Your ideal honeymoon would likely include walks down the beach at sunset, sweet edible treats to nibble on and the perfect backdrop for romance. If you want all this and more, then you should consider heading to the Mediterranean islands for some serious R, R and R (rest, relaxation and romance). Which island will be your post-wedding paradise? Here is information about four Mediterranean islands best suited for four different types of couples:
ISCHIA, ITALY
Who should go? The frazzled couple looking to escape the world, especially overbearing relatives and friends.
With its azure ocean, fragrant lemon groves and healing thermal waters, Ischia – a small island in the Bay of Naples that neighbors the more famous Capri – is the perfect hideaway for the newly wed. You can spend everyday on the beach (Maronti is the largest and most popular with locals) or at one of the many health and beauty spas. Ischia was once a hot-bed of volcanic activity and, as a result, the island is home to 103 natural hot springs and 69 fumarole or steam geysers; thanks to these thermal parks, visitors can indulge in mineral baths, mud wraps and underwater massages.
You can trek up Monte Epomeo, the island’s highest point, investigate the island’s history at the Castello Aragonese, a castle that is attached to Ischia by a bridge and dates back to 1447, when Alfonso d’Aragono started its construction, or visit Santuario del Soccorso, a Catholic church surrounded by water on three sides that showcases Mediterranean architecture. A honeymoon on the Green Island -with its charming people, glorious beaches and rich culture – will have your family and friends green with envy. For more information, visit www.ischia.it.
CAPRI, ITALY
Who should go? The gorgeous couple looking to live it up like a celebrity.
If Ischia is for couples looking for a secret getaway, then nearby Capri is for those who want to see and be seen. World-renowned for its lavish villas of the rich and famous and its boutiques, where you can get everything from designer duds to handmade crafts, Capri ranks as a hot spot for celebrities and one of Italy’s most-visited destinations.
But the glitz and glamour are overshadowed by its natural wonders, most notably the Grotta Azzurra (Blue Grotto), a cave that appears to be cobalt when the sun’s rays pass through the water. You can take a gondola ride through this and other grottoes.
History buffs can check out the the villas, including Villa San Michele, a Swedish cultural institute and museum, which was built one stone at a time by Swedish physician and author Alex Munthe. The villa was made famous by the international success of Munthe’s book, “The Story of San Michele.” There is also Villa Jovis, the site where Tiberius decreed the fate of the Roman Empire from 27 to 37 A.D.
Here, too, you will find splendid beaches with crisp blue waters and a range of flowers. But a honeymoon in Capri is made all the sweeter by the local specialties you can sample, including torta caprese, a dessert with almonds and chocolate, and limoncello, a lemon-flavored aperitif. For information, visit www.capri.net.
SANTORINI, GREECE
Who should go? The brilliant couple looking for intellectual pursuits – and the beach. Santorini provides the perfect balance of the old world charm you can find in Ischia with the modern approach to tourism seen in Capri.
This Greek paradise is actually five islands (Thira, Thirasia, Palea Kameni, Nea Kameni and the Aspronisi) in one. Before 1645 B.C., it was one island called Stroggili, with an active volcano in its center, but when the volcano erupted in approximately 1500 B.C., a huge crater formed and the sea rushed in to fill parts of the hole and create other islands, according to the Travel to Santorini Web site.
There are an abundance of beaches, including Red Beach, which looks like it has been painted red because of the volcanic rock blanketing the shoreline. If you are looking for more than sunbathing, you can visit the Akrotiri (The first habitation there dates back at least to Neolithic times, about the fourth millennium B.C.). When the volcano erupted, the area was covered and preserved much like Naples’ Pompeii. History buffs will want to see ancient Thera, the island’s classical city, founded in the 9th century B.C. by Dorian colonists led by Theras and inhabited until the Byzantine period. The remains you see today come from the Hellenistic and Roman phases of the city’s existence.
Santorini affords honeymooners the opportunity to bask in the world’s past while warming up for your future together. To learn more, visit www.travel-to-satorini.com.
MYKONOS, GREECE
Who should go? The fun-loving couple looking to continue the party long after the wedding reception.
A small island lying between Tinos and Naxos on the Aegean side of the Mediterranean Sea, Mykonos can be reached by plane from Athens. In recent years, cosmopolitan Mykonos has gained the reputation for being a nonstop party thanks to its thriving nightlife. And the whitewashed cube houses and sun-drenched beaches are the perfect backdrop for party-seekers.
The island’s kitsch appeal is unmistakable. On Mykonos’ waterfront, you can greet Petro the pelican, the island’s beloved mascot; found after a storm in 1954, the pelican made Mykonos his home for more than 30 years before he passed away. Afterward, the grieving locals found a replacement and tourists are encouraged to visit this second coming of Petros.
For pictures that look like a postcard, head off to the most western part of the island, also known as Little Venice, where the land meets the sea. Buildings were built on the edge of the water where pirates in the 16th and 17th century loaded and unloaded booty. Frisky honeymooners can can head to Paradise Beach, which is known for its tolerance of naked dips in the ocean. For more information on the island of Mykonos, visit www.mykonos-web.com or www.mykonos-greece.biz/index.htm.
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