Sardinia & Corsica: History and Legends

Arrive in the attractive capital of Sardinia, where you are welcomed by your A&K Guardian Angel and transferred to your beachside resort. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy the outstanding facilities of this five-star property.

Forte Village Resort Hotel Il Castello

Peel back Cagliari’s many layers of history with a guided tour that starts in the fortified hilltop citadel of Castello. Follow narrow streets to the imposing Tower of San Pancrazio and the Tower of the Elephant, both excellent examples of Pisan military architecture and great vantage points over the city. You’ll also take in the beautiful 13^th century Santa Maria Cathedral – inspired by the Pisa Cathedral – and Bastione Saint Remy, a majestic limestone monument leading up to a terrace that offers sweeping views over Cagliari’s domes, towers and terracotta rooftops.

For lunch – the most important meal of the day here – why not order a delicious seafood dish or rustic salad in one of the many great restaurants in the old quarter? Your afternoon is free to browse for antiques, feast on local gourmet specialities or soak up the sun on the stunning beaches that flank both sides of the capital.

Forte Village Resort Hotel Il Castello | Meals: B

Meet your friendly, English-speaking driver and head north this morning, to inspect the well-preserved archaeological ruins at ‘Su Nuraxi’ di Barumini which date back to the Bronze Age. This UNESCO World Heritage Site comprises circular stone complexes known as nuraghe, thought to have been built for defensive purposes.

Continue on to Isca ‘e’ Muras, where you’ll gain an insight into the secret life of bees from a small-scale artisanal honey farmer. Learn how this sweet golden elixir makes its way from hive to jar, before enjoying an extensive tasting session.

The final leg of today’s adventure takes you through thick woodland to the enchanting village of Oliena, which lies at the foot of Mount Corrasi, the highest massif in Sardinia’s distinctive Supramonte mountain range.

 Su Gologone Experience Hotel | Meals: B

Climb into a private 4WD vehicle today, to navigate a rugged mountain trail that descends towards the alluring Gulf of Orosei. Then, stretch your legs on a guided trek downhill through fragrant forests of juniper, where breaks in the foliage offer some of the most impressive vistas over the karsts and canyons that define the Supramonte range. Tread ancient paths past traditional shelters used by goat herders to Codula di Ilune, a dramatic canyon where the river forms a lake.

The 90-minute hike concludes on the stunning white sands of Cala Luna. After a picnic lunch and refreshing dip in the turquoise waters, hop aboard your own private RIB and speed along the coastline dropping in to some of Sardinia’s most secluded bays and grottoes. The boat trip concludes at the quaint seaside town of Cala Gonone with time for a stroll before returning to your hotel by 4WD vehicle.

 Su Gologone Experience Hotel | Meals: BL

Today, uncover more mysterious nuraghe, which tell the story of the island’s early inhabitants. There are approximately 8,000 of these ancient megalithic structures scattered across the island, found nowhere else on Earth. Your itinerary takes in La Prisgiona, a 5-hectare site with around 100 stone buildings including an impressive circular keep and two smaller side towers. You’ll also inspect Coddu Vecchiu, one of Sardinia’s best preserved Giants’ graves (so-called for their enormous size).

This afternoon, visit a traditional vineyard for lunch and a tasting of local white wine, made with light-skinned Vermentino grapes cultivated on the island for centuries.

Baglioni Resort Sardinia | Meals: B

Following a leisurely breakfast, your continued immersion into Sardinian culture offers a choice of one of the following Design Your Day activities:

Sardinian Crafts and Traditions

A guided tour of the Gallura region in northeastern Sicily reveals picturesque hamlets filled with elegant churches and well-kept homes. Watch talented craftsmen weave fine woollen carpets using age-old traditional techniques, admire 4,000-year old olive trees and learn all about the production of cork in Calangianus, harvested for hundreds of years from cork oaks surrounding the town.

Home cooking in a Local Farmhouse

Don an apron and try your hand at preparing an authentic Sardinian feast at a country farmhouse. Whether you’re a beginner cook or professional chef, your passionate teacher will show you how to prepare fresh seasonal produce the local way. Learn to shape pasta, reduce sauces, bake cookies and prepare fish – before indulging in the fruits of your labour.

Baglioni Resort Sardinia | Meals: B

Sail the crystalline waters of the Maddelena Archipelago National Park today on a magnificent vintage sailboat. Soak up the sun and the beauty of unspoilt nature amongst the white sand beaches, rocky islets and glassy blue waters of this marine sanctuary. Tuck into an afternoon spread of regional delicacies on board, before returning to your hotel.

Baglioni Resort Sardinia | Meals: BL

You are driven to Santa Teresa di Gallura, a town at the northern tip of Sardinia, where you meet the ferry for a fabulously scenic journey across the strait to Corsica.

Disembark at the port of Bonifacio, which seems to teeter atop a chalky-white, crumbling promontory. Tall and impossibly narrow medieval palazzi jostle with churches and chapels for space along crooked streets in the oldest part of town, sheltered behind high stone walls.

From here, it’s a long but visually interesting trip by road through the verdant mountains of western Corsica to the decidedly French coastal town of Ajaccio, perhaps best known as the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Hotel Les Mouettes | Meals: B

Kick off this morning with a relaxed tour of bustling Ajaccio. Starting in the city’s old quarter, first stop is the house where Napoleon was born – now a museum dedicated to his memory. Take time to stroll through the narrow streets lined with cafés and shops which radiate out from the harbour.

Then head inland to see the old island capital – Corte – the formidable mountaintop bastion from which patriot Pasquale Paoli briefly controlled Corsica as he tried (unsuccessfully) to fend off invading French armed forces.

Return to the coast to be awed by the red-hued cliffs known as Calanche de Piana that plunge hundreds of metres down into the swirling Mediterranean Sea.

It’s a couple more hours by road to Calvi, another lively waterfront town with a massive fortress, where you’ll spend the night.

Spa Hotel la Signoria | Meals: B

No visit to Calvi is complete without an exploration of the cobbled lanes within its ramparts. See the house where Christopher Columbus was said to have been born, before tracing the pretty coastline of the Bay of Calvi, dotted with white sandy beaches and red granite boulders.

Traverse a track headed inland, to find the alluring car-free medieval villages of the Balagne region. Perched on a hill covered in olive trees, Pigne is an artist’s haven, its beguiling cobblestone streets lined with craft workshops and tidy blue-shuttered homes.

Spa Hotel la Signoria | Meals: B

Meet your driver for your transfer to the airport.

Meals: B