festivals in the whole of Sicily is held.

During Catalafimi's Festival of the Holy Crucifix, enormous sculptures made from bread are marched through the town as a sign of respect for the work of the farm laborers

Just outside Catalafimi, at the foot of Mount Barbaro, the Temple of Segesta, is a perfectly conserved Doric temple.
Climb a little higher up the mountain to see the Greek theatre, the stone tiers of which were carved directly out of the rock face.

Island watching

Shortly before we arrive in Trapani, from the heights of Mount San Giuliano, the perimeter wall of the town of Erice appears.

This fascinating little town, with its narrow streets lined with attractive stone houses and courtyards, is pervaded by an atmosphere of centuries past. This is where the ancient sanctuary of Aphrodite once stood.
From Erice magnificent views as far as the Egadi islands can be admired.

Coral and marble

The city of Trapani, once known as Drepanum, lies on a promontory gradually sloping down to the sea.

Trapani's Pepoli museum houses a great number of important artworks including a painting by Titian depicting St Francis and a superb collection of jewelry made from coral

Travelling onwards, along the western coast of Sicily, we come to the Gulf of Stagnone, an area known for its salt marshes and from where boats depart for the islet of San Pantaleo, where traces of the Phoenician city of Mozia have been found, including a large marble statue of a young man, dating back to the 5th century B.C.

Sicilian Kasbah

Further South lies Marzallo del Vallo. This was the very last city to fall under the Norman dominion, in 827, and before such time it had been an Arab settlement. The influences of the various civilizations to have inhabited the city over the years have produced an intriguing fusion of culture and customs.

In the historic center, a veritable maze of narrow winding roads, blind alleys, courtyards, arches, and porticoes, there is an authentic Kasbah where to savor delicious couscous and fish dishes

Temple valley

Our journey continues along the coast towards the archaeological area of Selinunte. Here we find splendid Doric temples and the ruins of an ancient acropolis.

Nearby, lies Eraclea Minoa with its crystal clear sea and long beaches of fine white sand. In no time at all, we reach Agrigento's legendary Valley of Temples, a spectacular archaeological park containing a whole group of sacred monuments, testifying to Sicily's glorious past.

The Valley of the Temples Agrigento: Fast Track
Visit the Valley of the Temples, the largest archaeological location in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Get your tickets now!

Peak viewing

After the world famous Valley of the Temples, we travel to one of Sicily's lesser known treasures: Caltabellotta.
This tiny town, perched high up on the mountain from where it enjoys a stunning view extending from Mazara del Vallo as far as Mount Etna, is wrapped in a quite unique, almost indescribable atmosphere.

Itineraries - The sea beyond the strait

Tue, 15 May 2007 17:14:08 +0200

This Sicilian itinerary commences in Messina, the city which greets visitors arriving via ferry boat from Reggio Calabria and the Italian mainland.

Messina is the city where the great 15th century artist, Antonio di Giovanni de Antonio, better known as Antonello da Messina, was born.
Antonello's "San Gregorio Polyptic" is housed in the city's Peloritano Museum, where it hangs alongside Caravaggio's "Adoration of the Shepherds" and "Resurrection of Lazarus".

Tindari and Capo d'Orlando

On the stretch of coast which from Messina leads to Palermo, there are a number of towns worthy of visit, including that of Tindari, situated just after Capo Milazzo and characterized by the presence of numerous little salt lakes.
The Greek city of Tyndaris, founded in 396 B.C by Dionigi of Siracusa, is an absolute must for those interested in archaeology.
History lovers should be sure to make the trip to Capo d'Orlando, to admire the Sanctuary, the ruins of Orlando Castle and the ancient fishing village of San Gregorio.

S.Agata and Santo Stefano di Camastra

S.Agata di Militello is famous for its spectacular beaches but also for the traditional Cattle fair held here twice a year (on the 14th and 15th of April and the 14th and 15th of November).
Over the years the event has changed somewhat but it still offers visitors a unique opportunity to admire the animals, dressed for the occasion with bells and ornate harnesses.

Sicily's spectacular Aeolian islands: Alicudi, Filicudi, Lipari, Panarea, Salina, Stromboli, and Vulcano, are all just a short boat ride away from S.Agata!

Lying half way between Messina and Palermo, Santo Stefano di Camastra is famous for its ceramics and the ideal place in which purchase a souvenir or gift for those back home.

Cefalù and the Madonie

Continuing on our journey towards Palermo, we stop at Cefalù, known not only for its beaches of Capo Playa, Mezzoforno, Caldura and S.Ambrogio, but also for its immense artistic and cultural heritage.
Among the town's many tourist attractions there is the Cathedral, rich in splendid mosaics, and the Mandralistica Museum, in which a number of works by Antonello da Messina are housed.

From Cefalù head inland to visit the area known as the Madonie and the towns of Polizzi, Genrosa, Castelbuono, Petralia Soprana and Petralia Sottana

Itineraries - A taste of paradise

Fri, 06 Jul 2007 16:46:57 +0200

To reach Portofino from Genoa, you'll need to take the Aurelia: the old Roman road which hugs the entire length of the Ligurian coast.

The first town on this itinerary is Bogliasco. In the main piazza, which overlooks the black sandy beach, stop to take a peek inside the 18th century Church of the Natività di Maria before making your way up to the castle, built to protect the town from constant raids from the sea.

Pieve Ligure and Recco

Just a little further down the coast, lies the town of Pieve Ligure and the Oratory of St. Anthony Abbot.

Home to a triptych by Pier Francesco Sacchi and baroque processional crosses by Anton Maria Maragliano the Oratory of St Anthony Abbot now provides a unique venue for modern concerts

From Pieve Ligure, the Aurelia continues to Recco. Severely damaged by 2nd world war bombing, Recco is now one of the newest-looking towns in Liguria. From the fashionable "Boulevard Italia" you can admire the luxury yachts moored in the harbor.
Known as Liguria's "gastronomic capital", Recco is famous for its foccacia filled with cheese. There is even a foccacia festival held here.

Camogli

Another unusual festuval is held in neighboring Camogli. During Camogli's Sagra del Pesce, fish is cooked in huge pans and distributed amongst the onlookers. The town is bound to the sea and, until the relatively recent arrival of tourism, its inhabitants depended entirely on fishing and boat building for their living. This ancient bond is celebrated in town's Maritime Museum.

Camogli must sees: the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, the Castle, and the San Prospero Monastery, famous for the healing ointment which the resident monks continue to make to this very day

From Camogli, the only way to reach the 8th century Abbey of San Fruttuoso is on foot or by sea.

Santa Margherita

Continuing down the coast along the beautiful Gulf of Tigullio, leave the Aurelia to visit Santa Margherita, one of Liguria's most elegant seaside resorts, famous for its tree lined boulevards, luxury hotels and picturesque harbor.
In 1560, Galeazzo Alessi built an imposing villa on the hill above the town. The villa now houses an important art collection.

Cervara Abbey and Parragi

The Cervara Abbey lies just off your route to Portofino. Built in 1361, the abbey was later transformed in to a stronghold. Many prominent people stayed here as guests - or prisoners!
Today the abbey, which has been decreed National Monument, is privately owned. Prestigious celebrations, conferences, exhibitions and concerts are held here.

Just outside Portofino, the tiny fishing village of Parragi nestles in a beautiful little bay, the crystal clear waters of which make it ideal for diving

Portofino

And finally, to finish, two contrasting Italys: the glamorous seaside resort of Portofino, the exclusive playground of the rich and famous, and the Monte di Portofino Nature Park, home to 700 different species of plant, as well as red squirrels, foxes, and porcupines.

Itineraries - From Rapallo to Sestri

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:42:08 +0200

This trip along Liguria's beautiful Riviera di Levante begins in the little village of San Michele di Pagana and the beach of Prelo, on Punta Pagana.
Here, rising up amidst the pines and holm oaks, the recently restored Saracen tower is a reminder of the area's turbulent past - when the Ligurian coast came under frequent attack from the sea.

Rapallo and the Sanctuary of Monteallegro

Guarded by a medieval castle, our next stop, Rapallo, is perhaps most famous for its lace making tradition.

Rapallo's lace museum, il Museo del Merletto, in Villa Tigullio, holds more than 1400 handmade pieces of work, dating from the 16th to the 20th century.

Perched on top of the hills behind Rapallo and boasting magnificent views of Rapallo and as far as Portofino, the 16th century Sanctuario di Montallegro is best reached by cable car.

Zoagli and Chiavari

Famous for its textile industry, the seaside town of Zoagli is dominated by its' Duca Canevaro Castle. Like Rapallo and Zoagli, Chiavari has been known since medieval times for its craftwork, not only lacemaking and weaving but joinery too.
It was here in 1795 that the Descalzi brothers opened their famous furniture workshop. In 1807 Gaetano Descalzi designed a light, elegant, yet solid, cherrywood chair which came to be known as the "Chiavarine".

A major antique market is held once a month, beneath the medieval porticos in Chiavari's lively historic center

Lavagna and Cogorno

From Chiavari, continue south to reach Lavagna, one of the largest tourist ports in the Mediterranean and famous for its long, straight beach.
Each year the town recreates the medieval festival which celebrated the wedding of Opizzo Fieschi to Bianca Bianchi, during which an enormous cake is distributed amongst the crowd.

The influence of the Fieschi family reached nearby Cogorno too. This little town is home to the most important Roman Gothic building on the Riviera - the Basilica San Salvatore.
Sinimbaldo Fieschi, Pope Innocent IV, was instrumental in much of the construction and decoration of this Basilica, which has a white marble and slate façade and an immense rose window.

Sestri Levante and the Punta Manara Regional Park

Back on the Via Aurelia, you travel on to Sestri Levante, a fishing village with beautiful golden beaches, which have made it a well known tourist destination. The heart of the town is built on an island, today connected to the mainland.

The bays either side of the peninsular are known as the Bay of Silence and the Bay of Fables, this latter named after the great Hans Christian Andersen who stayed for some time here

East of Sestri Levante, the Punta Manara Regional Park offers a fabulous display of Mediterranean flora, olive groves and stunning seascapes.
The park is crossed by well marked hiking trails. The route which leads from Sestri Levante - the Gita Sestri Levante-Punta Manara - is particularly beautiful, with magnificent views of the Gulf of Silence and Sestri.

Bagnum fest in Riva Trigoso

The sailors of both Sestri Levante and nearby Riva Trigoso have long been known for their anchovy catch - in fact in the 19th century the first net for anchovy fishing was used here. The sailors created a dish that has become a Ligurian speciality - the "Bagnum".
A cheap, but sustaining meal, Bagnum was made using ingredients which were to hand on board the fishing boats - oil, tomatoes, bread and (of course) anchovies.

In July, Riva Trigoso hosts the Sagra del Bagnum - with music, fireworks and free Bagnum for everyone!

Itineraries - From Florence to Chianti

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 16:38:38 +0200

If you've already "done" Florence and visited every museum, gallery and church in the Tuscan capital, from the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, with it's dome designed by Brunelleschi, to the art-packed Uffizi Gallery in Piazza della Signoria; it's time to head into the hills above the city and discover the treasures of Chianti!

Florence Cathedral, Baptistery, Duomo Museum & Bell Tower
Explore the pillars of Florentine culture with this multi-access pass.
Get your tickets now!

Uffizi Gallery: Priority Entrance
The greatest Renaissance art collection with eight rooms dedicated to Caravaggio.
Get your tickets now!

Escape to the hills

On the outskirts of Florence, perched on the hills overlooking the city, the small town of 'Fiesole is famous for its Roman theater (which is still used to this very day!), the 11th century Badia and a whole string of magnificent villas.

Whilst in Fiesole, pop into the Bandini Museum to see the impressive collection of terracotta art by the Della Robbia brothers

At home with the Medici

The Villa of Poggio a Caiano is, arguably, the most beautiful of the Medici Villas. Commissioned by Lorenzo il Magnifico, the building was inaugurated in 1480.
The sumptuous rooms of the Medici's summer residence are adorned with masterpieces by artists such as Andrea del Sarto, Filippino Lippi, Pontormo and Alessandro Allori. The family chapel was designed by none other than the great Giorgio Vasari.

Renaissance man

A few kilometers away lies the town of Vinci, an obligatory port of call for those wishing to pay homage to the undisputed genius of the Italian renaissance: Leonardo.
You can admire the instruments and machines invented by Leonardo Da Vinci, in the town's 13th century Castle

Tuscan towers

Travelling towards Tuscany's much loved Chianti region, we come to the old town of San Casciano Val di Pesa where to visit the Church of Santa Maria del Prato in which a crucifix by Simone Martini is conserved.

Rolling hills, lines of cypress trees, ancient farmsteads, and a patchwork of vineyards and olive groves characterize the countryside of the Val d'Elsa. This is where we find San Gimignano, the medieval town famous for its 72 towers, of which 14 remain intact.

San Gimignano Pass
2-day pass to the complex of the Civic Museums.
Get your tickets now!

Precious stones

Proceeding towards the coast we come to Volterra, a town founded by the Etruscans. The "balze" of Volterra, between the valleys of Elsa and Cecina, represent one of the largest alabaster deposits in Italy, and the semi-translucent stone has been quarried here for centuries.

To this very day, the alabaster is crafted and sold in the little workshops and boutiques which line the streets of the historic center of Volterra

Monteriggioni is situated in the heart of the Crete Senesi. A fortified outpost constructed to protect the ancient Via Cassia thoroughfare, Monteriggioni was mentioned by Dante in his Divine Comedy, in which he refers to the medieval stronghold as the "cerchia tonda".

Gallo Nero

Travelling along the Via Chiantigiana, visitors have the opportunity to explore any number of picturesque villages and hilltop towns all of which situated in the proximity of the ancient road. Castellina is one such town, after which comes Gaiole and nearby, the Badia di Coltibuono, where legend has it, the great wine producing tradition of the high Chianti was born.

Here, what was once an 11th century monastery, now houses one of the region's most famous wineries. Travelling further in to Tuscan wine-making territory and the land of the Gallo Nero, we come to Greve where, each September, an important wine show is held.

Itineraries - Crete Senesi

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:00:37 +0200

The territory known as the Crete Senesi contains all of those things which we have come to associate with Tuscany: a landscape of gently undulating hills, lined with cypress trees and covered by a patchwork of fields, olive groves and vineyards; a place where to find tiny rural villages, fascinating hill top towns, and great art cities.

Medieval masterpieces

Our journey starts in Siena. Within its Medieval perimeter walls, Siena conserves an incredible quantity of historic buildings and artistic treasures. The stunning Cathedral and Santa Maria della Scala survey the city from on high.

Cathedral of Siena: Skip The Line
One of the most treasured examples of the Gothic-Roman style in Italy.
Get your tickets now!

Santa Maria della Scala: Skip The Line
See one of the first European hospitals built solely to accommodate pilgrims traveling along the Via Francigena.
Get your tickets now!

In the city's museums, masterpieces by artists such as Simone Martini, Jacopo della Quercia, Duccio da Buoninsegna and Pinturicchio can be admired.

The streets of the historic center, lined by a succession of magnificent town houses, all converge in the immense Piazza del Campo: the pulsating heart of the city and the stage for Siena's legendary Palio horse race

Landscape painting in Tuscany

The Crete Senesi commence just beyond the gates of the city, extending over some five hundred square kilometers of countryside characterized by the ochre-tinged soil used by Renaissance artists to create the famous Sienna yellow.
One of the first towns to greet us on our journey southwards is that of Asciano, a town protected by a 14th century perimeter wall, within which we find the Museum of Sacred Art housing Ambrogio Lorenzetti's painting of "St Michael slaying the dragon".

Duomo of San Gimignano and Museum of Sacred Art + Audio Guide
Explore the Duomo of San Gimignano and see the famous 13th-century frescoes that survived World War II bombing.
Get your tickets now!

Revolutionary houses of worship

Rows of cypress trees shelter the nearby Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore: a Benedictine monastic complex which, with its beautiful frescoed cloisters, pays homage to the artistic revolution of the Italian Renaissance.
Travelling onwards through the Ombrone Valley, we make a detour so as to visit the Abbey of San Galgano.

Following the collapsing of its vaults, the Abbey of Galgano has remained roofless. Thus, the pavement has gradually been covered by grass, transformed in a soft green lawn from where the great columns reach, tree-like, up towards the open sky

The neighboring Chapel of San Galgano contains a number of important frescoes by Lorenzetti.

Wine and cheese

A seemingly infinite procession of grapevines accompanies us along the road leading to Montalcino. This Medieval hilltop town is famous for the production of one of the world's most highly prized wines: the Brunello of Montalcino. Whilst in the vicinity of Montalcino, it is well worth making the short detour to see the superb Romanesque abbey of S.Antimo.

Abbey of Sant'Antimo, The Path of Light: Skip The Line
Explore this influential religious institution with a multimedia video guide.
Get your tickets now!

Continuing our journey through the Tuscan hillside, in no time at all we reach Pienza, a town famous for both its pecorino cheese and amazing renaissance architecture. Pienza was built following the request of Pope Pio II (Silvio Enea Piccolomini) and designed by the architect Bernardo Rossellino. From the attractive streets of Via dell'Amore and Via del Bacio, a magnificent view encompassing the whole of the Orcia valley can be admired.

Piccolomini Palace: Skip The Line
Explore a 15th-century Tuscan palace that's one of the earliest examples of Renaissance design and architecture in the world.
Get your tickets now!

An ancient spa and spirit of the renaissance

Beyond the valley lies Bagno Vignoni, a tiny spa town known since ancient times for the beneficial properties of its thermal waters. A large bath, filled by a constant flow of warm spring water, is located right in the center of Bagno Vignoni.

Bagno Vignoni is where one of the most captivating scenes of Andrej Tarkovsky's film, Nostaglia, was filmed

As we approach Mount Amiata, the hills of the Crete Senesi give way to woods of chestnut trees and the towns of Radicofani, Santa Fiora, and Abbadia San Salvadore.
Skirting the mountain, in the direction of Bolsena, we are greeted by the unmistakable profile of Pitigliano, a town perched on a great spur of tufo rock which offers a prime example of how Tuscany's medieval settlements were transformed by the innovative spirit of the renaissance

Itineraries - Puglia's sunny mountain

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:34:01 +0200

Fancy a beach holiday in Puglia? You'll be spoilt for choice in this sunny, sea-lapped region of Italy.

Gargano a go-go

Our journey commences in Northern Puglia, in the Gargano: an immense promontory where the sea, sun, and lush Mediterranean vegetation happily co-exist.
The hairpin bends typical of the Gargano make the promontory a favorite with motorcyclists, keen to experience the exhilarating and wonderfully scenic coastal road leading from Mattinata to Vieste

Also known as the "Sacred Mountain", Gargano is home to a number of important sites of worship such as San Giovanni Rotondo and Monte Sant'Angelo, sites which attract thousands of visitors - both tourists and pilgrims - each year

San Giovanni Rotondo is an important town with a population of circa 30.000 where San Pio of Pietrelcina lived for more than fifty years. Having visited the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie and the Tomb of the Saint, we take time to admire the immense monumental Church designed by Renzo Piano.

Monte Sant'Angelo is situated just 30 kilometers away. This is where to find an ancient Sanctuary and the Grotta di S.Michele: reputed to be one of the most sacred places in the world. The historic center of Monte Sant'Angelo, with its Museum of Art and Popular Traditions and Medieval abbey of Santa Maria di Pulsano, is also worthy of visit.

Fun in the sun - in Salento

Those in search of a fun-packed beach holiday need look no further than Puglia's fabulous seafront towns just north of Bari: town's such as Trani, Barletta, Molfetta and Giovinazzo, all easily reached via the SS16 highway, also known as the "Adriatica".
Here the entertainment is guaranteed day and night, thanks to the great number of fashionable shops, bars, restaurants, and clubs which line the streets and seafront promenades.

A passion for art? You'll love the area's magnificent Romanesque Cathedrals, among the most beautiful in the whole of Southern Italy!

Travelling down along the Adriatica highway, towards the Salento - land which the inhabitants fondly refer to as the land of sea, sun and wind - we come to Ostuni, a much loved tourist destination famous for its characteristic white-washed houses and fabulous, 20 kilometer-long sandy white beach.

The list of places in this area of Puglia where to enjoy the sea, the sun, and some of Italy's most breathtaking scenery is endless, as is the number of towns and villages where to savor the excellent cuisine of the Salento.
Further South still lies the historic city of Otranto, with its impressive castle. From here, you can see right across the Adriatic as far as the mountains of Albania.

Itineraries - Golden Place

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:11:19 +0200

This journey is one spent discovering the Logudoro, a vast and extremely fertile territory to the North of central Sardinia, which comprises Sassari, the second largest Sardinian city, Muros, Ozieri, Chiesi and the Coghinas lake.

Travelling along the SS131 road, which links Sassari with Olbia, visitors have the opportunity to admire some of the Italian island's most fascinating landscapes

It was in the Medieval period, between the 9th and 15th century, that the Logudoro enjoyed one of its moments of greatest splendor, when it was nominated one of the four autonomous Sardinian states or "Giudicati."

Pisan Romanesque in Sardinia

Testifying to the area's glorious past we find a number of churches in Pisan-Romanesque style, churches such as the splendid Santissima Trinità della Saccargia.
This ancient basilica, 16kms from Sassari, occupies a strikingly isolated position which only adds to its charm and beauty. Building work on this immense house of worship commenced in the 12th century and continued for many years. Particularly worthy of note are the extremely decorative capitals and the zoomorphic motifs which adorn the four columns supporting the large cross vaulted portico on the façade.

A day at the races

Gastronomic specialties prepared in this, an area which includes the small town of Codrongianus, situated some 317 meters above sea level, are all linked to the ancient agricultural and sheep farming traditions.
Roasted lamb and goat, often seasoned with myrtle, cheese made from goat and ewe's milk, and an excellent olive oil feature in a great number of the dishes prepared here.

Our journey proceeds across the Chilivani plain, home to the Chilivani racetrack - one of the most important '''horse-racing tracks in the whole of Italy

Manmade lakes and marzipan

Logudoro is one of the most fertile areas of Sardinia, thanks also to the basin of water known as the Coghinas, an artificial lake created in 1926 by the damming of the Rio Mannu d'Ozieri.
The damming of the river allowed for the efficient irrigation of a great area of predominantly mountainous land, now used for the cultivation of olive trees and grapevines.
Whilst in Ozieri visitors should not miss the opportunity to taste the delicious marzipan "sospiri", the "sas copulettas" made with sponge soaked in almond essence, or the honey coated pastry plaits known as "origliettas".

Prayers and panadas

Not far from the Lake of Coghinas, near to the town of Oschiri, we find the Nostra Signora di Castro Sanctuary. Built in the 12th century in Lombard-Romanesque style, the red trachyte edifice continues to dominate the surrounding land.
The typical dish of Oschiri are the "panadas", small savory balls of cheese or minced meat, usually served with a selection of vegetables. Variations on the theme are endless, and panadas are also made with lamb, bacon, mushroom, artichoke, even eel fillings.
Our exploration of Logudoro terminates in Berchidda and Monti, the land where the Vermentino grapes, used in many of Sardinia's most prestigious wines, are cultivated.

Berchidda, just 30kms from Olbia, is home to the Wine Museum, the first multimedia museum dedicated to the history of wine production

Itineraries - Art, nature, and jazz

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:17:02 +0200

Perugia is a city in which ancient history and the contemporary world meet in an intriguing synthesis of art, culture, and tradition.

Not only is Perugia home to a multitude of medieval masterpieces and works by artists the caliber of Beato Angelico, Pinturicchio, Piero della Francesca and Perugino; for years, the city also hosts Umbria Jazz: a festival attended by the likes of Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Keith Jarret, and Sting.

A trip around the lake

Only a few minutes away from Umbria's stunning capital city, Lake Trasimeno is the largest lake in central Italy and the perfect natural habitat for herons, wild ducks, coots, and birds of prey. From the lakeside town of Passignano, ferries transport visitors across the waters to the Isola Maggiore, and the little village once inhabited by fishermen and their families.

In the immediate vicinity of Lake Trasimeno we find Tuoro, site of the historic battle of 217 B.C. fought between the Romans and the Carthaginians.

The Battle of Trasimeno saw the Roman forces led by Caio Flaminio suffer a devastating defeat at the hands of Hannibal

At home with Perugino

Travelling onwards towards the South, skirting the boundary with Tuscany, we come to Città della Pieve. This is where, in 1450, the great artist Pietro Vannucci, better known as Il Perugino, was born.

Many of Perugino's masterpieces are conserved in the Churches of S. Maria dei Servi and S. Antonio Abate, in the Oratory of S.Maria dei Bianchi and in the town's Cathedral.

The center of the town, protected by an old perimeter wall dating back to the 14th century, has provided the set for numerous films and popular television serials.

Gothic greats

The center of the city of Orvieto gravitates around its magnificent Cathedral, an undisputed masterpiece of Gothic architecture.

The façade is embellished with statues, sculptures, and an immense rose window. Inside the cathedral, one can admire frescoes by Luca Signorelli and Beato Angelico.

The climb to the top of Orvieto's Torre del Moro is rewarded by a breathtaking view which, on clear days, extends as far as Mount Amiata

Underground art and jazz

Much of the magic of Orvieto is hidden underground. Directly beneath the city, there is a fascinating network of passageways and cisterns, including the Well of San Patrizio, commissioned by Pope Clemente VII and realised by Antonio da Sangallo.

This enormous well drops down some 62meters beneath the surface and is traversed by two spiral stairways lit by 72 internal windows.

During the winter, Orvieto becomes the seat of Umbria Jazz Winter, a festival which sees the streets of the city animated by concerts, jazz dinners, and musical celebrations to welcome in the new year.

Itineraries - Cruising the Emerald Coast

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:35:56 +0200

A fascinating journey awaits those embarking on Sardinia's panoramic SS131 coastal highway, road which leads from Sassari to Porto Torres and beyond, to the magnificent Emerald Coast.

Now a well established elite tourist destination, the Emerald Coast owes its transformation as playground of the rich and famous to Prince Aga Khan Karim who, on March 14th 1962 together with a number of associate business men and owners of some 3000 hectares of land, founded the Consortium of the Emerald Coast

The places to explore, the scenery to photograph, the emotions to experience in this part of Northern Sardinia are never ending. From Porto Torres onwards we come across a succession of beautiful bays, hidden coves and splendid beaches, such as that of Alghero, famous for its Riviera del Corallo.
The large beach of Platanoma is characterized by its soft golden sand dunes. Nearby, there is an immense freshwater pond fed by the Buddi Buddi river, which provides the natural habitat for a great quantity of birds.

Elephant and castle

The town of Castelsardo sits perched on a promontory directly above the sea. From its position high up above the old medieval center, the castle dominates the surrounding territory which it once guarded from attack by invaders. The stronghold was built in 1102 by the Doria of Genoa, in an era marked by the battles between the great Marine Republics.
Immediately outside Castelsardo, by the roadside, we find a spectacular rock formation known as the Roccia del Elefante, or Elephant's Rock, for its strange resemblance to the animal.

Jazz island

A few kilometers after Isola Rossa we come to Santa Teresa di Gallura, Sardinia's northern most town, situated directly opposite the Bocche di Bonifacio.

An important jazz festival is held here each August when a series of concerts are performed in various parts of the town

From Santa Teresa, along the SS133 and SS133bis, we head towards Palau, the first large town on the Emerald Coast. Palau looks directly across the sea to the Archipelago of the Maddalena, a group of some 60 islands and islets which, in 1994, was awarded the status of National Park.

Beach combing

From this point onwards, our journey leads us past some of the world's most spectacular beaches. The beaches of Saline, Cannigione, Cala dei Ginestri, Cala Bitta, Baia Sardinia, all immersed in a dramatically beautiful landscape of shimmering sea, striking rock formations, and centuries old olive trees.
This is where the harbors begin to fill with the yachts of the rich and famous, and where the streets of the seaside towns are lined with designer shops, stylish bars and fashionable restaurants.

Porto Cervo is the heart of the Emerald Coast, its Piazza Rossa attracting that explosive mix of celebrities and paparazzi which the tabloid magazines die for

Homeward bound

Continuing onwards in the direction of Olbia, we come to the beach of Pevero and the bay of Cala di Volpe. Not to be missed: the beaches of Capriccioli, Romazzino and Li Cogghj, the latter also known as the Prince's Beach, in honor of Karim Aga Khan.
Our journey draws to a close in Porto Rotondo, just a few kilometers from Olbia, and Golfo Aranci from where ferries depart for Civitavecchia on the Italian mainland.