MICE Italy

Incredible food and wine tours in Italy … On the volcanic hills of Mt. Etna grow luscious vines absorbing the varied nutrients of the soil. Orange and olive groves run through the valleys. Farmhouses produce dishes equally as enchanting as award winning restaurants. On your custom tailored Sicily tour, your senses will come alive, enhanced by the gourmet gastronomy and traditional heritage derived from an amalgamation from around the Mediterranean. The wine has succulent notes, the pastries practically melt in your mouth, and the coffee is deeply layered with flavor, every moment bringing another treasure of both cuisine and history for you to savor.

Sardinia … a fabulous 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.

In the South-West of Sardinia, among mounts and shrubs shaped by the wind, in the wildest and most isolated Sardinia, an imposing coastline develops for about 47 kilometers: this is the mighty Costa Verde. A succession of pristine beaches such as Piscinas – with the highest sand dunes in Europe – cliffs that burst deep into a green waters sea, so loved by the most daring surfers. You will be amazed by the fantastic sunsets along this coast, where your eyes get lost in a strong elation for the sky turning into pink. Marina di Arbus is not just about the sea: there is the declared archaeological mining site of Montevecchio and also Bugerru, Ingurtosu plus the one of Porto Flavia in Masua. You can’t miss the sea stacks of Pan di Zucchero and the defensive Tower of Torre dei Corsari. In the village of Arbus you’ll find the Knife Museum, which has the heaviest flick-knife in the world. Extra info on Luxury Holidays in Italy.

City Walls of Alghero, The best way to get a sense of the maze-like seaside town of Alghero is to take a walk along its walls. Spanning from Torre di Sulis in the south and the Porta a Mare in the north, it takes about an hour allowing for plenty of stops for pictures and gelato. Cittadella dei Musei Cagliari, Located in the Castello section of the city of Cagliari, this collection of museums is the perfect way to spend a day that is either too blazing hot or rainy to be at the beach. In the Pinacoteca Nazionale di Cagliari you can see paintings, textiles, jewelry and ceramics and, if you are not shy, the Collezione di Cere Anatomiche Clemente Susini has an impressive collection of anatomically correct wax figures.

The Sardinian capital Cagliari was built on seven hills. The oldest part of the city, Castello, lies on top of one of these hills, resulting in a stunning view of the Gulf of Cagliari, or Angels Gulf. Especially from Bastione San Remy, which was built in the typical local white lime-stone, you can see most other parts of Cagliari, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. When you have reached the top of Bastione San Remy, the beautiful Romanesque Cathedral of Cagliari is at walking distance, making the climb even more worthwhile.