If you are in the mood for a tour of Europe, why don't you consider the island of Sardinia, a region of southern Italy? Depending on your specific interests, this beautiful area can be an ideal vacation spot. You can get classic Italian food, and wash it down with fine local wine. Some parts of Sardinia remain undiscovered by tourists, while other sites are favorites of Italian and international jet setters and are priced accordingly. This article presents northern Sardinia. Companion articles present central Sardinia and southern Sardinia.
Spanish in Sardinia? Alghero's nickname is little Barcelona. A quarter of the population speaks a sort of Catalan, related to Spanish as their native tongue. The street signs are in Catalan. The Sixteenth Century Cathedral of St. Mary is one of many older buildings clearly influenced by Catalan architecture. Climb its bell tower to get a great view of this city, especially at sunset. You'll find the Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art in the former (Thirteenth Century) Rosario church next to the Cathedral. The museum hosts a unique collection of Catalan silverware.
Neptune's Caves is a magnificent geological marvel deep inside the limestone promontory of Capo Caccia. It is a very long array of caverns, wide passages, clear lakes, deep wells, and narrow tunnels. Visits are by guide only when the weather permits.
Sassari, an ancient university town, is Sardinia's second largest city. Its Thirteenth Century Cathedral exemplifies multiple styles, Romanesque, Baroque, and Catalan-Gothic. Other churches to tour include the Thirteenth Century Church of Santa Maria di Bètlem, the Twelfth Century Church of St. Peter in Silki, and the Church of the Most Blessed Trinity. Make sure to visit the Eighteenth-Nineteenth Century Duke's Palace, now the Town Hall and the Nineteenth Century Palazzo Giordano.
The story has it that the famous jet-setter Aga Khan discovered Porto Cervo when seeking shelter from a storm. He really liked the location and developed an upscale resort, which has become a favorite of the yachting crowd. If you don't have a yacht there are rental agencies.
One Sardinian specialty is roasting large-sized animals in a wood-lined pit. I'm told that Porceddu (Roast Suckling Pig) works best. Vermentino di Gallura DOCG is produced in northeastern Sardinia from the local white Vermentino grape with up to 5% of other local white grapes. It may be dry or sweet. As you might have guessed, the Alghero DOC wine is produced near the city of Alghero. It is made in a wide variety of styles from white or red local grapes or from several international grape varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
If you are looking for a European tourist destination, consider the island of Sicily, a region of southern Italy. Depending on your interests, this beautiful area can be an ideal vacation spot. You can get classic Italian food, and wash it down with fine local wine. And parts of Sicily haven't yet been discovered by tourists. This article presents Sicily's capital, Palermo. Companion articles present western Sicily and eastern Sicily.
Palermo is Sicily's capital and largest city with a population of about 700,000. It was founded in the Eighth Century B. C. by the Phoenicians who wanted to take advantage of its natural harbor. This strategically situated city was conquered again and again. For example, in the past this was a Muslim city with two or three hundred Mosques. The period of the Norman occupation starting in 1072 and lasting for well over one hundred years was considered Palermo's golden age. The conquests continued almost unabated. Palermo was heavily destroyed during the Second World War. To some extent Palermo is still in the hands of a conqueror, the Mafia.
Start at the Cathedral, built in 1185 on the site of a Byzantine basilica that was transformed into a mosque by the Saracens in the Ninth Century. Other historic churches worth visiting include San Giovanni dei Lebbrosi, San Giovanni degli Eremiti, and the Greek Orthodox church La Martorana. Many churches and other buildings are situated in or near beautiful parks.
The Teatro Massimo (Great Theater) is the largest opera house in all Italy. The movie Godfather Part III included a famous scene, violent of course, that occurred on the Teatro's steps.
The Palazzo Reale was the seat of government for centuries. It is now the home of the Sicilian Parliament. The Palatine Chapel was the royal chapel of the Norman kings of Sicily. Its mosaics are definitely worth seeing. The building and its furnishings are a great combination of Arabic, Byzantine, and Norman styles.
Make sure to see the Salinas Regional Museum of Archeology with its prehistoric cave drawings. Then for a change of pace visit the Museo delle Marionette many of whose marionettes are hundreds of years old.
Finish your tour at the Piazza Pretoria (Pretoria Square). The fountain dominating the square contains hundreds of sculptures whose lack of clothing led to the name, "Fountain of Shame". We suggest that you see this square at night.
Sicily has always adapted foreign foods to come up with Sicilian versions. Put all the foreign influences together and you have the unique Sicilian cuisine. See our companion article I Love Touring Italy - Palermo, Sicily for a sample menu and more information on local wines as well as an in-depth examination of its tourist attractions. Marsala DOC, which was first exported to England well over two hundred years ago, is Sicily's best-known wine. Most Marsalas are sweet; some are great, others are not.
Levi Reiss has sinced written about articles on various topics from Touring Italy, Travel and Leisure and Food and Drink. Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but between you and me, he prefers fine Italian or other wine, accompanied by the right foods and good company. He knows what dieting is, and is glad that for the time being he can ea. Levi Reiss's top article generates over 450000 views. to your Favourites.