Location of the Month......

Our location for the month of February and early March must be MATERA in the region of Basilicata, southern Italy. Enchanting, magical, unique and surreal, sad yet deeply spiritual, perfect, mystical, an historical fairytale, haunting and eerie?  There is a tranquil sacredness and stillness when you are here which is only disturbed by the distant sound of a vespa or perhaps the intensity of the midday sun.  Matera shows how creative, clever and able man was and still is, managing to create a city out of a rocky ravine and transforming a landscape into living architecture. However Matera also shows the other side of man, uncaring and blind, becoming Italy's great scandal.

Matera has been loved by poets and film directors alike, from the writings of Carlo Levi to Pasolini, Rosi, Tornatore, The Taviani brothers and Mel Gibson to name but a few, each commenting on it undisputed standing amongst the best.  This is truly a place to visit and to fully appreciate this sacred place we suggest a local guide to take you round and discover its true soul. Here are some simple facts about Matera.  To read more.


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Sardinia - the Vandal invaders & Gerri Halliwell

Around this time each year we review the content on our website (www.sardinianplaces.co.uk) to make sure everything is up to date and still relevant. Today I came across an article a colleague had added during the summer about well known people holidaying in Sardinia. In particular the article mentioned the walking role model that is Naomi Campbell and Prince Andrew. Co-incidentally Prince Andrew is in the news again at the moment following a few outspoken remarks whilst heading a trade delegation in Kyrgizstan. Now I know Sardinia has long been regarded as a glamorous summer retreat for the rich and famous, but how true is this? Most of the customers that travel with us, often families with younger children always seems quite grounded and down to earth, is Sardinia really awash with film stars, media moguls and international jet-setters? 

A quick google of “celebrities in Sardinia” threw up a few names, some more familiar than others, Rod Stewart, Penny Lancaster, Paul Smith, Sebastian Vettel, Christiano Ronaldo.....delving deeper into the search results revealed a footballing holy-trinity of “Lampard, Redknapp & Crouch” followed by Christine Bleakley, Gerri Halliwell one particular search result screamed “Janet Jackson vacations in her bikini!” as if wearing a bikini on holiday were strange or extraordinary. So it would seem there is some credence to this whole Sardinian celebrity appeal. So what is the draw? As an island (and a big one at that) located in the Mediterranean, for exploring and expanding nations Sardinia was a place that would be hard to miss. From Phoenicians to Romans, Vandals to Arabs, Genoans to Spaniards all have held and lost control of the island. I guess you could say that Sardinia has always been popular.

Sardinia of the modern era, whilst indisputably Italian retains a fiercely independent character, shaped over time by its interaction with many nations. Different cultures have all contributed to the art, architecture and cultural life of Sardinia. Is this what draws Gerri and Christine, Frank and Jamie? Probably not, I suspect it is the great beaches, climate and fashionable reputation that pulls in the celebrity crowd.  In reality if you visit Sardinia it's probably not that likely that you are will bump into Rod Stewart (it depends on who you are as much as where you go on holiday), you will off course get to breathe the same air, bask in the same gorgeous sunlight and dip a toe in the same turquoise sea....