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Mediterranean
49
Flavours of the Med
There’s no better way to capture the essence of a city than through
its food. Get those walking shoes on, and loosen your belt...the
world’s your oyster, pizza, meatball and more!
When it comes to food, the thriving markets of the
Med are in a league of their own. Barcelona’s La
Boqueria market is rightly famous for its buzzing
atmosphere and vast displays of weird and wonderful
foodstuffs, featuring every kind of fruit and vegetable
imaginable and a few more besides. You’ll also find
huge legs of ham hanging from the stalls, sliced wafer
thin and served on the spot. These mouth-watering
delicacies can be aged for anywhere up to four years,
and vary in price accordingly, often fetching between
50-100 Euro per kilo, so if you’ve a hankering for a
ham sandwich, it may be wise to check the age of
your filling first! Simply wandering these vast markets
is an experience in itself, but if you prefer bartering
for bargains over window shopping, don’t be afraid
to haggle!
Tip:
You’ll find similarly large and thriving
markets in almost every city in the Med,
with notable examples including the Mercato
Centrale in Florence and the Rialto Market in
Venice. Just remember the golden rule is to
avoid touching the produce. The vendor will
be happy to choose the finest and freshest
produce for you.
Taste the adventure
As well as opening your eyes to new sights and hidden
delights, a guided excursion will introduce you to
lesser-known local delicacies and places of interest.
Alternatively, you may prefer to dive straight in and
explore under your own steam. Here are just a few of
our favourite foodie excursions:
Corfu Sights and Winery
Discover the six beautiful coves and incredibly
turquoise water of Paleokastritsa, nestling in a coastline
of hills and draped in olive, cypress and lemon trees.
Legend has it that this is where Odysseus met Nausica
after his final shipwreck. Experience the production
process for both wine and olive oil, followed by a
sampling of the wine with some local cheese, fresh
bread, olive oil and olives grown on the Theotoky
Estate. A tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town
is the perfect way to round off your trip. Well, that and
a cheeky glass of ouzo!
Cartagena Tapas Trail
Cartagena is a city shaped by its Moorish, Roman and
Phoenician heritage, in both culture and cuisine. Wine
and dine your way along the seafront, taking in both
the harbour and the Roman theatre, as you visit five
local tapas bars. Along the way you could sample
delicious tapas staples such as meatballs, Spanish
omelette, Jamón ibérico and cheeses, washed down
with a glass of Sangria naturally.
Rome – Wine tasting and Marta
Visit the beautiful town of Montefiascone overlooking
Lake Bolsena. Here, you’ll sample a selection of wines
and local produce from the famous Antica Cantina
Leonardi winery. Next, it’s on to Marta, a traditional
village on the shores of the lake offering superb views.
If you’ve time for a bite to eat, local dishes such as
scafata (fava bean stew) and aquacotta (rustic soup)
capture the flavours and traditions of the area perfectly.
4
5
➀
Venice, Bridge of Sighs
➁
Dubrovnik, Cable Car
➂
Pisa, Leaning Tower of Pisa
➃
Rome, fava bean stew
➄
Corfu, Greek Salad
