Night location: Alghero, Italy

We have hired a car (an Audi Q2 called Adriano) and have started our exploration of Sardinia. The geography of the western part of the island featured jagged hills leading into wide valleys and impressive sheer cliffs dropping to the sea. We stopped briefly at the small town of Oristano before making our way north along the coast to Bosa.

Bosa is reportedly one of Sardinia's prettiest towns with a rainbow of pastel houses lining the River Temo and stacked up the hill towards the austere Castello Malaspina built in the 12th century. We braved the 313 steps to take us the most direct way up from the town centre to the castle and the view from the top was certainly worth it.

The drive between Bosa and Alghero has to be one of the best coastal roads that we have driven on. The road hugs the cliff and winds itself up and over the rocky passes. Even though today was overcast the coastline looked stunningly beautiful with Spanish watchtowers perched out overlooking the sea.

Arriving in Alghero we checked in to Villa Mosca and then walked the promenade to the medieval historic centre of the city. Surrounded by 16th century fortifications that drop dramatically to the sea, the city is reminiscent of Saint Malo in France, only smaller and with better food! We wandered the cobbled laneways and then returned to the villa to relax and watch the sunset from our private terrace.