CINQUE TERRE Meaning five lands or five towns, this area of Liguria: the coastline, the five villages – Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore – and the surrounding hillsides, are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not only beautiful to look at, the region in known for its seafood cuisine, local grapes and breads. Locals have built terraces into the surrounding cliffs and the area is famous for its outdoor cafés, beaches and hiking trails. Tip: Check out Levanto, not officially one of the five towns but just as gorgeous and quieter. SARDINIA Though actually an island, Sardinia is firmly Italian in character and makes for a beautiful tropical island getaway. Its untouched landscape features mountains, woods, plains, largely uninhabited territories, streams, rocky coasts and long sandy beaches; a variety so great it has been defined as a micro-continent. It’s also part of an archipelago, offering other islands to explore. While you’re there make sure to visit some the impressive caves dotted along the 2,000km of coastline – which is also great for boat trips. travel May 2020 39 Tip: Go off the beaten track to visit the city of Lucca, whose well-preserved Renaissance walls still encircle the old town. TUSCANY Think rolling fields of sunflowers and landscapes so breathtakingly beautiful they almost look unreal. Yep, you’re thinking Tuscany. Its capital, Florence, is a spot that must surely make every Itialian traveller’s hit list with some of the world’s most recognisable Renaissance art and architecture, including Michelangelo’s David statue and Botticelli’s works in the Uffizi Gallery. The Apennine Mountains in the distance vie for attention with the nearby island of Elba’s beaches on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Tip: Don’t miss the Giants’ Tomb archaeological site, an ancient burial chamber dating back to 2000BC. www.bahrainthismonth.com
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MTkxMQ==