Lthere is a great desire to travel. And you can see it from the full air flights and from a tourism that returns to fill places that, with the two years of Covid, have remained deserted for too long. But the return of tourism also means see the cities overrun by crowds.
Holidays, nine places away from the crowds
If the desire, however, is to spend the days of your holidays away from the chaos that again fills Rome or Venice, Paris or Formentera, you can rely on taste of Wall Street Journal who made a list of nine European locationse, distributed between Italy, France and Spain not yet targeted.
Marettimo in the Egadi Islands in Italy
Between Italy, France and Spain
As for the holidays in Italy, therefore the authoritative newspaper has chosen, in order, Ferrara, the Gran Sasso National Park and gods Monti della Laga, and Marettimothe westernmost among the Egadi Islands, off the coast of Trapani. In France it indicates the coast of Brittanythe Canal-du-Midi and Lille. And for Spain he reports Cuenca, Galicia and Gerona.
Holidays, the advice of the Wall Street Journal
Obviously the indications are for Americans who come to the beautiful country, but of course nothing prevents Italians from stealing advice and visiting these destinations, described as still relatively quiet and off the beaten track.
With regard to Ferrara, the site of the WSJ he says that walking around the city is a bit like going back in time. The itinerary proposed by the author of the article includes the Estense Castle, the Palazzo dei Diamanti and Via delle Volte. And as for the culinary specialties, inevitable in a travel guide, unthinkable without having tried i Pumpkin ravioli.
The Gran Sasso park and the Egadi islands
Turning to the Gran Sasso National Park, in Abruzzo, the park is described as a place that “amazes for its beauty and cool temperatures even in summer” and, above all as never overcrowded, not even in mid-August. And where it is possible to practice river canoeing on the Tirino river, “one of the cleanest in Italy”.
Marettimo, the most “external” of the Egadi finally, it has few beaches, it is true, but just ask the locals to be taken to one of the splendid coves accessible only by boat. Here, those who love marine activities will have the opportunity to go diving, snorkelling, or even explore the sea caves by boat. And those who love to walk will enjoy it of a scenic trek overlooking the sea.
Via San Romano in Ferrara. Part of the historic center has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO
The Breton coast, the Canal-du-Midi and Lille
As for the French destinations, the islands of the Breton coast they are so scattered that they contain the crowd. Intense and beautiful places like Île de Sein, Saint-Malo and Mont-Saint-Michel they are certainly worth a visit even though they are not particularly easy to reach. And again, the Canal-du-Midiwhere it is possible to live on boats, moving and stopping at will to explore cities, villages and parks.
Lille is cited for its set of art, culture and gastronomy. On the border between France and Belgium, it is the right city to avoid the crowds, just don’t go on the first weekend of September, when the largest flea market in Europe is held.
Evening view of the clifftop town of Cuenca, Spain along the Huecar River Gorge
Holidays in Spain, we go to Cuenca
And then we move on to Spain. The WSJ reports Cuenca 90 minutes from Madrid, a city that recalls many villages or localities of central-southern Italy. Do not miss a walk on the Puente de San Pablo, built on the cliff.
There Galicia known above all for its capital, Santiago de Compostela and its path, it is less known for the coast of the north-western region of Spain. A splendid stretch that alternates rocks that fall sheer to the sea e long ideal beaches for long walks. The Playa de las Catedrales is an absolute must-see.
Gerona, finally, it is beautiful, with the only defect of having Barcelona and the Costa Brava too close. Medieval city, the number one attraction is the Jewish quarter, with narrow streets, arches and buildings that have been restored but still older than 1492.
The most beautiful park 2022
After two years of hiatus, the contest “The most beautiful park 2022” promoted to enhance the vast heritage of parks and gardens present in our peninsula. The two winners of this edition are the Royal Gardens of Venice for the category “Public Parks” ei Gardens of Villa della Pergola in Alassio for the category “Private Parks”.
The Royal Gardens of Venice were reopened at the end of 2019 after years of neglect, returning to their former glory thanks to a careful recovery of the existing vegetation with the addition of particularly resistant exotic species.
The Gardens of Villa della Pergola, in the Ligurian Alassio, whose origin dates back to the late nineteenth century and is linked to the history of the English community in Liguria, they overlook the gulf of the town And on the Gallinara island.
Recovered since 2006 by a group of private individuals, thanks to a work of conservation and enrichment of the renowned botanical collections, they are a place full of charm. Among the most significant collections, that of the wisteria, the most important in Italy with 34 different varieties.
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