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LOCATION AND TERRITORY

Sardinia is an island of the Western Mediterranean Basin, larger than Corsica and second in size only to Sicily, and surrounded by the Tyrrhenian and Sardinian Seas.

Inland its territory is predominantly hilly and mountainous, with a group of massifs amongst which is the Gennargentu, peaking at Punta La Marmora.
There are also many protected areas.
Its coasts are mostly high and rocky, while sandy edgings are more frequent on the southern and western shores.
Sardinian coasts make a charming sequence of pastel blue waters alternating with the emerald sea, while candid shores give way to stretches of golden sand or to cliffs carved by time. There are many protected marine areas.

Other interesting features of the Sardinian coastline are the number of caves, like Grotta del Fico, Caves of Bue Marino, and the smaller islands surrounding the coast, like the island of Caprera, Asinara and the islet of Ogliastra.

In Sardinia, the lagoons and lakes water surfaces depict very picturesque landscapes, thanks to the extraordinary wealth of their ecosystems.
The International Convention of Ramsar classifies many coastal lagoons as natural sites to be protected.

ACTIVITIES

Horse riding, a much-loved activity in a land where equestrian abilities are celebrated on the occasion of feasts and festivals can be practiced in the mountains of Barbagia as in the plains of Nurra of Alghero or Oristano.
However, to lift the body and the spirits up the sky, climbing is the ideal discipline, especially in the areas rich in cliffs, such as Alghero or Cala Gonone.
The sea lovers, of course, find a wide variety of sports activities in Sardinia, ranging from sailing to diving, from water-skiing to kitesurfing.

There are many tourist proposals inviting to walk around the inland areas.
The local co-operative organisations, moreover, recommend excursions for people of all ages, from fairly difficult walks, which involve adventurous experience, to less tiring but equally interesting.
Passion for trekking stems from the will to walk to discover nature. Those who have this passion will find Sardinia an island to be discovered.

WHAT TO VISIT

Cagliari. Capital of the Sardinian region, the town developed around the hill of Castello (one of the four historical quarters, together with the Marina, Villanova and Stampace).
Cagliari itself is rich with archaeological sites of considerable importance like the largest Punic necropolis second only to Carthage in the Mediterranean.
The most important evidence of Roman Cagliari is the amphitheatre (I-II century AD), completely dug into the rock on the slopes of the Buoncammino hill in the area called Palabanda.
Next door in the Botanical Gardens we find a collection of more than 500 species of tropical plants together with the most characteristic Mediterranean kinds, and also the so-called 'Villa di Tigellio', an interesting complex of three urban “domus” dating from the time of the Roman Empire.

The burial place from the first century AD lies along the Via S. Avendrace, which is the origination of the Island’s main thoroughfare connecting Cagliari and Porto Torres.
The grave is known as the “Grotta della Vipera”, after the animal with healing properties which appears on the gable sculpted into the rock.
One of the most well-known images of the town, which can certainly not pass unnoticed, is the famous Basilica of Bonaria, an eighteenth century structure rising in front of a spectacular flight of steps.

A network of lagoons and marshes extend around Cagliari and are home to a rich variety of birdlife making bird-watching possible all year round: two of the most important lagoons are Santa Gilla and Molentargius with their flocks of eye-catching flamingos.

Sassari developed from the merger of a number of separate villages, clearly recorded in the names of some of its monuments, such as San Pietro di Silki, San Giacomo di Taniga, San Giovanni di Boscove.
The city has been subject to a number of historical phases in its development and has been the protagonist of a series of enlargements and urban layouts, which have followed one after the other right up to the present day.
Sassari rises on a plateau overlooking Asinara and has many attractions: an elegant shopping precinct, a fascinating historic centre with medieval houses on winding lanes, the splendid Baroque gilt wooden altars inside the churches.
The fabric of the town gravitates around the Cathedral of San Nicola, whose highly ornamented facade dominates over an area, which has recently been the site of an archaeological dig.

The modern and lively town of Olbia was known as “the happy town” by the Greeks and is famous all over the world for its close proximity to the Costa Smeralda.
It stands on a wide natural gulf whose edges are delimited by the splendid islands of Tavolara and Molara.
The Costa Smeralda airport lies in this area and continues to record increasing numbers of tourists every year.

DON'T MISS

The Island’s thermal springs
Near Sardara, 50 kilometres from Cagliari, at the centre of the Campidano thermal springs have been exploited since the Bronze Age.
The baths have continuously been renewed and are still open. Today it is possible, in Sardara as in Fordongianus, in Benetutti as in Tempio, but also in some other tourist resorts present in the region, to find and try the benefits offered by the water therapy followed by a regenerating massage.

Porto Cervo is the main centre of the so-called Costa Smeralda, one of the most prestigious tourist areas in Gallura on Sardinia's northwestern coast.
Resorts such as Cala di Volpe, Liscia di Vacca and Baja Sardinia are now considered very sought-after tourist destinations.

Porto Cervo is a village of multicoloured buildings, recently built in front of the natural port and the surrounding hills.

The Porto Vecchio (Old Port) is on the southeastern side, while the new harbor is equipped with the most modern and complete tourist infrastructures for international marine traffic.
The wharves and quays are Porto Cervo Spa's private property and therefore fees must be paid for docking and enjoying the use of the facilities.
Obviously, Porto Cervo couldn't have a Yacht Club (Costa Smeralda Yacht Club) and a nightlife meeting point (La Piazzetta).

The territory of the commune of Arzachena stretches for a surface area of around 240 sq. km with more than eighty kilometers of sea coast including the world-famous Costa Smeralda, rich with Mediterranean shrub (mastic trees, juniper and oleanders), rocks modeled by nature and wonderful inlets and bays.

FOOD SPECIALTIES

Culurgiones is a typical pasta of Ogliastra made with flour, lard, salt and water, similar to Ravioli comprised of a filling - potatoes, 'Pecorino' cheese (sheep's milk cheese), onion, mint, and garlic - in any Sardinian restaurant.

Seada is typical of Barbagia, similar to great Ravioli, comprised of a filling: a characteristic fresh cheese with lemon flavor that melts when Seada is cooked.
It must be fried and dipped in honey.

Porcheddu is a local specialty of inner Sardinia; it's a young pig roasted into a hole on terrain in a special manner with local wood (oak) and an aromatic local shrub called “mirto” (myrtle).

Pecorino. Pecorino, the Sardinian pecorino cheese can be considered the king of cheeses and the symbol of Sardinia in the world.

You have to try also the Mediterranean fish (pesce azzurro), that is a real special dish in the coast of Sardinia. Look for a fish market in any small coast town and buy your own fish in the early morning, cook and eat it: it's simply fantastic.
Another thing to try is the Sardinian pastry: they have a lot of specialties in this field.

Mirto. In Sardinia the consummation of a by now famous liqueur is widespread: “Mirto”. Everywhere, restaurants, farm houses and cafe it is possible to taste this speciality.
The mirto drink owes its taste and its colour to the myrtle plant, found throughout Sardinia.

CLIMATE AND TRAVEL SEASON

Sardinia has a particularly mild climate, which is ideal for tourism all throughout the year. The surrounding sea plays a vital roll in Sardinia's climate.
The sea keeps the winters mild and the summers breezy & comfortable.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Cavalcata Sarda (Sardinian Riding Festival). Every second last Sunday of May Sassari holds Sardinia's most important folkloristic music events called “Cavalcata Sarda”.
The show is a precious occasion of magnificent colored clothing and traditional jewelry from over almost of the island.

Sartiglia. On the last Sunday of Carnival, the city of Oristano holds an event that has reached high reputation and is recognized internationally and is called Sartiglia.
The horses are the centre of attrraction and take us back to ancient midevil Spanish jousting.

Citrus Festival. The festivities, organized every year at the end of March, foresee a show of the best locally produced products along with a parade of folk groups in costumes from all over Sardinia.
The folk groups are accompanied by the well-known “etnotraccas”- old typical carts, and in this short moment, organized down to the finest detail, we are taken back to the life of the farmers of the past.

Is Fassonis. Every year, the first Sunday in August, the pond of Santa Giusta holds a peculiar speed event: Is Fassonis regatta.
Is Fassonis are traditional boats which some scholars retain can be a Phoenician origin or otherwise originating at the time when the Phoenicians came on the Sardinian coasts.

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