BEST-KEPT SECRETS
Think you know all there is to know about your favourite Mediterranean holiday spots? Think again. Here we reveal some lesser-known treasures you’ll find off the beaten track
While another trip to Rome would be a delightful proposition and a third jaunt to Paris would be brilliant fun, sticking to the same old destinations every year isn’t always the best use of your well-earned holiday time. Escorted touring expert Cosmos not only runs trips to everyone’s most-loved Med hotspots but also encourages adventurers to discover more by taking the road less travelled. Get ready to update that itinerary.
ENTER THE LABYRINTH IN CROATIA
The landscape of Croatia is so awe-inspiring it’s no surprise it was used as a filming location for the epic Game Of Thrones. Sign up to the new Croatian Escape tour and your local guide will lead you around the country’s medieval castles and labyrinthine towns. You’ll visit Franciscan and Dominican monasteries in Dubrovnik (which doubled for King’s Landing in the TV series) and pick up insider knowledge about Split’s Old Town. Optional tours are available to picturesque harbour villages such as Trogir and Omis, where locals will tempt you to try the famous salata od hobotnice (freshly caught and prepared octopus salad) or black risotto, which gets its distinctive colour from cuttlefish ink.
GET A TASTE OF MONTPELLIER
Ditch the hordes of tourists thronging France’s boulevards and instead try life as a local. In Paris, food lovers should visit Boulangerie Utopie for a classic bakery experience (try the gorgeous black baguette, made with squid ink). Then head to Des Rêves et du Pain in Montpellier to sample what’s widely considered to be the best croissant in France (big talk, we know). The adventurous can also join the new French Escape tour by Cosmos, where they’ll wander off the beaten track on walking tours around Avignon, visiting shops selling locally sourced herbs, honey and nougat. You’ll also get a chance to see (and smell) the fascinating process of the perfumier at the celebrated Fragonard fragrance factory in Èze.
BRING APULIA TO HEEL Italy has it all: UNESCO World Heritage sites, revolutionary art and architecture, a rich history, and food and drink to die for. Yet undoubtedly one of its biggest selling points is its hundreds of hidden towns for you to explore – places not found on your average top 10 must-visit list. Cosmos’s Apulia, the Heel of Italy tour introduces you to one of the top holiday destinations for Italians – which should tell you all you need to know about the breathtaking beauty of the landscapes and coastlines. Prepare for some truly jaw-dropping views when you visit the Grotte di Castellana limestone caves and see the workings of Gallipoli’s underground olive presses, before marvelling at the trulli (conical houses unique to the area) and Lecce’s stunning baroque architecture. FIND THE SLOVENIAN FJORD
Ever considered visiting Slovenia or Montenegro? If not, why not? You’re missing out on some of the most beautiful scenery in the region. The Cosmos Venice, Slovenia, Croatia & Montenegro tour will introduce you to the gorgeous Slovenian fishing village of Piran, which boasts an enchanting medieval square lined with cafés. Then head over to the spa town of Portorož and pamper yourself at one of the many wellness centres before visiting Kotor, a fortified town on Montenegro’s Adriatic coast, where you’ll find the deepest natural fjord in the Med. Your local guide will then take you to Our Lady of the Rocks, one of two stunning islets just off the coast. This year’s holiday snaps are destined to be very different.
SEE MOOR IN SEVILLE
The Andalusian Moorish influence can be seen everywhere in the area’s capital, Seville. From the ornate courtyards and orange groves to the décor of the hundreds of inviting tapas bars, this is a city steeped in history. And while we’re all familiar with ‘travelling church fatigue’ (visiting every single temple or place of worship can quickly lose its charm after the fifth excursion), there’s no hint of that in Seville. Dark, mysterious and ornate, the churches, basilicas and cathedrals are architectural wonders that scream for inclusion in a fantastical film noir. On the Cosmos Lisbon, Seville & Madrid tour, you’ll discover all this and more, with local guides showing you the best of one of Spain’s most colourful and vibrant cities, including the take-your-breath-away splendour of the Plaza de España, one of Hollywood’s favourite filming locations (Lawrence Of Arabia and Star Wars fans will be very happy).
‘Italy has hundreds of hidden towns for you to explore'