The Med: Options beyond beach breaks

A holiday to the Med doesn’t have to mean settling for just sand and sea. Clare Walsh looks beyond the beach to some special interest options

The sky shimmers pink as we glide soundlessly across the water towards a dazzling Palma Cathedral, silhouetted against the clouds like a painting from a Gothic fairy tale. We slip into the harbour as our sunset cruise draws to a close and head into the heart of the city.

The streets of the Majorcan capital’s

Old Town pulsate with life and a palpable energy. A destination that oozes style, the city succeeds in fusing old world charm with contemporary chic. Baroque churches and ancient streets mingle seamlessly with hip rooftop bars, galleries and studios.

Palma boasts a rich array of restaurants, presenting some tantalising culinary options. Tonight our choice is the tiny Bunkers restaurant in the trendy barrio of Santa Catalina, a cosy bar that comes highly recommended for its delicious local dishes and welcoming service.

A holiday that embraces both stylish city life and coastal cool is perfect for me, and that’s what is so appealing about the Mediterranean. Whether your client is a foodie seeking an epicurean adventure or a hiker looking for their next conquest, there are numerous ways to package a trip to this region.

Gastronomy

Following the retention of an impressive ten Michelin Stars at the recent Michelin

Star awards, the focus of the Mallorca

Tourist Board for 2018 is to establish

Palma as a leading gastro- destination.

Several new openings have propelled the city to the top of the list of desirable foodie spots. The recently-opened Buy and

Cook restaurant invites customers to buy their own fresh ingredients for the chef to prepare, while food market Mercat 1930 and fine dining restaurant Vandal are other notable openings on the gastro scene.

There are, of course, several other destinations across the Med that will appeal to food-lovers. Culinary capital San Sebastian is famous for its pintxos, the Basque version of tapas, and it also