Welcome to Sardinia with its crystal clear waters, idyllic beaches, rugged granite rocks, incredible cuisine and unique archeological heritage. With all of its natural beauty as our backdrop, the focus of our journey will be on Byssus, or sea silk, which is harvested from the Pinna nobilis (noble pen shell or fan mollusk) off of its coast. This shell can grow as long as 4 feet. It's filaments, finer than any other silk, are one of the most coveted materials in the world. The practice of working with this extraordinary fiber dates back over 5,000 years when the women in Mesopotamia made robes for King Solomon. It's dark amber shade looks like gold in the sun. There is a family in Sardinia that has been harvesting and weaving with sea silk for more than 1,000 years passing down the knowledge for more than 24 generations. Read more about this weaving tradition.

Corsica, a short ferry ride from Sardinia, is a magnificent mountain range of 20 peaks magically rising from the sea. This Mediterranean paradise is well known for its dramatic natural beauty but also boasts a thriving community of artisans including textiles. Knitting and weaving created from the wool of Corsican sheep has long been a part of the culture with techniques passed down through the generations. Often made with natural dyes from local plants, today’s fiber artists keep this tradition alive with handwoven fabrics and basketry.

Come with us and discover these two island jewels of the Mediterranean.

Photo:  https://bimbleapp.medium.com/spinning-the-sea-into-silk-the-last-woman-to-know-the-secret-22fb3c87aa08

Detailed itinerary coming soon.