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Pisa is one of those places everyone has heard of – and the Leaning Tower is without doubt its most famous feature. Near the Ligurian coast, just north of Livorno, Pisa is a perfect day trip from Florence. I took the train, enjoying every inch of the hour and half journey across the Tuscan countryside, [...]
A visit to Florence would have to be a wonderful experience any time of the year. For me it was Christmas, and one of my best ever. Fewer tourists, no queues, soft winter sun, cheaper accommodation, and the best excuse in the world to spend hours on end inside shopping and feeding my soul made [...]
Sardinia is an island that is a part of Italy and is the second largest island in the Mediterranean sea. Sardinia is surrounded by the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Tunisia, and the Balearic Islands. Sardina, like Friuli-Venezia Guilia, has a regional autonomy that is provided by the government of Italy. Cagliari is the capital of Sardania and the total population of this region is about 1.6 million people.
Sardinia – When approaching the island of Sardinia by boat, you’ll be impressed by the colors in its rocks: black from basalt, silver from granite, red from porphyry. A very striking island, Sardinia has had great historic and strategic importance. Every Mediterranean power has controlled the island at one time – Romans, Phoenicians, Spaniards, Turks, even a pope. The northern coast of present-day Sardinia is a favorite vacation spot of Italy’s extremely wealthy (which explains Sardinia’s high prices). The island has a multitude of attractions: wild horses, flamingos, nun seals, great fishing, mountain climbing, Roman ruins, sailing, reef diving, waterskiing, grottoes (the best is Grotta Nuova, near Cala Gonone on the east coast), and uncrowded sandy or rocky beaches. Must-sees include the pink sand at Porto Ferro, the typically Sardinian town of Nuoro, Oristano (ruins of the Phoenician city Tharros), the Goddess of Fortune Temple in Porto Torres, Cagliari (the island’s capital and largest city, with a good archaeological museum) and Su Nuraxi Nuraghe (an impressive Nuraghic fortress, 40 mi/60 km north of Cagliari). The town of Olbia is the gateway to the exclusive Emerald Coast (Costa Smeralda), one of Europe’s most important (and expensive) resort areas. It contains sites that span 3,000 years of history.150 mi/240 km southwest of Rome.
