Three Mediterranean Islands to include on your European Tour – all very different - Malta, an independent nation, was once a British colony, Corsica is governed by France and Sardinia is part of Italy.
If year-round sunshine and 7,000 years-worth of living history is your thing, Malta should be on your travel bucket list. This independent nation comprises of three small Islands – Malta, Gozo and Comino which is uninhabited. It is a traveller’s dream because you can take in everything within a small radius, sampling the architecture (both grand and quaint), a stunning fortified harbour, the rocky landscape, traditional hilltop towns, fishing villages, and an upbeat lively capital city, all against the languid backdrop of the magnificent Mediterranean. It’s easy to get around, the food is great and everyone speaks English. What’s not to love! And don’t be surprised if your taxi driver, or the person standing next to you, has a cousin in Australia. They’ll expect you to know them!
The Island of Corsica is one of France’s 13 regions. It lies directly north of Sardinia and can be easily reached by ferry. Its capital Ajaccio is the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte and his ancestral home is today used as a museum. Like other Mediterranean islands, Corsica was visited, conquered and highly influenced by many people of the ancient world. The Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Phoenicians, Genovese and Northern Africans all left their mark. France invaded and occupied in the mid-1700s. Today it relies heavily on agriculture and tourism. It is far less developed than many islands in the Mediterranean. People come for the weather, the food and the glorious scenery. Most people speak French and some can use a little English. Much of the older generation still speak the native Corsican language, which no one else – not even the French - can understand!
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean, presenting a rather rugged mountainscape, balanced by placid bays. In rural parts, stone-walled Neolithic fortresses call Nuraghes can still be seen in the fields (there are 7,000 dotted around the island. Sardinian towns and cities, especially those along the coast, have a rich tradition of shellfish and seafood while inland towns and cities are known for game and farm produce, most notably its capers, olives and pecorino sardo. The sea around this large Mediterranean island is among the most beautiful and transparent in all the world. The colour of the water on the Costa Smeralda has to be seen to believed! On our specially tailored island tour over 12 days takes in the very best of what Sardinia has to offer. It is guided by our dear friend Aldo, a native of the island. His passion will surely rub off on you. You will love the sights, the people, the food and the culture of this very special destination. Many people find it hard to leave our Malta Sardinia Corsica tours.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
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- Malta’s famous harbour with its stunning buildings
- The streets of Valletta and the city’s museums
- Fishing villages along Malta’s coastline
- Sardinia’s food and hospitality
- The ancient Nuraghe’s prehistoric pyramid-like dwellings
- Bonifacio’s stunning cliffs and fortress
- Rural Corsica’s scenery, villages and food
