Sardinia the island that delivers so much
What’s in store when you join us on this fabulous week in Sardinia.
We always do 2 full days of excursions. Already planned is a day to Corsica. Spending the day in Bonifacio which is beautiful (weather permitting).
We will also visit a lovely medieval town like Castelsardo or Alghero, plus wine tasting at a local vineyard. Being at the beach opens up a whole new area of activities. Gorgeous coastal walks, snorkelling , boat trips. We always fit in plenty and have so much fun.
Of course the week will include 10 sessions of Pilates or your chosen course. You will not be disappointed!
Sardinia captivates with its wild hinterland, out-of-this-world beaches and endearing eccentricities. Here coastal drives thrill, prehistory puzzles and four million sheep rule the roads.
Sardinia has some of the dreamiest beaches you’ll find without stepping of European shores. Yes, the sand really is that white, and the sea the bluest blue. Sardinia has been polished like a pebble by the waves of its history and heritage. The island is scattered with 7000 nuraghi, Bronze Age towers and settlements, tombe dei giganti ('giant's grave' tombs) and domus de janas (fairy house tombs) Down every country lane and in every 10-man, 100-sheep hamlet, these remnants of prehistory are waiting to be pieced together like the most puzzling of jigsaw puzzles. As DH Lawrence so succinctly put it: ‘Sardinia is different’. Indeed, where else but here can you go from near alpine forests to snow-white beaches, or find wildlife oddities such as the blue-eyed albino donkeys on the Isola dell’Asinara and the wild horses that shyly roam Giara di Gesturi. The island is also a culinary one-off, with distinct takes on pasta, bread and dolci, its own wines (Vermentino whites, Cannonau reds) and cheeses – including maggoty casu marzu pecorino, stashed away in barns in the mountainous interior. In every way we can think of Sardinia is different, and all the more loveable for it.
Bonifacio:
Thanks to its stunning natural setting, the ancient fortress town of Bonifacio is our essential stop when we visit Corsica. Protected by vast smooth walls, the town itself stretches along a narrow, top-heavy promontory, undercut by creamy-white limestone cliffs hollowed out by centuries of ceaseless waves. Down below, connected by steep footpaths and a single winding road, and lapped by cornflower-blue waters, its harbour and modern marina shelters at the landward end of a snaking fjord-like inlet. It’s down by the port where much of Bonifacio’s lifestyle takes place including ferries across to nearby Sardinia, boat tours to Corsica’s southerly beaches and the Îles Lavezzi, and a busy clutch of bars, clubs and brasseries along the quayside. The old city, though, is what truly lingers in the mind, a ravishingly romantic web of alleyways lined by ramshackle medieval houses and chapels with faded pastel plasterwork. Established in 833, Bonifacio's rich history offers a fascinating and bustling base from which to explore the south of the island. Its isolated position with ramparts perched high on Corsica's only limestone plateau, give Bonifacio a timeless charm.
Perched on a limestone pedestal, Bonifacio is one of the most spectacular towns in the Mediterranean. The Citadel walls and ancient houses appear to rise seamlessly out of sheer cliffs that have been hollowed and striated by the wind and waves. Beneath, an inlet about 100 metres wide forms a natural harbour, home to a buzzing port. Only 12 kilometres from Sardinia, the town is distinctly more Italian than French in atmosphere, and even has its own dialect based on Ligurian Italian.
Castelsardo:
Castelsardo huddles around the high cone of a promontory jutting into the Mediterranean. Towering over everything is its hilltop historic centre, a small, tightly packed ensemble of medieval alleyways and stone buildings seemingly melded onto the dark grey rock. The town was originally designed as a defensive fort by a 12th-century Genoese family. Named Castel Genoese, it was the subject of much fighting and in 1448 it fell to the Spanish, who changed its name to Castel Aragonese. It later became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia under the Piedmontese Savoy dynasty and, in 1767, took its current name, which means Sardinian castle.
Inland, the verdant hills of the rural Anglona district harbour a number of interesting sights, including a much-loved roadside rock resembling a proud old elephant.
Alghero:
The city of Alghero can be found in north west Sardinia, and is part of the Sassari province. One of the most beautiful and interesting destinations on the island, it still preserves its distinct medieval charm, with the famous strong city walls, the stunning heritage of the historical center, the charming beaches and seascapes nearby or its special Catalan legacy. Due to its amazing cultural and natural heritage, the year-round mild climate and the warmth of its people combined with a character of authenticity, it has become a very popular travel destination. The history of Alghero goes back for many centuries and has always been linked to the sea, a trait still very visible today.
Hotel Sardinia:
This beautiful boutique hotel with private pool is located just fifty meters from the sea.
Located on an impressive and spectacular cliff eroded by the wind, the hotel offers a breath-taking panorama and represents the ideal place to spend a Pilates week of relaxation and well-being, without compromising on all the services of a 4 star hotel.
Immersed in a unique scenery and of indescribable beauty, this 4-star hotel in Sardinia is characterized by a continuous succession of red rocks and coves and an enchanting sea of crystalline water. The hotel provides tranquillity and courtesy, in addition to an exquisite cuisine to be enjoyed with a wonderful panoramic view.
The rocky coves Le Baiette and Li Sorgenti are just in front of the hotel. It takes just a few minutes walk to the beautiful sandy beach Li Cossi that can be reached via a path surrounded by nature and is just 1000 meters away from the hotel.
