Hello all, for the first time in several years we are planning on going on a real vacation abroad with no plans to visit family (but not that we don’t love them mind you).  The plan is to go to a mediterranean area in the early Fall.   The ideal would be to rent a place for 7-10 days and use it as a home base to explore the area on day trips and just relax.  Perhaps the 7-10 days could be broken up into two destinations but I don’t want to have one of those vacations with a jam-packed itinerary. 

One of my priorities is, of course, figs.  I would like to be in an area with outdoor markets that sell a lot of different varieties and to be able to serendipitously stumble across interesting fig trees while exploring the area.  My wife isn’t interested in figs so we also want to be in a beautiful area (ideally not overly touristy and not a major cruise ship destination) that has some interesting things to see and do within a days travel.  We hope to do some bicycling too.

 Here are some thoughts: Turkey, Greece, Sicily, northern Italy around Lake Como/Lugano, area surrounding Montpellier, France, Spain (around Barcelona).  As you can see I haven’t narrowed it down very much.  Has anyone done a similar type of vacation and have advice?  Frank (FMD), it would be great to hear you on this topic.  I’m totally open to suggestions.

I've been to Barcelona and it's incredible. Beautiful food markets, not far from olive groves, etc. When I was there, however, I wasn't actively looking for fig trees/orchards. Very laid back, good public transportation, and lots of places to see not far outside city limits. We traveled by train/bus to different towns: Girona, Figueres, Cadaques. Can't say enough about the food and friendly people.

In northern Italy, I've been to Florence, which is fantastic as well. Again, I wasn't looking for figs, but driving around Chianti and Montalcino is great. The food and people and wine were awesome. 

I'm interested in all the locations you're talking about. A friend traveled in Turkey last year and loved it. Spice bazaars and all that, he said, were amazing.

Arne, thanks for your comment.  I'm trying to decide whether to be located in a city (like Barcelona) with lots of things to do by walking around and using public transportation or be in a rural area.  Each could have its advantages.  Perhaps we should do both.

Hi Steve, i would highly recommend Puglia Italy, fig heaven on earth,you start in Lecce the southern most city in puglia considered the florence of the south. You could stay in the city, your wife would love the shopping there in the evenings, during day time you can  tour  dozens of fig farms. there is a small town 20 miles or so south of Lecce where they hold a fig festival in August every year , you can even stay in one of the farms they have bed and breakfast and do bicycle tours. The second part of your vacation i would recommend Vieste (also in Puglia) a beautiful little beach town your wife will love it there and there are plenty of figs there also. On the way up from Lecce to Vieste you could stop near Cisternino at Giardini di Pumona, Paolo Belloni is an avid fig Hobbyist (on F4F he goes under Viaggiatore 971), you could stay overnight at his simple bed and breakfast Trulli (a conical House built out of rocks very rustic outside and very modern inside). If you like beeches, Puglia is surrounded by beautiful beaches. Look this places up on internet and if you like it you could even call Paolo Belloni  he could make even better suggestions.
No I'm not a travel agent, i just travel a lot especially to Italy. i will be going to southern Italy April 17th and will be visiting Paolo unfortunately no fruits now but i will be going back. By the way the food is the best and the people are very friendly.

Very nice, Steve.  Wish I could do something like that.  Maybe someday.  Mario's itinerary sounds perfect.

Sometimes I go on Google Street View in other countries.  Makes me feel like I'm actually walking around the streets there.
You'd be amazed at how many fig trees I've found that way.

Check out Lake Como.  I've gone on my 'Google Vacation' there many times.

Lake Como

Just click on the arrow to move around the streets.  Click anywhere on the screen, hold down and drag to look around.  Pretty cool.

Mario, this is the sort of advice I was hoping for!  I'll definitely look into the "heel of the boot" area and the towns you suggested.

Danny, that's a very good idea to make a lot of use of Google Street View.  I had forgotten that that it works in Europe too.

I would also add the Balearic Islands in Spain to the list, especially Mallorca.  Montserrat Pons put out that excellent book describing the many varieties of figs on those islands.  Awhile back Harvey posted this link to a fig festival in Mallorca: http://ib3tv.com/carta?id=79e8812a-b899-420e-ae9a-0cc53d50d06b

Joe, I thought about Mallorca but assumed the logistics of getting there might put it out of our budget.  Nevertheless, I'll definitely look into it.

I loved Italy and couldn't believe the number of wild figs growing everywhere and I mean everywhere. The few I tried were excellent. We stayed near Florence and visited a different town daily; Siena, Cortona, San Gimigianno (SP?), Lucca, Pisa, and Florence. It was a whirlwind but worth it.

You could also go visit Francisco in Portugal. That's my next 'big adventure". :-)

Sue, I thought of Portugal too after all those images Lampo has been posting over the past couple years!  I was thinking that the mediterranean coast might be nicer at the time we will be traveling but it probably would be very nice in Portugal too.

Mario,
That is a nice trip you outlined! 
Hey on those typical hot summer days once you have feasted on Paolo's figs and the amazing grapes grown in Puglia.
You can then go nearby to Grotte di Castellana and cool off deep underground in their 3Km of gigantic caves.
http://www.grottedicastellana.it/en/the-caves/

Rewton, Pino is correct the Grotte di Castellana are in the same area and well worth going to if you can find time between eating figs and drinking wine, many wineries there. Pino knows the area, his family comes from Monopoli a beautiful fishing town and nice vegetable and fruit market with all kinds of figs available during the season. Other towns you may want to look up would be Alberobello the Trulli town, Ostumi the white town and many others, i honestly think Puglia has the best non touristy food of all of Italy. The easiest way to get there would be to fly into Rome and take a hopper to Bari, but why miss out on all the fun getting there, drive to Amalfi cost stay in Positano and visit Amalfi. You can then continue to Matera visit the Sassi there are caves that date back 10,000 years and stay in a hotel-cave (very nice), nearby visit Pietrapertosa a village high in the Mountains with a zip line that will take you to the next village, have lunch and zip back. I would also suggest to spent a couple of days in Rome before you head back. By now you figured out i love Italy, the rest of Italy is also wonderful but save that for the next trip.
So many figs and so little time to eat them all.

Sorry i made mistake, Viaggiatore is not Paolo Belloni, the two know each other and i got confused, hope no harm done

What is the dates for fig festival in Mallorca?

Can't go wrong with Italy. Went there last year, fig trees growing absolutely EVERYWHERE. I went in June and unfortunately there were ZERO ripe figs to eat. Went to Barcalona the year before. Fantastic as well!