Sardinia & Corsica: Islands of Italy and France

You're on your way. Sardinia and Corsica sit at the heart of the Mediterranean, close enough to see each other across the Strait, worlds apart in language, culture, and table.

Rome asks for nothing today – just your curiosity. As arrival times vary, the day is yours to explore at your own pace: wander through cobblestone neighborhoods, stop at a corner café, or taste the gelato. As evening approaches, gather with your fellow travelers for a welcome aperitivo drink before a night on your own.

A one-hour flight carries you off the Italian mainland and into a different world entirely. Touch down in Alghero on Sardinia's western coast and check in to your hotel. Alghero is unlike anywhere else on the island. Dominated for centuries by the Spanish Kingdom of Aragon, the city retains a unique dialect that is closer to Catalan than to Italian, and its rich history is still reflected in its street names and architecture. Join your Tour Manager for an orientation walk through this walled city before an evening at leisure in this lively locale.

This morning, visit Nuraghe Palmavera – a Bronze Age tower complex built by Sardinia's indigenous Nuragic people, a civilization that left more than 7,000 stone structures scattered across the island. Afterward, wander the fruit and vegetable stalls at Alghero's public market. Lunch and the afternoon are on your own: the old town's pedestrian lanes are lined with local restaurants, small shops and a coral museum worth a look. Consider a motorboat ride out to the Neptune Caves, where stalactites and stalagmites fill chambers right at sea level. As evening falls, take a passeggiata (stroll) along the city ramparts.