Port of call: Cagliari
CAVES OF SANTADI - Full description
| CODE: CG04 | CAVES OF SANTADIO FD |
| DURATION | 8 Hrs Approx |
| TRANSPORT | DELUXE COACH |
| GUIDE | INCLUDED |
| ENTRANCE FEE | INCLUDED |
| MEAL | INCLUDED |
| NOTES |
Departure from the ship in air conditioned luxury coach. Passengers will enjoy an extremely pleasant and picturesque drive lasting approximately 90 minutes from Ancona to Urbino.
Arrive Urbino. Urbino is a little old town which is built on two hills and is still surrounded by it's wall. Passengers will go inside a small building to take an elevator up to the main level of the town. Urbino is the famous artist Raphael Sanzio's native town (1483-1520).
A tour will be made of the ducal palace. After entering the palace there are 2 or 3 slow rising staircases, not necessarily difficult. The passengers will then be taken by the guide through the palace which is very nice and has some great art work. One of the highlights are two paintings by Raphael that were recently acquired. The tour is to last at least one hour.
Pleasant five minute walk to the main square. A short visit lasting approximately 20 minutes, to the church Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista e San Giuseppe is suggested but may remain optional. As an alternative, there are many stores around the square, some of which are unique.We will all meet in the main square to go to lunch.Arrive at restaurant for an excellent lunch at Old Urbino.
Departure from restaurant and half an hour free time .Coach will pick us up and drive us around the city walls and at 1500 we will visit the monument of raphael and vista of city and fortress.
Departure for ship arriving at 16,45.
Port of call: Cagliari
GROTTE DI FRASSASI - Full description
| CODE: AN03 | GROTTE DI FRASSASI |
| DURATION | 4 Hrs |
| TRANSPORT | DELUXE COACH |
| GUIDE | INCLUDED |
| ENTRANCE FEE | / |
| MEAL | EXCLUDED |
| NOTES |
The journey along the southern coast
Guests will meet their guide and deluxe a/c coach at the pier and set off for a ride that will cross the well-known holiday resort of Santa Margherita di Pula,
and lead along the coastal road which boasts beautiful views of the southern coast, an attraction itself for its uncontaminated beauty of its beaches
and cliffs.
Chia, Capo Malfatano, Tuaredda & Cape Teulada
The coaches will arrive at Chia, where the panorama opens on the ancient Spanish watchtower and the vast sandy dune beaches.
The beauty of Capo Malfatano is enhanced by the sandy cove of Tuaredda facing a red rocky islet.On the other side of the climbing road,
the perfumes of the Mediterranean Macchia invade the surrounding landscape, plunging visitors into a magic atmosphere,
boasting lagoons rich in fish and other marine creatures and a small and quaint little harbour with its nice fisher boats.
In the background we can see the walls of Cape Teulada, which is the extreme southern point of Sardinia.
The caves of Zuddas
Some 6 kms from Santadi, a sheep raising and farming centre, coaches will stop close to the caves of Zuddas,
opening up in the Cambrian limestone of Mount Meana.
Guests will enter the magic world of the caves, a fantastic scenario of precious stage screens below us with the glittering marvels
of million-years old formations, stalactites, stalagmites and aragonite's (very sharp white crystal needles),
assuming the most incredible forms and shapes.Hence wonder inside the "organ room", the "theatre hall" and finally most beautiful: "the eccentric roome"
It is a walk through the mysterious entrails of earth, doubtless hiding unknown secrets belonging to the early,
primeval days of our planet.After the pleasant experience, the tour proceeds towards and past Santadi, a large agriculture centre,
past Nuxis, and through a fantastic valley where oak trees mingle with Mediterranean "macchia" scented by lentisk, myrtle,
arbuke and many other fragrant Mediterranean plants.Near Siliqua admire the ruins of the castle of count Ugolino (13th century).
On completion of the tour guests will be driven back to Cagliari.
Lunch
Lunch will be served at the restaurant of the Caves of Santadi the full menu' includes a typically Sicilian variety of starters,
a first course of "malloredus" (tiny dumpling flavouredwith saffron, roast suckling pig, seasonal vegetables,
fresh fruit of the season, Sardinian sweets, dessert wine, red & white local wine and mineral water.
Port of call: Cagliari
NORA & CAGLIARI - Full description
| CODE: CG01 | NORA & CAGLIARI |
| DURATION | 4 Hrs Approx |
| TRANSPORT | DELUXE COACH |
| GUIDE | INCLUDED |
| ENTRANCE FEE | INCLUDED |
| MEAL | EXCLUDED |
| NOTES |
Enjoy a relaxing and breathtaking morning on one of the most beautiful towns of Sardinia: Nora.
Nora
On an unspoiled peninsula surrounded by the bluest of the seas, some 20 miles southwest of Cagliari,
this town will surely remain in your most memorable of memories.The journey will take guests across one of two pools
populated by pink flamingos, and past sorrow before arriving at Pula.
The town was initially founded by the Phoenicians on a rocky promontory of the coast; it had two harbours,
one sheltered from the west winds and the other from the mistral. After a period of roman prosperity there was a decline,
and in the 3rd century ad. The city was engulfed by the sea by some kind of natural disaster.
The thermae & amphitheatre
Recent excavations have revealed remains of the thermae and of the whole village. The beautiful small amphitheatre is still
being used as ideal scenery for summer poetry and music festivals. All around the site admire the most impressive and well kept mosaic floors:
all hand built.
Cagliari
On completion of the visit in Nora, guests will re-board their coaches to be driven back to Cagliari,
accompanied by their guide.The return journey will include a brief site seeing of the city's major attractions,
from their coaches guests will be able to admire the Sanctuary of Bonaria, the San Pancrazio tower",
built by the Pisans in 1305, and the "cathedral of Santa Cecilia", constructed in the 12th century.