Sardinia Discovery Experience!

Personale

 

(11 days / 10 nights)

Programme & Itinerary

 

www.ItaliaSpeciale.com

 

DAY ONE – Sunday

 

Cagliari, the Capital of Sardinia

 

• 13:00: Meet at Cagliari airport in the ancient town of Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital that traces its origins back millennia
• Transfer to our lovely accommodation in the heart of Cagliari’s original urban centre and lunch
• Leisurely stroll before meeting our Host for an early evening introduction to Cagliari
• Our walk will include Cagliari’s mesmerizing architecture and heritage from the Phoenicians to the Romans, from the Byzantine influence to its Spanish domination
• Dinner and evening at leisure in town through its Piazzas and boutiques

Selected Accommodation in the heart of Cagliari:

• Palazzo Doglio – 4 Star: LINK OR similar
• Superior / Deluxe Rooms

 

 

DAY TWO – Monday

 

Pula – Nora - Chia – Archeological Site & Flamingos - Cagliari

 

• This morning, after a leisurely breakfast, we set off to discover the Southern Coast of Sardinia reaching its most famous destinations and gorgeous beaches and coves
• The small village Pula features Roman ruins and white sandy beaches with breathtaking views
• Visit to Nora and its archeological sites featuring  Phoenician monuments built over the original Nuragic settlement
• The we carry on towards the towns, beaches and coves of Chia to spot Sardinia’s beautiful flamingos, if we are lucky, followed by lunch in a local restaurant
• Return to Cagliari for a leisurely evening and dinner

 

DAY THREE – Tuesday

 

Cheese Tasting – Wine & Olive Oil Tasting Tasting in South-Eastern Sardinia Oristano & Art Gallery

• After breakfast, we reach a famous Sardinian Cheese venue, where our Hosts will treat us to the finest cheeses of Sardinia after a tour of the facility that will surprise!
• A short drive to reach a local winery to taste indigenous Sardinian wines knowledgably presented by our Hosts and Owners of the winery and paired with delicious local specialties and their fine extra virgin olive oil
• After our Masterclass lunch we head North on a panoramic drive through Sardinia to reach Oristano, the ancient Aristanis founded in 1070 over the Phoenician Othaca
• A town of particularly fascinating history, you will have a chance to visit the local Art Gallery, Piazza Eleonora and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
• Check in at Hotel and evening at leisure in town with dinner

Selected Accommodation in the heart of Oristano:

• Hotel Il Duomo – 4 Star: LINK OR similar
• Superior / Deluxe Rooms

 

DAY FOUR – Wednesday

 

The Blue Zone Home of The Centenarias – Orgosolo – Lunch With The Shepherds Sassari

• After breakfast, a leisure drive to reach the very special region of Sardinia known the Home of the Centenarians or The Blue Zone
• Rooted in a strong sense of community, a healthy diet, and a tradition of an active, slow-paced life, we will visit the ever charming town of Orgosolo in the heart of Sardinia
• A stroll through its fascinating cobblestoned alleyways and decorated houses and Murales, a folk art form that is decorative but mainly political. There are several techniques and styles, and it’s thrilling to walk from one house to the other, admiring more or less realistic designs, more or less shiny colors, but all telling a powerful message that hits and marks you. They all talk about anarchy, protest, anti-capitalism, but also about the history of this land and the lives of its inhabitants.

• Lunch will be a very special moment as we join the shepherds just a few minutes’ drive away to enjoy a convivial moment in the forest with the most typical healthy dishes of Sardinia that underlie the locals’ diet in an attempo to unravel their secret of longevity!
• After a leisurely lunch, a lovely drive through forests and olive groves to reach Sassari, Northern Sardinia’s most cultural and artistic town surrounded by late-medieval walls
• Evening at leisure after checking into our hotel

 

Selected Accommodation in the heart of Sassari:

• Hotel Carlo Felice – 4 Star: https://www.hotelcarlofelice.it/  OR similar
• B&B Hotel Sassari – 3 Star: LINK OR similar
• Superior / Deluxe Rooms

 

 

 

DAY FIVE – Thursday

 

Sassari at Leisure and Foodie Guided Walk - Alghero

 

• A leisurely morning to wander around Sassari with your guide to admire its picturesque architecture with its juxtaposition of medieval, Romanesque, gothic, renaissance and baroque elements
• Our walk will be complemented by several foodie experiences as we approach lunch in a local restaurant to top off a relaxing morning
• After lunch, time to visit Alghero, the Red Coral Riviera of Sardinia, among the finest coral regions in the world

• A guided walking tour of the city with our Host, a true window on the Mediterranean Sea
• Discover a labyrinth of narrow streets that connect piazzas bustling with life
• The yellow walls and ancient houses echo the Catalan origins of the city, as do the churches: the Cathedral of Santa Maria (XVI century), the churches of Carmelo  (late XVII century) with its great gilded retable
• Followed by the Church of San Michele with its coloured ceramic dome, and the late Renaissance Sant’Anna (1735)
• Time at leisure to explore the Coral Museum in the lovely Art Decò Villa Costantino

• Return to Sassari for a  good night’s rest

 

 

DAY SIX – Friday

 

Tempio Pausania – Cork Craftsmen - Olbia

 

• After a leisurely breakfast, time to reach Olbia, entrance to the ancient and wealthy Gallura region on a panoramic drive
• En-route stops in picturesque villages such as Tempio Pausania dubbed “The Stone Town” and the Capital of Cork, as we will visit a famous cork processing factory!
• Check in at our hotel followed by a leisurely afternoon and evening on your own in this beautiful town
• Dinner in a local restaurant arranged by Guests and return to Hotel for a good night’s

Selected Accommodation in the heart of Olbia:

• La Locanda Del Conte Mameli – 4 Star: https://www.lalocandadelcontemameli.com/en/  OR similar
• Superior / Deluxe Rooms

 

 

 

 

DAY SEVEN – Saturday

 

Saturday Market Day & Cookery Masterclass in Olbia – Day at Leisure

 

• 10:00am: After a leisurely breakfast, a very special treat…sleeves up for a hands-on Cooking Masterclass with Chef to disclose the some of the secrets behind a few Sardinian staple dishes!
• Your Host will be waiting for you at the local Farmers’ Market to purchase all the local ingredients you will need before heading for the kitchen
• Our class will cover the most delicious Sardinian preparations and recipes under the guidance of our passionate Host, followed by lunch to sample the fruits of our labour!
• Rest of the day and evening at leisure to explore the city and its Phoenician, Greek, Carthaginian and Roman heritage with a local Guide

 

DAY EIGHT – Sunday

 

Costa Smeralda & Private Boat Mini-Cruise – Porto Cervo – Fish Lunch

 

• After a leisurely breakfast, a breathtaking panoramic drive along the Northern emerald green coastline of Sardinia, the very famous Costa Smeralda
• As we come across stunning coves, pristine beaches and spectacular cliffs, we will drive through the most famous villages in the area such as Porto Cervo, Porto Rotondo and Golfo Aranci
• Lunch will be a fine fish meal overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea
• Rteurn to Olbia and evening at leisure arranged by Guests

 

DAY NINE – Monday

                              

Corsica – Bonifacio & Limestone Cliffs – Monacia-D’Aullene - Ajaccio

 

• After a leisurely breakfast, we reach Santa Teresa Gallura to catch a ferry to the Island of Corsica, French Territory
• After docking in the lovely town of Bonifacio, a guided walking tour of this enchanting fortified village through its cobbled alleyways and breathtaking views of its iconic limestome cliffs and their mythological aura
• A typical local lunch before heading towards Ajaccio with an en-route stop in the fascinating Monacia-D’Aullene
• Arrival in Ajaccio, the Capital of Corsica and check in at Hotel
• Evening at leisure arranged by Guests

 

Selected Accommodation in the heart of Ajaccio:

• Hotel San Carlu – 4 Star: https://www.hotelsancarlu.com/   OR similar
• Superior / Deluxe Rooms

 

 

 

 

DAY TEN – Tuesday

 

Ajaccio & Napoleon Bonaparte – Private Walking Tour

 

• After breakfast, a leisurely morning to wander around Ajaccio on a special private walking tour
• A port city on the rugged isle's western coast, Ajaccio was the birthplace of French Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte in 1769. 
• Visits will include the:
  • Maison Bonaparte Museum
  • The bustling local market for spot of lunch with local flavours
  • San Roccu Cathedral
  • La Place Du Diamant
  • La Place D’Austerlitz or Du Casone where toddler Napoleon used to play
  • Le Cours Napoleon or Rue Cardinal Fesch for a spot of shopping
  • the Old Port and the Old Town
• Rest of the day for time at leisure to explore at your own pace and mingle with the locals
• A good night’s rest

 

 

DAY ELEVEN – Wednesday

 

Ajaccio OR Olbia Airport…Arrivederci Sardinia!

 

• TIME TBC: This morning we reach the nearby airport for flight home…Arrivederci Sardinia & Corsica!!