Posts Tagged ‘Mediterranean coastal towns’
The Adriatic seaside town of Trani, in Puglia
On a drive from Rome to Bari to catch a ferry, my family and I managed to make good time (never a given on Italian highways during the holiday periods), so we decided to stop off to explore the Adriatic seaside town of Trani. This charming port city, with its long history, is well worth a…
Read MoreVisiting coastal Latina, Italy
I’ve already written about the interesting (short) history of Latina, Italy. Once the breeding grounds of mosquitoes that carried malaria, those mosquitoes were the true cause of the so-called Roman Fever that was romanticized in 19th century literature. The swampland was drained under Mussolini, and Latina was founded as a model fascist city. I visited the…
Read MoreGallipoli : The “beautiful city”
Gallipoli is a lovely town in the region of Puglia – the heel of the Italian boot – and is just along the Ionian Sea. This part of Puglia is known as the Salento, an absolute must-see region and one of my favorite southern Italian destinations. Salento is best known for its beautiful, unspoiled beaches and…
Read MoreEnjoying sunrises and sunsets on Albania’s coast
I was just in the Albanian coastal city of Durres, Albania for work. To be fair, there’s not that much to see in this city that served briefly (from 1913 to 1920) as the Albanian capital following Albanian independence. Unfortunately, the modern city seems to have forsaken any pretense of urban planning. It’s been built, quite…
Read MoreGaeta: A Bay of Naples in miniature
About half-way between Rome and Naples, just at the edge of the Italian region of Lazio, lies the seaside city of Gaeta. Gaeta is situated in a dramatic bay, reminding visitors of a miniature Bay of Naples. The Orlando Mountain rises just behind it. An important seaport, Gaeta has a long and rich history, spanning…
Read MoreVisiting seaside Termoli in Italy’s Molise region
Molise is a tiny Italian region, well off the normal tourist path. The region is squeezed between Abruzzo to the north and Puglia to the south. The region is more well-known for its interior, mountainous region, but Molise also has a short coastline on the Adriatic Sea. On a trip to Vieste, Puglia, we visited…
Read MoreThe Gargano peninsula’s coastlines and beaches
You’ll want a car to explore the southern Italian region of the Gargano, in Puglia. The Gargano peninsula is the ‘spur’ in the heel of the Italian boot. The drives along its dramatic coasts are lovely. The road is high up and curving, but road conditions are pretty good. There are places to stop and…
Read MoreExploring Napoleon’s Empire: Elba – Part 2
Last week I wrote a post about what to see and do on the interesting Tuscan island of Elba, including a visit to the home of the island’s short-lived Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. This week I’ll continue with some places of interest to help you plan your Elba trip. Capolivieri: This Tuscan hill town has pretty views to…
Read MoreExploring Napoleon’s Empire: Elba
As a history buff, Elba has always been the place I associated with Napoleon’s short exile, but I’d never visited Italy’s third largest island until I received a wedding invitation. The weather was touch and go on this Tuscan island during our visit earlier this month. It was definitely too cold and windy to enjoy…
Read MoreA beach fit for an Emperor: Sperlonga
Looking for a Mediterranean summer resort with history? How about 2000 years of history? Ancient Roman Emperor Tiberius, who reigned from 14-37 AD, used to enjoy spending summers in this beautiful seaside retreat on the Tyrrhenian Sea and, millennia later, modern-day Romans still escape the city’s sweltering summers by relaxing on the beach of beautiful…
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