Custom Italian Travel Planning for Unforgettable Moments |
|
Ciao! Summer is in full swing, which means two things: everyone's either having their European summer or wishing they were. I am unfortunately in the latter category this year. Booooo Europe is currently hotter than it has any right to be. Heat waves are hitting hard this year, so if your itinerary includes big city sightseeing, please prepare to give yourself some grace. Lean into early morning exploration, air-conditioned lunches, and leisurely afternoons that help you rest up and take advantage of cooler evenings. If you're thinking of Italy for next summer, my suggestion is to focus on the Italian coast and islands, the mountains, and the lakes – places where it's easier to cool off. Speaking of the coast: In May, I spent a week in Sardegna, and I have thoughts. So many thoughts. This was my first time visiting this region, and it is just as amazing as I had hoped. Every region of Italy has its own personality, but Sardegna almost feels like its own country. The food, the language, the historical influences, and the traditions are uniquely Sardinian in a way that surprised me even after all my years of exploring this country. I ate things I'd never heard of. I saw beaches that made me rethink every "best beach in Italy" list I've ever read. I understood, finally, why people talk about this island with a specific kind of reverence. It's magical. Let's get into it. |
|
Capital: Cagliari Known for: Costa Smeralda yacht crowd, best beaches in the Mediterranean (genuinely), ancient Nuragic stone towers older than the pyramids, a rugged interior full of shepherds and mountains, and Blue Zone villages.
Consider visiting: May-October. Summer is stunning, but busy and hot. Shoulder season gives you warm water, quieter beaches, and interior temperatures that are more tolerable. |
|
A rustic-luxe hotel built into a former mining building on the edge of Europe's largest dune system, with the Mediterranean on one side and towering golden sand dunes on the other. This is southwest Sardinia, far from the glitzy Costa Smeralda, and not a yacht in sight. The property is intentionally understated with simple elegant rooms and a whole lot of quiet. There's no real town nearby, no scene to work, just dunes, sea, and peaceful silence. Come here to disconnect completely, hike the dunes at sunset, and remember that luxury doesn't always mean chandeliers. |
|
A UNESCO World Heritage site and the best-preserved example of Sardinia's mysterious Bronze Age nuraghi. Nuraghi were massive stone tower structures that predate the pyramids and that nobody fully understands the purpose of. This Nuraghi is a whole complex, not just a single tower, with a fortified village built around it. Wander through the stone corridors, climb what's left of the towers, but definitely do it with a guide to give context and explain the leading theories (defense, religious site, chieftain's residence, still debated). It's one of nearly 7,000 nuraghi scattered across the island, but this is the one that earned the UNESCO status. History nerds, this is for you. |
|
Charter a boat out of Cala Gonone and spend the day exploring the Gulf of Orosei. Stop at Cala Luna, Cala Mariolu, or Cala Biriala, where the water goes from turquoise to deep blue and the beaches back up against towering cliffs and pine forests. Anchor somewhere quiet for lunch, swim as many times as you want, and take in a coastline that has zero interest in being developed. No beach clubs, no crowds, just you, the boat, and some of the best beaches and water in Italy. |
|
Sardinia's answer to ravioli: hand-pleated pasta pockets filled with potato, pecorino, and mint, sealed with a distinctive braided edge that takes real skill to pull off. I know. I tried. See my attempt below. They're typically served simply with melted butter and sage or a light tomato sauce. You don't need much because the filling does all the work. Order them anywhere in the interior of the island, although you can find them in Cagliari too. Watch how they're made if you get the chance! |
|
Sardinia's signature liqueur, made by steeping myrtle berries (and sometimes leaves) in alcohol and sugar. It's deep purple, sweet, slightly bitter, and tastes like nothing else in Italy. It's herbal, a little medicinal, and entirely addictive after the third sip. Traditionally served as a digestivo and typically in tiny glasses because it's strong and you don't need much. I also had it poured over ice cream and as the secret ingredient in a margarita. It's the best kind of versatile. Bring a bottle home if you can because it's really hard to find elsewhere, which is exactly the point. |
|
Don’t just dream about it.
Let’s design the Italian trip you've always imagined! |
|
Not Italy
Glen Ridge, NJ 07028, United States |
|
|
|
