Mirto - Sardinia's Favorite Liqueur

There's a shameful little secret all travelers have in common. We've all done it, every single one of us, and I'm sure you're no exception.

Red Mirto, Sardinia's favorite tipple

I'm talking about that dusty stash of bottles hidden away at the back of a cupboard somewhere in your kitchen or dining room. The barely tasted bottle of limoncello brought back from that great holiday in Sicily all those years ago. That fabulous aged tequila that you lugged back from Mexico, determined to educate your friends and family about what the "real thing" tastes like. The unopened bottle of sake a well-meaning relative gave you after a trip to Japan or the evil-looking Genepi from a ski trip to the Alps...

We've all got them, and we all forget about them. Until the end of that fabulous dinner party that is when, after a few too many glasses of wine, some misguided impulse compels you to delve around in the back of that cupboard, blow the dust off a couple of bottles and force a few of glasses on your bemused guests. Invariably, as you fumble for the aspirin the next morning, you swear to clear that cupboard out once and for all and tip the lot down the sink... but you never quite get round to it.

But why? Why, when we're normally so careful with the pennies do we find ourselves with hundreds of pounds worth of perfectly good alcohol that we never touch?

Personally, I think that liqueurs are so inextricably linked to the cultures and environments that produced them that they're never quite the same tasted out of context.

Myrtle berries on the bush, ready to be made into mirto

Take Sardinian mirto for example. It's made from the berries and/or leaves of the myrtle bush (Myrtus Communis) which flourishes in Sardinia's poor soil, growing up to six metres tall. It can be found everywhere on the island, forming part of the wild "macchia mediterranea" that covers just about every inch of undeveloped or unfarmed land.

The last 20 years have seen programmes started to selectively breed some of the 40 wild varieties of myrtle in order to improve and standardise yields, specifically with the production of mirto in mind, but the tipple's origins are truly ancient. Both the red and less common white varieties of the liqueur have been produced here for hundreds of years.

Mirto rosso (red mirto) is made from the crushed berries whilst mirto bianco (white mirto) is made from the leaves. The processes for making both are similar, seeing the berry or leaf pulp steeped in alcohol (usually grape spirit) for around two months. The resulting liquid is then filtered, mixed with sugar syrup and bottled at 30-35% alcohol.

I can't count the number of times I've sat in the departure lounge at Cagliari airport watching departing tourists in the gift shops. Already nostalgic for long dinners under lemon trees, perfectly cooked roast suckling pig and the scent of citronella candles drifting in the warm dusk air, they pick up a bottle of this fabulous liqueur as a reminder, hoping to recapture the magic of those perfect meals back home. It never has quite the same effect though when tasted in the dining room somewhere in London, and we already know it'll end up gathering dust along with those other sad relics of holidays past.

No! Mirto is too good a tipple to waste, so we've come up with a couple of recipes guaranteed to transport you back (gastronomically speaking) to Sardinia and conjure up a little of that mirto magic on a rainy day.

Sardinian Tiramisú

Ingredients:

• 500g ricotta
• 250g icing sugar
• 150ml white mirto
• 400ml water
• 40 ladyfinger biscuits
• A little cocoa powder

In a large bowl, whisk the ricotta together with the sugar
When thoroughly blended, whisk in three dessert spoons of mirto to get a smooth, creamy mix (if needed, blend in a few drops of milk)
In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining mirto and the water
Dip the ladyfingers in the water and mirto mix, allowing them to soak up the liquid without getting too soggy
Cover the base of  a high-sided serving platter with a tin layer of ricotta, then lay some of the ladyfingers on top.
Carry on alternating layers of ladyfingers with ricotta mixture until both have been used up (finish up with a layer of the ricotta)
Refrigerate for at least two hours, dust with a layer of cocoa and serve

Mirto Martini

Ingredients:

• 4 parts orange vodka
• 3 parts mirto
• 3 parts fresh lime juice
• 2 parts Cointreau
• 1 part simple sugar syrup

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice, add all the ingredients and shake well
Strain into a chilled martini glass and, if desired garnish with a few fresh blueberries

We'd love to hear what you think of these recipes, and let us know if you have any other tried and tested ways of using up leftover mirto!

www.sardiniaholidayconcierge.co.uk

The Festival of Sant'Efisio in Sardinia

The Festival of Sant'Efisio in Pula

The festival of Sant'Efisio, celebrated in early May every year is one of the most important dates in the Sardinian calendar. Visitors to the island have long loved the excuse to photograph the locals dressed in the stunning traditional costumes, hear Sardinian folk music and marvel at the bright colors, flower-strewn streets and festive atmosphere, but few really understand the origins of the festival.

Traditional dress at the Sagra di Sant'Efisio

 Sant'Efisio is the patron saint of Sardinia. Born during the 3rd century AD in Asia Minor to a pagan mother and Christian father, he was enrolled in the Roman army to fight Christians under Dioclesian. During the long journey to Europe however, he underwent an epiphany and converted to Christianity himself. According to the legend, one night he was visited by a vision of a shining cross appearing amongst the clouds accompanied by a voice warning him not to join in the persecution of Christians.

On revealing his conversion to Dioclesian, he was accused of being a traitor to the Roman empire and subsequently imprisoned, tortured and finally martyred on the beach at Nora on the 15th of January 303AD.

A church was built in his honor in the eleventh century, and still stands to this day. It's a stunning location, right on the beach at Nora, and legend claims that it is on the exact spot on which Efisio was decapitated. In Cagliari, Sardinia's capital city, there are both a church and a crypt bearing his name. According to legend, the crypt is where Efisio was imprisoned before being transported to Nora to be put to death. It's open to the public now, and guides will point out the column to which he was supposedly shackled. There's evidence that the site has been used for worship since the 5th century, although recent history has seen it used as both an air-raid shelter and rubbish dump.

Horsemen escorting the saint's image to Nora

The Chiesa di Sant'Efisio in Cagliari was built in the 18th century and is home to the statue of his likeness. Visitors will notice the cannonballs embedded in the back wall, a legacy from the French attack on Cagliari in 1793. The Sardinians were said to have had some help from the saint himself in winning that particular battle.
In 1655, Sant'Efisio was said to have saved Cagliari from a particularly violent outbreak of the plague, which lead to the decision to honor him by giving him his own festival (the Sagra di Sant'Efisio) every May.

Sardinians of all ages take part

On the 1st of May, his statue is dressed in all his finery and loaded onto a golden carriage, pulled by bulls. He is then taken on the long pilgrimage from Cagliari to Nora, escorted by horsemen, locals in vibrant traditional costumes, musicians and pilgrims (some barefoot). The procession arrives in Pula on the 2nd of May, and moves onto Nora that afternoon. The long return journey begins on the 4th of May, and the saint and his escorts will have traveled a total of 80km by the time he is safely returned to his church in the city.

Although the festival has been celebrated in Sardinia for hundreds of years, Sant'Efisio's remains have, until recently been kept in Pisa. The 12th of May 2011 finally saw their return to Cagliari

You can see more images of the 2012 Sagra di Sant'Efisio by clicking here

Or contact us at www.sardiniaholidayconcierge.co.uk for more information or to arrange a visit to Sardinia for the festivities next year

La Limonaia

I am just so excited to welcome this gorgeous little villa into our portfolio... I chose to live near Pula in South Sardinia and am constantly on the lookout for perfect summer holiday villas so that I can share the local area with my clients.

Pula has it all; jaw-droppingly gorgeous beaches, the most important Roman ruins on the island (you can actually dive over the submerged portions of the site, and it's a surreal feeling swimming past amphorae on the sea bed untouched for so many years), a buzzing little town with live music playing in the main square throughout the summer and my favourite restaurant Sa Cardiga e su Schironi for the very best fish and roast suckling pig around

With beautifully styled living spaces, a gorgeous pool and views to the sea and the imposing tower of Nora, you wonder if this villa could get any better. Well, yes it can... it is located within the Is Molas resort near Pula meaning that you have all the facilities of a hotel with the privacy of your own villa. These include a great restaurant and a prestigious golf course within 15 minutes walk of your front door.

There has to be a catch I hear you say... well yes, actually there is... there are only a few precious weeks left available in this villa for the 2009 season so you're going to have to be quick to book the weeks you want before somebody else does!

Please click here to see full details of the sublime La Limonaia

Stunning South Sardinia

I adore the cobbled streets of Bosa, can't get enough of Alghero and am still blown away every single time I see those blue seas and pristine beaches in the Costa Smeralda.

The South of Sardinia is different though. Thinking back to my first arrival on the island, I turned to my partner as we were driving the coastal roads around Algero and said "I could live here". A little later, we visited Capo Coda do Cavallo, and I said "I never want to leave". Two days later, sunning ourselves on Nora beach near Pula I finally said "this feels like home".

The South has an entirely different feel to the Northern resorts. It's a flavour of the "real" Sardinia, not created and designed for visitors but a place where Sards go about their daily business and the island's history is never far away in the form of Roman ruins, amphitheatres and ancient nuraghic sites. This is a place steeped in culture and history and fiercely proud of its roots. I do my shopping at the bustling San Benedetto food market (the largest in Italy they say) and watch the processions reverently carrying images of local saints at the religious festivals. I sun myself at the award-winning local beaches with their backdrops of hills and pine trees and hike through the mountains, turning every now and again to admire the breathtaking sea views below me and think once again how very lucky I am to be able to call this island my home.

This is why I have recently added a few more beautiful properties in the South to the Sardinia Villa Collection portfolio, each individually handpicked to allow you to enjoy my little corner of Sardinia with me this summer

Villa Orione
Villasimius
Sleeps 14
http://www.thesardiniavillacollection.com/view.php?id=villaorione
The huge grounds lead you directly onto the beautiful sandy beach by means of a sweet little gate; a true taste of paradise.


Villa Ara
Torre delle Stelle
Sleeps 6

http://www.thesardiniavillacollection.com/view.php?id=villaara

You really couldn't ask for more; just laze by the infinity pool and enjoy those breathtaking panramic sea views

Villa Levante
Pula
Sleeps 4
http://www.thesardiniavillacollection.com/view.php?id=villalevante
Tucked away in a sleepy little village on the outskirts of Pula, this cosy little villa has the most divine hillside and country views and is a pleasant stroll away from the nearest beach

As Mentioned in New York Magazine

I am just loving all the interest from the press that The Sardinia Holiday Concierge is generating, and would love to thank the wonderful folk at New York Magazine for the following article:

To see the full article, please follow the link below:
http://nymag.com/travel/2009/spring/55675/index1.html

Beautiful Bosa

Today I discovered a brand new "favourite place" in Sardinia (yes, yet another one)!

There are all sorts of ways you can experience Sardinia; exclusive Northern coastlines, pretty tourist villages, bustling cities or just relaxing by a pool in complete privacy...

However, for those looking to discover a taste of authentic Sardinia, Bosa is an absolute must. You won't see too much about it in the guidebooks, and only a handful of foreign holidaymakers even know it exists.

I fell in love with it on first sight... having driven through rolling hillsides full of drystone walls, cows and cork trees, I rounded a corner to see the beautiful pastel shades of the mediaeval old town arranged over a hillside presided over by the majestic old castle. Rows of palm trees line the river (apparantly the only navigable river in Sardinia) and the "ponte vecchio" eases you gently into the cobbled streets of the centro storico.

This isn't an area that has been prettied up and sterilised for the tourists; it is still relatively untouched by the holidaymakers who flock to our beautiful island every summer. The lanes are too narrow for cars to pass through and I had to discard my heels in favour of some more sensible footwear to navigate the cobbles.

The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly... a myriad of great restaurants and cafes line the lanes and my English friends who live there enthused about the friendliness of the town. During carnivals and holidays you are more than likely to be adopted by a group of friendly locals and whisked off to join in the dancing, enjoy a coffee or grappa in their favourite haunts or even be priviledged enough to be invited home for a traditional Sardinian meal with the family. Today, I was more than happy to sit quietly in a cosy little restaurant enjoying a plate of lobster pasta and a nicely chilled glass of wine watching the world go by.

Sun worshippers will enjoy the wide sandy beach at Bosa Marina and the local hills, waterways and vineyards provide plenty of entertainment whatever the length of your stay.

I also managed to find the perfect townhouse right in the centre of the old town. Rambling over four glorious storeys, Il Boemo has been lovingly and painstakingly restored by the owner. Every nook and cranny overflows with treasures from her travels, the beds are piled high with cushions in jewelled colours and you could spend entire days gazing at the artwork lining the walls.

All in all an incredibly special place, and although live a mere two hour drive away, I've already picked out a one week slot for myself at the end of the season in Il Boemo so I can share my new favourite with my nearest and dearest.

For more details of Il Boemo and to make bookings just follow the link below to the Sardinia Villa Collection website
http://www.thesardiniavillacollection.com/view.php?id=ilboemo

The Sardinia Villa Collection

The Sardinia Villa Collection website is now up and running, so click on the link below for the finest little selection of holiday properties around
http://www.thesardiniavillacollection.com/

Another Fantastic Review

We would like to thank the folks at Paradizo.com for this great write-up of the Sardinia Holiday Concierge and the Sardinia Villa Collection

The spring holidays are right around the corner and now is the perfect time to start planning your ultimate getaway to one of Europe’s most beautiful islands: Sardinia.
Boat lovers can enjoy one free week aboard the yacht charter Oceanis 40 from Sardinia Holiday Concierge. It’s a 2-for-1 deal for all guests chartering the Oceanis 40 for one week.
Take advantage of newly announced discounted rates from Sardinia Villa Collection and book your next vacation at the lavish Villa Verde. Surround yourself in luxury at the stunning vacation rental property on one of the world’s most exclusive coastlines. The perfectly manicured gardens slope gently down towards the secluded sandy beach, the spacious living areas offer divine sea views and the gently heated swimming pool offers the perfect spot to relax and unwind.

The Sardinia Villa Collection offers gorgeous luxury travel offers around the beautiful island of Sardinia. The Villa Verde vacation rental includes a private maid service, gardener, private chef and a chauffeur and personal trainer on request. It’s a beautiful villa overlooking views of the spectacular Sardinian seaside and conveniently located minutes from ports, airports and charming towns. This private villa sleeps twelve and is perfect for families and groups of friends. The bedroom suites are spacious and accommodating with en-suite bathrooms and high-quality linens. For a limited time, the Sardinia Villa Collection is offering Villa Verde at a special rate just in time for the upcoming Easter holiday.

The Sardinia Villa Collection is a new division of successful Sardinia Holiday Concierge, a luxury travel company that creates dream vacations in Sardinia. The company is dedicated to arranging your vacation so you don’t have to lift a finger. With an impressive portfolio of contacts, insider knowledge and extensive experience, Sardinia Holiday Concierge is the premier concierge service for Sardinia.

Sardinia Holiday Concierge is also offering two weeks for the price of one aboard the Oceanis 40 yacht charter. Floating in the Tyrrhenian Sea, Sardinia offers dramatic coastlines from the dunes of Costa Verde to the deep emerald coves and plunging cliffs of Cala Gonone. If you book the impressive yacht charter for one week, guests can enjoy a second week absolutely free.
For more information, visit the Sardinia Villa Collection profile and Villa Verde. For the special yacht charter offer, visit the Sardinia Holiday Concierge profile.

To see the original article, just click on the link below
http://blog.paradizo.com/vacation-rentals/sardinia-holiday-concierge-luxury-villa-collection/

Easter Deals in Sardinia

Whilst the snows are thawing in the UK, spring is already in full flow in sunny Sardinia. Temperatures are rising by the day and it's already warm enough to lie on the beach and feel the delicious rays of the sun warming you from the inside out.

The mercury may be rising but EasyJet and RyanAir fares are still tantalisingly low and we have a host of special deals and discounted rates for families wanting to beat a hasty retreat from the cold and gloom back home.

Check out http://www.thesardiniavillacollection.com for amazing deals on self catering villas or http://www.sardiniaholidayconcierge.com for activities, tours, hotels and family-friendly holiday tips