6 06 19

Amazing food and wine tours in Italy … Encounter a side of unseen Italy in the undisturbed region of Abruzzo. Medieval castles remain strong, overlooking a valley of lush vines. The Apennine Mountains form extraordinary backdrops to historic hillside towns. Fishermen continue using ancient fishing techniques along the coastline. Shepherds traverse the undulating landscape, faithfully following their flock. Farms produce an abundance of flavorful cheeses, and vineyards make inspiring wines. Your custom tailored Italy tour immerses you in historical culture set in a divine landscape where the mountains meet the eastern shore.

Sardinia … an amazing place to see.. Clinging to the top of a steep mountain ridge, the precipitous streets of Nuoro open to views in every direction. The 19th-century cathedral of Santa Maria della Neve sits above a cliff that drops straight into the valley, and the small plaza in front of the church is almost the only level spot in town. Nuoro is a good base for exploring the surrounding Gennargentu, Sardinia’s most rugged and beautiful interior mountains, and the remote villages (Mamoiada is especially interesting), which seem barely touched by the 20th century, let alone the 21st. It’s a fascinating region, with towns clinging to steep mountainsides and local customs that still ring of the ancient past. Driving here, however, is not for the faint of heart, as roads are narrow and steep with hairpin turns over sheer drops, without railings. You can learn more about these villages and their often strange customs at the outstanding Museo Etnografico Sardo (Museum of Sardinian Traditions), which alone is worth a stopover in Nuoro. This is the island’s best collection (and brilliantly displayed) of Sardinian costume and decorative art; clothing is shown on models with jewelry and accessories worn at weddings and festivals. An entire gallery displays traditional masks. While you’re there, the National Archeological Museum has collections excavated from the Neolithic sites, as well as fossils.

Capo Coda Cavallo, in north-eastern Sardinia – Gallura, is a promontory of granite land jutting above coastline in a stretch of sea sheltered by the majestic island of Tavolara, the rocks of Molara and the isle of Proratora. It is a 15,000 hectares of protected marine area, that has conserved its environmental heritage and the fish fauna due to the difficulties in reaching the place. The protected natural marine area of Punta Coda Cavallo is composed of many inlets with cliffs and sandy beaches immersed in the Mediterranean scrub that releases intense aromas; worth to see the beach of La Cinta developing for about 5 kilometers with a very white sand. The marine area of Tavolara-Capo Coda Cavallo is ideal for diving. Read more about Tailor-made tours Sardinia.

Basilica di Saccargia, This striking, black and white striped, 12th-century basilica is the most important example of Romanesque style architecture on the island. Located in the countryside near Sassari, inside are beautifully preserved frescoes you can admire. If you are looking for adventure, take a roughly two hour hike through the ancient Nuragic settlement of Tiscali along the river to reach an immense 1500 foot high gorge. Pack a picnic and see if you can verify the local legend of seeing stars at the bottom of the gorge.

East of Sardinia, is the favorite holiday destination of some of the wealthiest people in the world. Ever since Prince Aga Khan visited this region in the 60’s, many celebrities have chosen the Sardinian Emerald Coast to spend their vacation. This makes finding an affordable hotel during the summer months relatively difficult, but the side effect is that there’s a lot to see when you’re strolling along the shoreline. In July and August, many millions of Euros float in the harbor of Porto Cervo, which is the place to be for luxury yacht spotters during the summer. At Porto Cervo Yacht Club, spotting multi-million dollar yachts, such as the Maltese Falcon, is not very difficult.