Articles by Dorothy Edgar

Set on a high, fertile plain in the centre of Puglia, the Valle d'Itria runs from Putignano in the north to Ostuni in the south, its wooded slopes, vineyards and olive groves punctuated by the coned roofs of trulli, cylindrical stone buildings found nowhere else. This Valle d'Itria itinerary spends four days moving through the valley's hilltop towns before finishing on the Adriatic coast.

With its Norman cathedral, honey-coloured old town and sweeping bay, Cefalù is easy to fall for. Yet some of the region's greatest rewards lie just beyond its medieval streets. Spend a few days here, and you'll discover a stretch of coastline shaped by mountain villages, archaeological treasures, contemporary art, age-old craftsmanship and landscapes that seem to shift character around every curve in the roads.

Western Sicily has a way of drawing you in gradually. Ancient temples stand alone among wheat-coloured hills, salt pans glow pink in the evening light, and vineyards run almost to the sea. Between them lie fishing harbours, hilltop towns, nature reserves and stretches of coastline that feel remarkably untouched by modern tourism.

The southernmost part of Tuscany is known as the Maremma. It’s not on most visitors’ radars, but it brims with authenticity, inspiring landscapes, and historic towns. This South Tuscany itinerary spends a week working through that lower half of the region: its coastline, its islands, and the inland hills that many skip past entirely.

Northern Tuscany distils so much of what makes the region irresistible. Renaissance masterpieces and medieval hill towns sit within easy reach of a coastline that stretches for more than 100 miles, where elegant beach resorts, dune-backed sands and hidden corners of the Tyrrhenian Sea offer a different rhythm altogether.

Deciding where to stay in Paros will set the rhythm of your trip. This is an island of genuine contrasts: a whitewashed harbour town built for long, wine-soaked dinners and lantern-lit late walks; sheltered family beaches with barely a ripple, and a sun-bleached south coast that windsurfers cross oceans for.

Corfu moves at several different tempos at once: a fortified old town built for wandering, an interior of olive groves and forgotten villages, and a northeastern coast made up of quiet bays. This 7-day Corfu itinerary threads all three together, based from the island's north, with day trips out to the south and west along the way.

Southern Sardinia spans a dramatic breadth, from the eastern shores of Capo Ferrato and Costa Rei across to the island of San Pietro in the far west. This is a region where layers of history accumulate: Nuragic stone towers, Phoenician ports, Roman amphitheatres, all set against a backdrop of green hills that taper down to crystalline coves and expansive stretches of fine sand. While the Costa Smeralda to the north draws a glamorous crowd, the south of Sardinia appeals to those in search of something simpler, authentic and more grounded.

North Sardinia has an alluring sparkle that draws travellers from across the globe. Along its northeastern edge, charcoal rockfaces cascade into water of almost implausible clarity, maquis-rich slopes perfume the air, and a coastline of chalk-white and pink sand and translucent inlets unfold in near-unbroken succession.

Whitewashed villages, archaeological wonders and ethereal, sandy coves make this Cyclades island-hopping itinerary a stellar introduction to the Aegean. Structured across two weeks, it moves with a natural pace between well-known islands and quieter stops, delicately balancing time on the water with moments enjoying the wonders ashore.

Rare beauty, layered history and a coastline that shifts from granite coves to sweeping white sands make this Corsica itinerary an immersive introduction to the island’s south. Structured day by day, it follows a natural rhythm between coast, culture and inland landscapes, with space to slow down where it matters.