Finding Home in the Mediterranean
For many of the Bella Vita team, the Mediterranean was not our starting point, but it was where we ended up. Whether it was through family history, falling in love, college, or following our wanderlust, one time vacations turned into full time lifestyles.
The allure of the Mediterranean is as complex as the countries it’s composed of, but finding home here — whether for two weeks or twenty years — is all about finding the place that makes your soul feel at home.
You cannot find a home away from your own just anywhere. While, to us, the countries we work and live in are all objectively incredible, home is a feeling, and it’s specific to you.
For example, there are some people who cannot fall in love with Paris — the bustling city streets, the smell of a vibrant city, the imposing culture and architecture. Some people see Paris as heaven on earth, for others, it is to be avoided.
Similarly, there are people who would find the quiet, calm of Corsica overwhelming. If you don’t like heat, then you won’t like the “French island basking in the Italian sun,” and if you don’t like sand, then the miles of rolling beaches may overwhelm.
If you’re looking to find the feeling of home in a foreign land, then it’s important to ascertain what it is you love, what it is you cannot abide by, and what it is you need from a vacation.
Looking for culture:
France, Spain, Italy, and Greece are all brimming with culture — these ancient countries have thousands of years of history, and it pours out all over the streets. Rome, Athens, Paris, and Madrid are all safe bets, and they are brimming with all the iconic landmarks and institutions. However, if you want to consume classic culture less tourist-heavy areas you would do well to try these places:
- Lyon, France: As France’s second city of culture (behind Paris), immersing yourself in France’s culture and heritage is easy to do. Whether you want to spend a day absorbing the history of Lyon in Vieux Lyon, venturing round any one of the hundreds of museums, or involve yourself with the 21,000 cultural events annually, Lyon is the place to be.
- Corfu, Greece: Old meets new on this breathtaking Greek island, and it’s worth a visit alone just for the multitude of cultural institutions, heritage sites, and historic monuments. Corfu’s intellectual legacy is a something you can see from the moment you get there, and it’s the perfect place to sun-seek and consume culture simultaneously.
- Sorrento, Italy: Like Corfu, Sorrento blends incredible scenery with proud history and heritage seamlessly. The Chiesa di San Francisco is a 14th century monastery, and it’s just one of the many historical institutions that make Sorrento a cultural cornerstone in Italy. The charm of this coastal towns stems from its vibrancy and lively spirit, so head here if you’re looking for history filled with life.
- Seville, Spain: Seville was founded as a Roman city, so it is a place rich with history. Home to three UNESCO world heritage sites, Seville is brimming with antique beauty even when you aren’t actively seeking out cultural experiences. It’s also home to the Metropol Parasol, the largest wooden structure in the world — which is well worth checking out.
Looking for nature:
Vacations are all about unwinding and disconnecting — in the midst of the serenity of nature, it’s hard not to feel slightly more at peace. Whether you’re looking to avoid the crowds, breath in fresher air, or explore the most awe-inspiring scenery the world has to offer, these four locations will do just that:
- Chamonix, France: Chamonix encompasses everything that is incredible about the the Alps — dramatic, awe-inspiring, and vast. Though it draws its main crowd in the snowy seasons, Chamonix’s cinematographic landscape means that it perfect to explore all year round.
- Kefalonia, Greece: If you’re looking for somewhere a little less chilly, Kefalonia’s the place for you. While it is home to some of the most mesmerizing beaches the Mediterranean has to offer and striking fir-capped mountains, Kefalonia’s real magic is in places like the piercing-turquoise Melissani Cave which shows nature at its most serene.
- The Dolomites, Italy: Where Chamonix’s allure comes from the drama the backdrop inspires, The Dolomites offer a more calming mountain experience. The scenery is just as monumental, and just as beautiful, but something about the vast mountains, lush green fields, and still waters inspires a sense of peace and serenity that truly resonates.
- Cabo de Gata, Spain: Gabo de Gata is a natural park in Andalusia that stretches 460 km. The park is renowned for the diversity and beauty of its landscape — from white, sandy beaches, to volcanic cliffs, hidden caves, wetlands and mountainous regions, this natural park is heaven-on-earth for travellers who want to experience all kinds of natural beauty.
For those looking to play as hard as they’ve worked:
If your idea of the perfect vacation includes greeting the sunrise before you greet your bed, or bar-hopping your way through the city, then you aren’t limited to the classic party cities like Ibiza. Travelling gives you an opportunity to let your hair down, and these four cities can help you do just that:
- Marseille, France: Marseille offers a vibrant, diverse, and dynamic nightlife — which is thanks, in part, to its historically diverse population. Vieux Port is where you’ll find the pinnacle of Marseille nightlife, and you can learn a lot about the city just by experiencing the eclectic party scene, embracing the bar culture, and partying with locals until the early morning hours.
- Mykonos, Greece: Greece is teeming with cheap getaways for young party people, and Mykonos certainly isn’t for the faint hearted, but it offers a slightly more grown-up experience than the chaos of somewhere like Ios’ party scene. That’s not to say it’s by any means quiet or calm, and it’s the place to go if you love the sound of upmarket bars alongside sandy beaches.
- Sardinia, Italy: There are so many reasons to visit Sardinia, and while its party potential is not widely known, it’s definitely one of them. Sardinia is for those who are serious about partying, but are not tempted by the mayhem of Ios or Ibiza. It offers a slightly more grown-up take on partying, and it’s perfect if you’re looking to live it up with a touch of class.
- Valencia, Spain: Of course nowhere will ever take Ibiza’s place as Spain’s party capital, but Valencia offers an equally intoxicating — albeit different — take on Spanish nightlife. Spain is generally renowned for its unparalleled party scene, and Valencia offers a more bohemian side of it.
For those looking for a little of everything:
A vacation is an opportunity to do a lot of nothing, one thing, or absolutely everything. Impressive culture, stunning nature, rolling beaches, vibrant nightlife, and mouthwatering cuisine — it turns out, you can have it all, and these places prove it:
- Menton, France: There’s a reason Menton is known as “the pearl of France.” Menton never fails to make our hearts beat a little faster — with all the beauty the French Riviera has to offer, Menton is brimming with culture, serenity, and sunshine. The nightlife is small, but vibrant, and there’s something for everyone in this postcard ready town.
- Santorini, Greece: We will never stop talking about how incredible Santorini is. Not only does it look like it might actually be paradise, but it feels that way too. Santorini is renowned for great food and wine, it has a nightlife suited to all kinds of revelry, the beaches are unparalleled, and it is a place rooted deeply in its history. Santorini is perfect for everyone and everything. Period.
- Lipari, Italy: Nature has been kind to the biggest Aeolian Island, and Lipari is home to an abundance of beauty. Lipari has a vibrant and classic nightlife, history that dates back to the Neolithic area, and beaches that will mesmerize. Because of this, Lipari is a very popular destination, but if you don’t mind sharing, then this is the place for you.
- Barcelona, Spain: This one’s no secret, but it’s also kind of hard to beat. Party-person, history nerd, foodie, sun-seeker, or water-baby — it doesn’t matter who you are, Barcelona will have something to offer you. Barcelona is captivating, lively, and always welcoming. While Barcelona is a tourist-heavy destination, it’s easy to make your own way through the lesser-known parts of the city if you’re willing to do your homework.
You don’t need to live somewhere for it to feel like home, and wanderlust will have you feeling homesick for a place you’ve never been.
