The Mediterranean is surrounded by Europe, Asia, and Africa and is linked to the Atlantic Ocean by way of the Strait of Gibraltar. The Mediterranean has over 150 islands various in dimension. The 5 largest Mediterranean islands are Crete, Corsica, Cyprus, Sardinia and Sicily. Greater isn’t essentially higher, a number of the smaller island equivalent to Mallorca and Ibiza have a lot to advocate them.

Pondering of the Med brings to thoughts pictures of clear turquoise waters and rocky shoreline cliffs. The numerous lovely islands of the Med embody varied cultures and nations. There’s a wealthy historical past spanning hundreds of years. Over the ages many creeds and cultures have laid declare to the islands and left their footprint. They got here, they noticed, they conquered and I’m not simply speaking concerning the Brits in Magaluf. For some, these islands are dwelling, for others, they’re wonderful trip locations.

On every of those islands, tourism performs a significant position within the economic system. The variety of vacationers that Mediterranean islands obtain yearly is greater than double the variety of everlasting residents! The excessive charges of tourism, nevertheless, has a huge effect on the pure assets of the islands, significantly on the freshwater. Due to this excessive demand and consequent overuse, the groundwater has turn into saltier and requires elevated therapy. Mediterranean tourism is simply anticipated to develop, and it’s as much as these island governments to make sure it turns into extra sustainable for the surroundings.

Mallorca

A jewel within the Med, Mallorca attracts hundreds of thousands of vacationers all year long. Guests are drawn from everywhere in the globe. Mallorca has all of it. It’s a disgrace that previously it’s been stigmatised as a playground for loutish behaviour, mud sticks. Mallorca is far way more than that. Palma, the capital has been voted the perfect place to reside up to now. I can bear testomony to that, as I reside in Palma in the course of the summer time months. There’s at all times one thing occurring in Palma, music festivals, pop up markets, processions.

There are 262 seashores with a complete size of fifty km with fairly a number of stylish seashore golf equipment. The Tramuntana mountains to the North of Mallorca are breathtakingly lovely with image postcard villages, Deia, Valldemossa and Fornalutx instantly spring to thoughts. There’s peace and tranquility away from the recent spots. There are extra distinctive eating places dotted across the island than you may shake a stick at.

Mykonos

Mykonos is definitely reachable by airplane and by ferry. It has a world airport and receives flights from Athens and from many European cities. The island has every day ferry routes from the ports of Piraeus and Rafina in Athens but additionally from different islands. Mykonos has been attracting a world crowd like a magnet because the Nineteen Sixties and has been voted a high summer time vacation vacation spot again and again for good purpose.

Mykonos’s nickname is “The Island of the Winds”, because of the very sturdy winds that often blow on the island. Tourism is a significant business and Mykonos is thought for its vibrant nightlife and for being a gay-friendly vacation spot with many institutions catering for the LGBT neighborhood. The island boasts many luxurious resorts, award-winning eating places, cosmopolitan vibes, designer boutiques, elegant bars and a loopy social gathering scene. Together with the gorgeous clear waters that encompass the island Mykonos has a lot to happy with.

These days it’s arduous to think about a time when Mykonos was a humble little island, with out electrical energy, only a layover on the way in which to well-known Delos. Issues modified within the Nineteen Fifties, with the arrival of the likes of Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas, Jackie O, Marlon Brando, Grace Kelly, Princess Soraya, Elizabeth Taylor, Nureyev, Pierre Cardin, Stavros Niarchos… legendary names of the worldwide jet set that grew to become related to Mykonos. Mykonos shortly grew to become the favoured vacation vacation spot in Greece for the super-rich, artists and film stars. Don’t let that deter you it caters nicely for the extra humble customer.

Ibiza

The unique social gathering island. World well-known dance venues abound and high class DJ’s make common appearances. The house to Cafe Del Mar the place the godfather of chillout music, Jose Padilla gave start to the style. If music and partying is your factor, Ibiza is the place to go to. A smaller island than neighbouring Mallorca, Ibiza has a really completely different vibe.

Ibiza outdated city is a marvel and a really engaging place to go to. Housed in a walled citadel, wander it’s winding slim streets and chill on the many cosy cafe’s. The island boasts gorgeous villas and first-class eating places. Small coves lapped by the extraordinary blue Mediterranean, pine forests that spill right down to sea, sleepy villages stuffed with rural appeal, luxurious seashore golf equipment, lodging in paradise-like settings. Ibiza is a heavenly Mediterranean vacation spot, a spot the place you may let your hair down and benefit from the laid-back hippy environment of its trend and road markets, relax on a Bali mattress subsequent to the ocean or watch the sundown surrounded by lovely surroundings.

Corsica

This French island boasts 3,350 sq. miles and solely 322,120 residents. Much less developed than different areas in France, the Corsican economic system depends primarily on tourism for survival. An attention-grabbing truth relating to Corsica is that Napoleon Bonaparte was born right here. The 2013 Tour de France began on the island, it was the one centesimal version, one in all biking‘s Grand Excursions.

For essentially the most half, the terrain of Corsica is mountainous. About two-thirds of it consists of an historical crystalline massif that divides the island on a northwest-to-southeast axis. The mountain silhouettes are very dramatic, and their granite rocks show vivid colors. The mountains descend steeply in parallel ranges to the west, the place the coast is reduce into steep gulfs and marked by excessive cliffs and headlands.

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Rising from the Med like an impregnable fortress, Corsica resembles a miniature continent, with astounding geographical variety. Inside half an hour’s drive, the panorama ranges from glittering bays, vibrant coastal cities and fabulous seashores to sawtooth mountain ridges, verdant valleys, dense forests and time-forgotten hilltop villages. Holidays in Corsica provide tremendously various alternatives: from mountaineering and canyoning to snorkelling and sunbathing.

Although Corsica has been a part of France for greater than 200 years, it feels completely different from the mainland in the whole lot from customs and delicacies to language and character. Locals love to clarify their Corsican id so loads of participating evenings await, particularly if the holy trilogy of meals, wine and harmonious Corsican music are concerned.

Sardinia

Sardinia has a number of the dreamiest seashores you’ll discover with out stepping off European shores. The sand actually is  white, and the ocean the bluest of blues. Drop anchor in Costa Smeralda’s great bays, the place celebrities and supermodels benefit from the turquoise waters. The sheer cliffs embrace and afford seclusion. Whether or not you’re strolling barefoot throughout the dunes on the Costa Verde or lounging on the Costa del Sud, simply chill and daydream.

Sardinia is one in all Europe’s final nice island adventures. Hike by way of the plush, tranquil inside to the Tiscali’s ruins. Take pleasure in a stroll alongside the vertiginous coastal path to the crescent-shaped bay of Cala Luna, the place climbers deal with the limestone cliffs. The ocean is irresistible to windsurfers on the north coast, whereas divers discover shipwrecks off Cagliari’s coast, the underwater Nereo Cave and Nora’s submerged Roman ruins.

The juxtaposition of the Alpine-like forests to the snow-white seashores is exceptional. The island can also be a culinary one-off, with distinct takes on pasta, bread and its personal wines, Vermentino whites, Cannonau reds and the tangy and cheeses which are produced on the island. The island is scattered with 7000 Nuragic Bronze Age towers. Sardinia can also be an island of fabulously eccentric festivals, from Barbagia’s carnival parade of ghoulish mamuthones, stated to banish winter demons, to the death-defying S’Ardia horse race in Sedilo.

Danny Frith is Director at SkiBoutique. SkiBoutique is a luxurious ski chalet company primarily based in Switzerland.

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