The Mediterranean is the quintessential summer destination, a place where you can feel relaxed and refreshed but also enjoy yourself and have fun. The region is also associated with the slow living movement, a type of lifestyle that involves taking a slower, more leisurely approach to completing daily tasks. Slowing down, doing less and prioritizing your own well-being every day can help minimize stress levels since you’re not continuously caught in the hustle and bustle around you. For some, the movement is also aligned with sustainable living and a more minimalist approach to life that avoids overconsumption and overbuying things.
If you want to experience this type of life on your own, there’s no better way to get a taste of it than during the summer vacation season. Even if you don’t live in the Mediterranean, it doesn’t mean that you cannot develop some helpful habits that will help you in your daily life as well. Here are some of the areas you might want to visit.
South Tyrol
South Tyrol is a uniquely beautiful region located in northern Italy. Holding the autonomous province designation, South Tyrol is known for its eclectic culture, with a mix of German, Italian and Austrian influences. The Ladins, an ethnic group speaking their own language, are also native to the region. When in the area, you must make time to visit Bolzano, the province’s capital city. There are many impressive landmarks you can add to your itinerary, such as the Laubengasse, a street featuring medieval arcades on its entire course and the perfect place to do some shopping.
To relax throughout your stay, you must book accommodation at a spa hotel in South Tyrol, where you’ll be surrounded by nature and a pleasant atmosphere. You can spend leisurely hours playing golf and tennis or exploring the cycling paths. If you’re hungry, you can sample gourmet dishes made from local ingredients accompanied by a glass of home-brewed beer or wine. When you’re ready to venture outside again, you can take your time to stop by the various castles. Runkelstein Castle was built in the 1230s on a rocky spur close to Bolzano. Maretsch Castle also dates back to the 13th century and can be visited if you make a reservation beforehand.
If you choose a wellness hotel South Tyrol, you can immerse yourself in the dolce vita by spending time in the sauna and swimming pools, as well as lounging in relaxation rooms or getting a massage. And because leisurely mind activities are just as important, you should add visits to a few cultural places during your stay, like the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology or the Museion, whose name comes from Greek and means “temple of the muses” and which hosts modern and contemporary art pieces.
Crete
The most populous Greek island and the fifth most populous in the Mediterranean, Crete was the home of what many consider to be Europe’s first civilization, the Minoans. If you enjoy spending time at the beach, you’ll find that you can spend hours at the palm beach of Vai, which is covered by a palm forest on the inland side. If you want to experience the mountainside as well, you should visit the Psiloritis Natural Park, which extends into Mount Ida and the Cretan Sea. Another stunning natural park is the Samaria Gorge, a World’s Biosphere Reserve. Since Crete has such an ancient history, there are many remnants from the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations you can see for yourself, including frescoes, massive palaces such as the one at Knossos, and rhytons shaped like bulls.
Tuscany
Situated in central Italy, Tuscany has a strong cultural and linguistic identity and is widely known among tourists for its landscapes and high culture, being the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. The Tuscan Archipelago, a chain of islands west of Tuscany, is a top-rated tourist destination. If you visit Portoferraio, you’ll have an opportunity to see Napoleon’s exile villa. The Scaglieri beach and L’Enfola promontory on Elba, the Capraia main village of the island of the same name, the Palazzo della Specola and Giannutri coast are just a few of the places you can visit in the archipelago.
And of course, while in Tuscany, you must also sample some local dishes. Colonnata lard, taking its name from the small village with the same name, is flavored with pepper, sage, cinnamon, rosemary and cloves. The classic way to serve it is on warm, toasted bread. Pappa al Pomodoro is a thick, hearty and filling bread soup that has tomatoes, olive oil, basil and garlic as its main ingredients. Leftover bread is also incorporated into the dish. Ribollita is another type of bread soup made using kidney beans, cabbage, kale, carrots, potatoes, onion and celery.
Seafood lovers must dip their spoons in cacciucco, a speciality hailing from the port city of Livorno. The dish is fundamentally Mediterranean, with the species of fish and shellfish used being local to the area. Scorpionfish, monkfish, John Dory, mussels, calamari and shrimp are traditionally used, but octopus, cuttlefish, eels or crab meat can also be used. And for dessert lovers, there is castagnaccio, a cake made with chestnut flour, pine nuts and raisins. It is typically served with honey, ricotta and a sweet wine.
Puglia
Located in the south of Italy, Puglia forms the “heel” of the Italian peninsula’s “boot”. The area is famous for its rustic landscape, with the characteristic white buildings and hilltop buildings. It is also home to a sprawling Mediterranean coast that spans over 860 km. Bari is the chief town in Puglia, being both a port and a university city. The Old Town is particularly charming and worth a visit, being home to many ancient buildings. One of them is the Basilica of Saint Nicholas, the Bari Cathedral, Teatro Petruzzelli, and Norman-Swabian Castle are just a few of the landmarks you can visit in the city.
In the metropolitan region of Bari, there’s also the town of Monopoli, home to the Jerusalem Hospital, founded in 1350, the castle of Charles V and the faunal reserve at Monte San Nicola. Ostuni and Lecce are two other popular tourist attractions. Puglia is also known for its regional dishes, including mussel spaghetti, fried fish preserved in saffron, goat chops and taralli, a popular snack similar to breadsticks in texture.
When you’re making plans for summer, it’s essential to start in advance to make sure that you can create a comprehensive itinerary. If you travel to the Mediterranean, you must absolutely start off with a plan because there’s not much to see and do.
