ONE: TAORMINA & CASTELMOLA Taormina is iconic for good reason and is one of those places worth braving the crowds. Down in Taormina Mare, the coastline puts Isola Bella on display as if an artist had envisioned the perfect ornament for the coast. Then ride the funicular or drive up the hill and the town itself unfolds: alleys that feel like discoveries, terraces that surprise at every turn, a piazza that is essentially a sublime balcony over the Ionian, and above all, the Greek Theatre. One of the most fabulous concert halls in the world, with its stage opening onto Etna’s smoking peak and the endless coastline, it is the…
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You like happiness? Go to Portugal. Now
Sun. Wind. Wild, endless shores. The deepest azure ocean, and rocks so unearthly, they are hypnotic. An unparalleled sense of untamed freedom. A stark, undeniable revelation of the essential. Portugal quickly transforms into a deeply personal history. This is not your typical holiday; this is a reset vacation. No all-inclusive resorts or rigid schedules; instead, it offers everything you never knew you were missing. during This journey through shockingly beautiful places you will find your way back to your true self. thankfully, most of Portugal will remain indecipherable to five-star resort aficionados. because here, the ocean, sun, cliffs, and wind possess the rare gift of stripping away all clichés, revealing…
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Mallorca #SINEQUANON: Coveted Coves and the Rare Drama of the Tramuntana
Mallorca is a wonderland that can be so easily ruined, it’s ridiculous. She’ll give you postcard perfection, a predictable luxury bubble, or something else entirely. To be fair, it’s almost too easy to get it wrong. She can be a revelation, she can become a habit, or it can be the beautiful and boring holiday paradigm. And it’s ok. You know why? Because this way we get to keep the best of it for ourselves ONE: Timing and Place Matter Most Skip the summer crush, go for the shoulder seasons: late spring or autumn. The air is freer, the crowds are whispers, and the seawater temperature is perfect. Shun the…
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#SINEQUANON LUBERON: THE ULTIMATE LAVANDER ESCAPE
From the excess of the Riviera to the wilderness of Camargue or the big ego of the historical cities, Provence is great from the highest mountain to the serene sea. But at the heart of it all you will find the Luberon - and that is a coup de coeur to last a lifetime.
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Purple reign in Provence: step into the postcard
Oh la la! To chase lavender perfection, to truly step into that postcard! this is another quintessential escape reserved for the happy few: lavender season in Provence. As ever, true immersion simply can’t be rushed; you really must take a week for the discovery; anything less would be, quite frankly, a compromise. Consider this as your personal itinerary for a laissez-faire exploration of the finest lavender fields. However, do keep in mind that true revelation comes not to the avid seeker, but to the dreamer. Chasing these fields should always be about magnetic loops and romantic detours, never merely about the pins on a map. Intel: Day One: The Heart…
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AMALFI COAST #SINEQUANON: THE CORNERSTONES
ONE: RAVELLO This might just be a surprising number one for many. The usual day-trippers and rather ‘efficient’ travel guides tend to miss it entirely. And that’s a good thing, because the inevitable crowds already make it difficult enough to reach and truly savour its aristo beauty. Ravello, incidentally, isn’t actually on the Amalfi Coast at all, but rather perched elegantly uphill, just above Amalfi. It is spectacular, undeniably noble, and yes, rather expensive – but worth every penny. The narrow road leading up to Ravello is carved into the rocky mountain, feeling like an initiation path. It’s called, quite evocatively, the Valley of the Dragon. Ravello is also delightfully…
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NORMANDY #SINEQUANON: FROM D-DAY TO MAGIC DAY
ONE: MONT SAINT MICHEL There is only one possible number one. Though more intimately connected to Brittany’s wild coast, Mont-Saint-Michel remains the absolute top-of-mind wonder for any escape in Western France. It is an island fortress of faith, an ethereal vision, a pilgrimage of the sea, a place where tourist guides seem inadequate and only a magnificent mystery remains. I wrote more about “the Wonder” here. TWO: THE ALABASTER COAST AND PAYS DE CAUX The Côte d’Albâtre is the French counterpart to the famous white cliffs that define the English Channel coastline. It’s a road trip of striking beauty, with quaint villages and the high falaises. Stop in Etretat, Yport,…
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A story of tides: Mont Saint Michel, revealed
The mountain has always been a place of awe; beautiful and inaccessible, it caused many to perish at the mercy of tides. And as it happens with so many places of awe and beauty, it has always been a site of worship. In the early days of Christianity, monks were using Mount Tomb – that was the first name of the island – as a sanctuary. It was in 708 that Saint Michael appeared to the bishop of Avranches, commending to build an abbey on top of that mountain. The abbey was consecrated in Saint Michael’s name, and since anno domini 708, Christians continue their pilgrimage to the holy mountain,…
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A ROADTRIP THROUGH CHIANTI CLASSICO
Follow La Strada del Chianti (SR222) and stop along the way to your heart’s desire. Etruscans were first here, then Romans drove their carts on these roads. A land of tremendous beauty and forever radiating serenity, the wine road witnessed the obsessive conflicts between Florence and Siena, undisturbed by battles and the march of time. Around its winding path, the timeless villages, sun-drenched vineyards, and fortified castles of Chianti Classico unfurl. Look for the Black Rooster (Gallo Nero), the historic symbol of this renowned wine, marking the territory. One way to go is from the formidable, perfectly walled Monteriggioni up through Castellina in Chianti to Panzano, where the legendary butcher…
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Beautiful is absolute, and so is PENICHE
“One more stop” he said. We were chasing daring lighthouses, pure beaches and wild coastline, as usual. It had been a scorching hot day in August, the kind of day that hushes everything and brings out the light, white houses and white sands surrounded by a shimmering halo, people scarce and wrinkled by sun and dry winds. Coming down from Nazaré along the coast, we had taken an arduous trip inland to see Fátima (grossly overrated) and Batalha (true gem), and were heading to Óbidos for the night. Tired from the heat and the long drive, I was truly looking forward to the cool walls, green ivy, and refreshing chatter of…
