GREAT ESCAPES MEDITERRANEAN

The Magical, Mythical Mediterranean Where to get lost—in style and comfort The Mediterranean is a mythical place, with three continents - Europe,Africa and Asia - and 21 countries sharing its coastline. These disparatecultures are all blessed with its fine climate, luxuriant fauna and flora,and the intense blues of its sea. Angelika Taschen has discovered the verybest of this legendary region. Included here are the glamorous Eden-Roc onthe Côte d'Azur, the stylish Monte Carlo Beach created by India Mahdavi,the hotel Stella Maris north of Portofino - accessible only by boat ortrekking - and of course the famous Amalfi Coast with its numerousbeautiful hotels. Add to these the tiny hotel on the small Croatian islandof Lopud, the exclusive Perivolas in Santorini, and last but not least, thenew branch of the Hôtel Nord-Pinus in Tangier, looking out at the Straitsof Gibraltar. Highlights include the Hôtel Le Corbusier in the "Citea Radieuse", a LeCorbusier building in the residential district of Marseille, built in 1952;Casadelmar on Corsica, set in beautiful gardens overlooking Porto Vecchio,where every room has a sea view; and the enchanting private rocky beachCala Piccola of the remote hotel Torre di Cala Piccola on the little-knownTuscan island of Argentario, which takes you back to 1960s Italy. Othergems include the charming La Locanda del Barbablů (with only six rooms) onthe mythical island of Stromboli, set in the shadow of its active volcano;the amazing hotels in the "masserie" of Apulia, such as the Borgo San Marcoin Fasano; and the beautifully designed Orloff Resort near the Old Harbourof Spetses, a small Greek Island which relaxes the eyes and calms the mind.