As celebs know only too well, when it comes to vacationing there are places in which it is essential to be "seen", and others which represent a real escape from both fellow famous faces and the public eye. If you fancy a taste of the latter and decide to truly get away from it all this summer, head for these lesser-known destinations.
Languedoc, France
Most British holidaymakers hurtle down the Autoroute du Soleil to theMed and turn left for the big names like Cannes, Nice and Antibes. But turn right instead and you will be rewarded with the unspoilt beauty of Languedoc, where the sandy beaches, lagoons and coves are just as sun-soaked but nowhere near as crowded.
In peak summer it’s the perfect place to chill out, but there’s bags todo if you’ve got itchy feet: exploring fishing village resorts like Collioure and old mountain hideouts in the Pyrenees, taking a barge through the olive groves and vineyards along the Canal du Midi, or learning to windsurf or waterski – the watersports here are excellent.
To say nothing of enjoying the robust flavours of the region’s cuisine and wine. Little wonder they call this region the south of France’s best-kept secret.
Where to stay: Back when horse-drawn mail and cargo barges glided along the nearby canal du Midi, the 250-year-old villa Le Somail was a busy coaching inn. It’s now a stylish property with a pool and shady gardens with olive and almond trees.
Lucca, Italy
Lucca is a gem. Florence, Pisa and Siena may be better known Tuscan towns, but every visitor who strays into its maze of narrow streets, enjoys agela to in one of its many squares, or joins locals in the evening passeggiata, falls in love with Lucca.
Nestling snugly inside a ring of 16th-century ramparts are a host of renaissance palaces, Romanesque façades and atmospheric piazzas – thePiazza dell Anfiteatro even retaining the shape of the Roman amphitheatre once was. Then there are the galleries and museums, dozens of colour fulbars, and restaurants serving delectable Lucchese specialities such as cheese and ravioli with courgette, or stuffed duck with mushroom sauce.
Make sure you sip a cappuccino or a vinorosso in the turn-of-the-century Caffe di Simo, once the favourite watering-hole of Puccini. You can pay further homage to the famous composer by visiting his home, which is nowa fascinating museum.
Where to stay: Six miles from Lucca, La Fattoria is a fabulous old beamed farmhouse, beautifully restored by its designer owner, with a huge pool and large grounds. A local pizza expert will show you how to cook the real thing in the farm’s original pizza oven. An ideal base for exploring Lucca, Pisa,the beaches and the lovely Cinque Terre coast.
