Three Mediterranean Islands, One Epic Journey: Sicily, Sardinia & Corsica

Building on our successful Spanish island explorations the previous year, our June 2023 Mediterranean island-hopping adventure through Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica proved that the Mediterranean's lesser-known island gems offer experiences rivaling any destination in the world. This three-week journey combined dramatic landscapes, fascinating cultures, and unexpected luxury encounters.

General Comments

Island-Hopping Strategy: Following our Spanish island success, this three-island Mediterranean circuit created perfect variety - from Sicily's ancient history and Mount Etna drama, to Sardinia's emerald coast luxury, to Corsica's rugged French sophistication. Each island offered completely different personalities while maintaining Mediterranean charm.

Driving Adventures: European car rentals proved reliable and driving was generally straightforward, though sometimes "exciting" as narrow mountain roads and aggressive local drivers created memorable moments. Each island's driving character was distinct - Sicily required defensive driving, Sardinia was scenic and relaxed, Corsica demanded mountain driving skills.

Ferry Connections: The short Corsica-Sardinia ferry (just one hour) made island transitions seamless. Taking rental cars across proved efficient, allowing us to maintain our luggage and explore each destination independently.

Summer Season Perfect: June weather was ideal across all three islands - warm but not oppressive, minimal crowds before peak July/August tourism, and long daylight hours perfect for exploration and evening dining.

Cultural Contrasts: Moving from Italian Sicily to Italian Sardinia to French Corsica showcased how geography, history, and cultural influences create dramatically different island personalities within the same Mediterranean region.

Accommodation Variety: From boutique luxury in Taormina to beachfront resort life in Sardinia to charming French hotels in Corsica, each island offered distinct hospitality experiences perfectly suited to their cultural characters.

Itinerary

Days 1-6: Sicily - Taormina Base

Flying into Catania, our Audi A1 rental provided reliable transportation for exploring eastern Sicily from our Taormina base.

Hotel: The Ashbee Hotel (Amex Fine Hotels) - This boutique luxury hotel perfectly captured Taormina's sophisticated charm. The terrace views over the Mediterranean and Mount Etna, combined with impeccable service, created an ideal Sicilian retreat.

Taormina Driving Challenge: The ancient hilltop town's narrow medieval streets, aggressive drivers, and limited parking made urban driving genuinely challenging. However, the rest of Sicily proved much more manageable for road exploration.

Ancient Theater: Taormina's Greek Theater, with Mount Etna as backdrop, offered breathtaking morning visits before tour groups arrived. The combination of ancient architecture and volcanic drama exemplified Sicily's layered history.

Syracuse Archaeological Wonders: This UNESCO World Heritage city, founded by the Greeks in 734 BC, offered some of Sicily's most impressive ancient sites. The Archaeological Park contained the massive Greek Theater carved into rock, the Roman Amphitheater, and the mysterious Ear of Dionysius cave. The historic Ortigia island, connected by bridges to the mainland, featured baroque architecture, traditional markets, and waterfront dining with views across the harbor.

Noto's Baroque Perfection: This stunning hillside town, rebuilt after a 1693 earthquake, showcased Sicily's golden baroque architecture at its finest. The entire historic center, built from warm local limestone, created a cohesive architectural masterpiece. Walking down the Corso Vittorio Emanuele revealed palace after palace, church after church, all glowing honey-colored in the afternoon light. The town's gelato shops and outdoor cafes provided perfect rest stops between architectural marvels.

Palermo's Cultural Complexity: Sicily's capital revealed the island's layered history in its diverse neighborhoods. The Palazzo dei Normanni with its stunning Cappella Palatina showcased Arab-Norman architecture, while the Quattro Canti baroque crossroads demonstrated Spanish colonial influence. The chaotic Ballarò market offered authentic Sicilian street food, and the Teatro Massimo provided evening cultural entertainment. Palermo's mix of grand architecture and gritty urban life perfectly captured Sicily's contradictions.

Mount Etna Exploration: Europe's most active volcano provided incredible day trip opportunities. Cable car rides, crater tours, and the otherworldly volcanic landscape created unforgettable experiences. The fertile volcanic soil surrounding Etna supported extraordinary wine regions.

Days 7-12: Sardinia - Costa Smeralda Luxury

The four-hour drive across Sicily to Palermo, followed by our Volotea flight to Olbia, brought us to Sardinia's legendary emerald coast.

Hotel: 7Pines Resort Costa Smeralda - This luxury beachfront resort exceeded every expectation. Located in Baja Sardinia, 7Pines Resort Sardinia sits in a tranquil cove on Sardinia's northern coast. Overlooking the magnificent marine protected area of the Maddalena islands, its location ensures intimacy as well as some of the Mediterranean's most spectacular sunset views.

Pagani Supercar Convention: Our arrival coincided with an exclusive Pagani owners' conference hosting dozens of multimillion-dollar hypercars on the property. Seeing Pagani Huayras, Zondas, and other automotive art pieces casually parked around the resort created an unexpected luxury car show atmosphere.

Alghero's Catalan Heritage: This charming northwestern coastal town, known as "Little Barcelona," retained its Catalan character from centuries of Spanish rule. The well-preserved medieval walls, cobblestone streets within the old town, and distinctive Catalan Gothic architecture created a unique atmosphere. The seafront promenade offered excellent dining with views over the Mediterranean, while the surrounding countryside featured some of Sardinia's best wineries.

Sassari's Authentic Sardinia: The island's second-largest city provided insight into modern Sardinian life away from the tourist coast. The historic center featured impressive churches, traditional markets, and authentic restaurants serving regional specialties. The nearby Romanesque church of Santissima Trinità di Saccargia, standing isolated in the countryside with its distinctive black and white striped stonework, created one of our most memorable architectural encounters.

Bosa's Riverside Charm: This picturesque town along the Temo River offered one of Sardinia's most photogenic settings. Colorful houses cascaded down hillsides toward the river, while the medieval Malaspina Castle provided panoramic views. The town's traditional crafts, including intricate filigree goldwork, showcased skills passed down through generations. Driving the winding coastal road to reach Bosa provided spectacular ocean views.

Northeast Beach Paradise: The beaches between Costa Smeralda and Olbia offered some of the Mediterranean's most pristine coastal experiences. La Cinta beach near San Teodoro featured miles of white sand and crystal-clear water backed by pink flamingo lagoons. The dramatic granite formations at Capo Testa created otherworldly landscapes where wind and water had carved bizarre rock sculptures over millennia.

Costa Smeralda Exploration: Costa Smeralda – the Emerald coast – truly one of the Mediterranean's most sought-after gems, was famously 'discovered' by the Aga Khan, who instigated measures to preserve the area's natural beauty. Porto Cervo's yacht-filled marina, boutique shopping, and sophisticated dining created the ultimate Mediterranean luxury experience.

Days 13-16: Corsica - Calvi's French Charm

The short ferry from Santa Teresa in Sardinia to Bonifacio in Corsica, followed by a scenic four-hour drive across the island's mountainous interior, brought us to Corsica's northwest coast.

Hotel: Hotel Corsica, Calvi - This charming French hotel captured Corsica's unique blend of Mediterranean beauty and French sophistication. The location near Calvi's historic citadel and marina provided perfect access to the town's attractions.

Driving Corsica: The mountain roads between Bonifacio and Calvi provided some of the trip's most spectacular and challenging driving. Narrow, winding roads through dramatic landscapes required careful attention, but rewarded us with breathtaking views of mountains, forests, and coastal vistas.

Bastia's Authentic Corsican Character: This working port city on Corsica's northeast coast offered genuine Corsican culture away from tourist centers. The old harbor (Vieux Port) with its tall, narrow houses painted in ochre and sienna created a distinctly Mediterranean atmosphere. The Terra Vecchia old quarter featured winding streets, local markets, and traditional bistros serving Corsican specialties. Bastia's position as a major ferry port made it a fascinating crossroads of French and Italian influences.

Hill Towns Above Calvi: The mountainous interior behind Calvi revealed traditional Corsican village life. Speloncato, perched dramatically on a rocky outcrop, offered panoramic views over the Balagne region's olive groves and vineyards. Sant'Antonino, one of France's most beautiful villages, featured ancient stone houses built into the mountainside and stunning coastal views. These villages, accessible by winding mountain roads, preserved centuries-old Corsican traditions and provided authentic encounters with local life.

Calvi's Historic Charm: The ancient citadel overlooking the harbor, cobblestone streets, and French colonial architecture created an uniquely Corsican atmosphere. The combination of Italian geographical influence and French cultural character made Corsica feel distinct from both Sicily and Sardinia.

Days 17-19: Corsica - Bonifacio's Dramatic Coastline

The drive back across Corsica to Bonifacio for our departure provided opportunities to explore the island's southern tip and its spectacular coastal formations.

Hotel: Hotel et Spa Version Maquis Citadelle, Bonifacio - This luxury hotel perfectly captured Bonifacio's dramatic setting. Perched above the famous limestone cliffs, the hotel provided stunning views over the Mediterranean and convenient access to the historic citadel.

Bonifacio's Unique Setting: This ancient city built on dramatic limestone cliffs jutting into the Mediterranean created one of Europe's most spectacular urban settings. The narrow streets carved into rock, medieval architecture, and panoramic sea views provided endless exploration opportunities.

Coastal Exploration: Bonifacio's surrounding coastline featured incredible geological formations - sea caves, natural arches, and pristine beaches accessible only by boat or challenging hikes. The crystal-clear waters and dramatic cliff formations created perfect photography opportunities.

Cultural Transition: Preparing to leave Corsica and return to Sardinia for our departure, we reflected on how each island had offered completely different experiences while maintaining Mediterranean coherence.

Day 20: Departure via Sardinia

The return ferry to Santa Teresa, followed by the drive to Olbia airport, completed our Mediterranean island circuit.

Olbia Airport Transit: The convenient Jazz Hotel at Olbia airport provided seamless connections for our morning departure via Zurich back to California.

Cultural Insights

Island Personalities: Each island developed distinct character through different historical influences - Sicily's complex ancient heritage, Sardinia's preserved Italian traditions, and Corsica's French sophistication combined with island independence.

Mediterranean Lifestyle: All three islands shared the leisurely Mediterranean approach to life - long lunches, evening strolls, late dinners, and appreciation for natural beauty and traditional crafts.

Driving Cultures: Each island's driving personality reflected broader cultural characteristics - Sicily's organized chaos, Sardinia's relaxed efficiency, and Corsica's mountain precision.

What We'd Do Differently

More Sardinia Time: The Costa Smeralda deserved additional exploration. We could have easily spent more time discovering the island's interior villages, archaeological sites, and pristine beaches.

Corsica Food Planning: Better research into vegetarian dining options would have enhanced our Corsican experience. The island's French influence created expectations that weren't always met for plant-based cuisine.

Sicily's Western Coast: Focusing on Taormina meant missing Palermo, Agrigento's Valley of the Temples, and western Sicily's different cultural influences.

Final Thoughts

This three-island Mediterranean adventure proved that island-hopping creates perfect travel variety while maintaining cultural coherence. Each island offered completely different experiences - from Sicily's ancient complexity to Sardinia's luxury beach life to Corsica's rugged French charm.

The journey demonstrated how the Mediterranean's islands preserve distinct cultural identities while sharing climate, cuisine elements, and lifestyle approaches. Driving provided flexibility to discover hidden villages, secret beaches, and authentic local experiences impossible with organized tours.

Most memorably, unexpected encounters - like the Pagani supercar convention in Sardinia - reminded us that travel's greatest rewards often come from unplanned moments. The combination of careful planning with openness to serendipity created memories that extend far beyond typical vacation experiences.

For travelers seeking Mediterranean beauty with cultural variety, this three-island circuit offers perfect diversity. Each island rewards extended stays while providing easy connections to the others, creating opportunities for both relaxation and exploration.

Total Distance Driven: Approximately 1,200 miles across three islands Most Dramatic Scenery: Corsica's mountain roads and Bonifacio's limestone cliffs Biggest Surprise: The Pagani hypercar convention transforming our Sardinian resort into an automotive enthusiast's paradise Best Island for Food: Sicily's diverse culinary heritage and innovative restaurants Most Relaxing: Sardinia's pristine beaches and luxury resort atmosphere Most Challenging: Corsica's vegetarian dining limitations and mountain driving demands.