Words: Josh Lee
In association with:
With the summer rush coming to an end, now is the time for you to finally leave the office desk, turn on the OOO, and head abroad to get a little R-and-R. And, of course, if you’ve opened up your Skyscanner app, there are the obvious, well-trodden destinations, such as Paris, Rome, and Amsterdam, that’ll you’ll encounter – but, luckily, the world is full of small corners and enclaves that will bring you a novel, off-the-map feel of escape, made all the more appealing as any remaining holidaymakers there have likely started to trickle away and back home.
So, to help you seek out a glimpse of some late-summer sun, and a week or two away from the mainstream crowds, we’ve partnered up with Orlebar Brown, purveyors of premium resort attire and swimwear, to compile a tight edit of locations where you’ll feel like a local, free from stress and kissed by the soft glaze of the September sun. And to help you along the way, we’ve also provided some suggestions of items to pack for when you head there. So, for some inspiration on where to jet to next, read on…
Saint-Tropez
A lightning rod for those with deep Coutts accounts and seemingly the spiritual home for the jet-set crowd, the one-time fishing village on France’s southeastern stretch is alive throughout the peak summer months with its horde of yachts and the continual spray of Dom Perignon. Yet, come the hazy, easy feel of September, a period in which the masses depart, the coastal town returns to its golden days when the likes of Alain Delon and Brigitte Bardot used to frequent and the classic-style boats return to the harbours. So, take in the Slim Aarons-style scenery, all soft tans and beautiful people on beautiful beaches, skim around on a Mini Moke, and, if time allows, make a beeline to a few of the Provençal areas nearby, including Gordes, feted for its handsome stone houses.
Umbria
If you ogle a map of the Italian peninsula, you’ll notice that Umbria is the only region on the boot that touches neither a neighbouring country nor a surrounding sea, a notion that helps the area retain traditions – including its love of slow food – and a genuine sense of self. Reputed as the country’s green heart, it is a fertile place defined by thick forests and hills that appear to never end, and its pretty medieval towns atop hills make for a fine respite from the crowds who flock to seek the Renaissance glories at neighbouring Tuscany. Meanwhile, the Umbrian table, known for its rustic-style spread of truffle, pork and boar, will only add further flavour to the trip.
Lisbon
Though its seen a burst of popularity in recent years, thanks largely to its evolution into a hub for startups and entrepreneurs, the Portuguese capital retains an independent, low-key and spirited ethos that spreads from the lively tascas to its handful of Michelin-starred restaurants, cobbled alleyways, and premium boutiques that stretch along Avenida da Liberdade. Unlike its Iberian counterparts – Madrid and Barcelona – this city hasn’t yet been overrun by the Canon-toters, so you’re likely to enjoy a late-night meal of seafood the way in which the locals do: in peace, without a care, and with a glass of cold vinho verde. To burn off the calories, try a drip in the waters at Costa da Caparica, which is a 20-minute drive southwards.
Marbella
Even with its reputation as a honeypot for monied holidaymakers seeking out the untz-untz-untz throbbing of the Golden Mile’s nightclubs and blinged-out restaurants, Marbella still has its quieter draws. At nearby Artola-Cabopino Beach, you’ll find stretches of protected dunes, a feel-good destination that’s bolstered by the fact that this southern-Spanish city lays claim to over 300 days of sun per annum; at Finca Cortesin, just a little outside town, you can top up the tan to a backdrop of Moorish and Castilian design features; and, with polo season having just come to an end, holidaymakers and connoisseurs of the sport will have left in their droves.
Corsica
Corsica is one of Europe’s most underrated, under-the-radar islands, a destination that, because of its location between France and Italy, is a go-to for locals of both countries when they need to escape the tourist hell of their own homes. As a result of being caught between two identities, it lays claim to both an Italian flavour – worldly pasta fragranced with perfect seafood – and a Gallic accent, with its glorious beaches, superlative charcuterie and a gentle-drinking culture, all melded together, seamlessly, with a local, uncorrupted feel. Its hinterland of wild nature is also a magnet for cyclists, as is the clear waters for those wishing to make the most of their summer swimwear. Such is the beauty of the place that Henri Matisse once described it as somewhere where “all is colour, all is light.”
Sicily
Far from the chaos of Rome, Tuscany or Venice, Sicily, which sits at the toe of Italy’s boot, offers a breather from it all, its position at the crossroads of the Med providing it with an eclectic, hard-to-pigeon-hole identity that lays claim to centrefold beaches, a volcanic landscape, crumbling ancient piles, baroque palazzos, big-name hotel presences and pristine boutique boltholes. We find that in bigger Italian counterparts, your daily itinerary will be plugged morning ’til night with visits to the grand galleries and temples of gastronomy – here, in Sicily, the pace is less hectic, allowing you to enjoy the slower rhythms of life, such as the street-food markets and vendors, as at Mercato del Capo, in Palermo; the transparent waters at the Arco dell’Elefante; or the jagged shores of Favignana. Its close proximity to Tunisia also allows it to act as a launching pad into northern Africa, for further late-summer adventures.
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