See full version: Cruises to Corsica (Ajaccio)
No doubt about it: Ajaccio is our kind of cruise port -- easily explored on foot; crammed with good restaurants and well-stocked, unusual shops; and blessed with a harbor so pretty that local artists jostle with each other for a good painting spot from which to capture it.
You'll still find Italian influence here in some street names and in the local cuisine; though essentially French, it has a spicy undertone and features pork as a popular ingredient. here
On a sunny, Mediterranean morning, the harbor sparkles like sapphire-tinted cut glass. Even the poorest history scholar won't take long to work out who Ajaccio's favorite son was: Multiple streets are named after Napoleon Bonaparte, who was born here on August 15, 1769 -- just a few months after the island of Corsica was finally claimed by the French, after being ruled for more than four centuries by the Genovese.
With its rugged landscape of limestone and granite ranges and oak forests inhabited by pink flamingos, ponies and wild sheep, Sardinia has a fair share of wilderness that's still untamed — despite the ultra-chic resorts of the Costa Smeralda and the cosmopolitan Cagliari dotted with designer boutiques. Add the charming Old City in Alghero to the list of attractions, and you have enough diversity to enchant travelers of all ages.
Despite this history of domination by outsiders, Sardinians have clung to their culture and traditions, which are celebrated with numerous festivals. Among the most famous are the Ardia Horse Race (July 6-7) in Sedilo (considered even more dangerous than Siena's Il Palio race) and Nuoro's Festival of Redentore (last week in August) with grandest procession of traditional Sardinian costumes and folk dancing. here
A tourist boom has led to efforts to preserve Sardinia's natural resources. A good example is the Oasis of Biderosa, a three-mile stretch located in a forest preserve along the island's east coast. A maximum of 400 people, or 120 cars, are admitted daily, and beachfront cafes and other developments are not allowed.
• Each cruise of the Mediterranean aboard Sea Cloud is crafted to offer the authentic experience of sailing a true square-rigger among must-see and seldom-seen locales. • Flexibility is the hallmark of a National Geographic expedition, and our daily itineraries will often adjust to take advantage of wind or exploration opportunities.
Welcome aboard a legend Sea Cloud accommodates 58 guests in 28 outside cabins including two original owner’s suites that still feature original marble baths and fireplaces. At 360 feet she is an expansive ship with extensive public spaces on the top deck, where we luxuriate in deck chairs and watch the crew of 18 go aloft in the web of riggings to hand-set her 30 sails. Her dining room is hung with marine oil paintings of the period and accommodates all guests at once for a single seating. We’ll gather in the lounge each evening for Recap . Life aboard is a uniquely pleasing mix of elegance and informality—a return to the golden age of sailing in shorts and deck shoes. You’ll find all shipboard services impeccable.
There are no future departures for this trip at this stage. more
This picturesque island in the Mediterranean is matched by an equally fascinating human history. Thousands of mysterious stone fortresses, known as nuraghi, are found throughout the island. Ancient ruins and medieval towns reflect thousands of years of invasions from ancient Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans to the Byzantines, Arabs, Spaniards and Austrians. more
Despite this history of domination by outsiders, Sardinians have clung to their culture and traditions, which are celebrated with numerous festivals. Among the most famous are the Ardia Horse Race (July 6-7) in Sedilo (considered even more dangerous than Siena's Il Palio race) and Nuoro's Festival of Redentore (last week in August) with grandest procession of traditional Sardinian costumes and folk dancing. here
A tourist boom has led to efforts to preserve Sardinia's natural resources. A good example is the Oasis of Biderosa, a three-mile stretch located in a forest preserve along the island's east coast. A maximum of 400 people, or 120 cars, are admitted daily, and beachfront cafes and other developments are not allowed. here
With its rugged landscape of limestone and granite ranges and oak forests inhabited by pink flamingos, ponies and wild sheep, Sardinia has a fair share of wilderness that's still untamed — despite the ultra-chic resorts of the Costa Smeralda and the cosmopolitan Cagliari dotted with designer boutiques. Add the charming Old City in Alghero to the list of attractions, and you have enough diversity to enchant travelers of all ages. more