november-2011

PORTOFINO
SCENIC ROUTES
Fly to Barcelona, drive to Girona
Tucked up by the French frontier, Girona is known
as “little Barcelona”. It’s cheaper than the Catalan
capital but just as scenic, with the river Onyar
meandering past its colourful buildings. The Barri
Vell, or Old Town, is criss-crossed by cobbled
streets and stone staircases sheltering lively bars.
Be sure to arrive hungry: influences from across
the border mean that Girona’s Franco-Iberian
cuisine is unique in Spain. For traditional tapas,
nibble your way through the stellar spreads at
+cub (15 Carrer de l’Albereda, +34 972 212 967,
mescub.com). For a contemporary twist on Catalan
classics, book a table at Nu Restaurant (4 Carrer
d’Abeuradors, +34 972 225 230, nurestaurant.cat).
After a long, lazy Spanish-style lunch, head up to
the 1,000-year-old city walls for a bird’s-eye view
over Girona and plenty of fabulous photo
opportunities. Be sure to take in the panoramic
vistas from the torres, the walls’ majestic top towers.
FLIGHTS FROM £21.99, CITY PACKAGES FROM £249
Hit The Road, Jacques
Check out the deals available on car rentals
at the Jet2.com locations featured in this
article (and all other destinations) by visiting
Jet2cars.com before you fly. Most cities have
several pick-up locations, but these should
help you organise the trips mentioned above.
Nice: Nice Ville train station (SNCF)
Milan: Milan Centrale train station
Venice: Venice Mestre train station
Barcelona: Barcelona Sants train station
Majorca: Palma downtown
(Avenida Ingeniero Gabriel
Roca)
Jet2cars.com searches
the leading suppliers
to find the lowest
prices guaranteed.
58JetAway
Top left: Girona’s brightly coloured
buildings line the banks of the Onyar.
Right: swimming the clear waters
of Cala San Vincente
Fly to Majorca, drive to
Cap de Formentor
On Majorca’s deserted northern tip,
the sheer cliffs crash into the turquoise
sea. It’s here that the wild Cap de
Formentor lures daredevil drivers
and beachcombers alike. The rugged,
windswept peninsula pokes 20km out
into the Mediterranean, its backbone
crested by a twisted ribbon of road.
This top-of-the-world route is
flanked by jaw-dropping sights
– be sure to stop off at the scenic
viewpoint of Mirador des Colomer
– and otherworldly rock formations.
Make a beeline for the exclusive
Barceló Formentor hotel (barcelo.
com): there’s no need to stay in the
island’s original 1920s luxury resort
in order to stroll, sunbathe or splash
around in its sun-soaked surrounds.
Or head to Cala San Vincente at the
Cap’s base, a tiny town blessed with
three pristine beaches.
If you’re in the market for
a handmade memento to remind
you of your holidays, look out for
colourful, Arab-inspired ceramics
in the winding streets of nearby
Pollença. For a selection of brilliant
tiles, traditional kitchen pottery and
decorative vases from around £7, try
Ceràmiques Monti-Sion (19 Monti-
Sion, ceramicasmontision.com).
FLIGHTS FROM £21.99,
CITY PACKAGES FROM £249
PHOTOS GETTY, KATHRYN TOMASETTI