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A journey sailing on an emerald sea among small and big coves with snow-white sand … this is Sardinia, an Island that strikes its visitors with natural contrasts, the lights and colours of a region that guards old traditions, amid wilderness and pure nature.
Situated in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, Sardinia is a mainly mountainous region, without high peaks, with a vast and charming, yet bittersweet, natural environment. In fact, the presence of man does not seem to affect this territory; great surfaces still preserve their natural composition, luxuriant woods with even millenary trees, small desert areas and marshes inhabited by deer, wild horses and rapacious birds.
The sea reigns over this region with its colours and it creeps into the coves, along the coasts, the beaches and the most popular resorts. An example is the Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast) with its pearl, Porto Cervo, that combines the history and culture of a region that has old traditions with a joyful and colourful nightlife. Porto Cervo was named after its enchanting cove, which looks like the antlers of a deer; the Old Port is considered the best-equipped tourist port in the Mediterranean Sea. Porto Rotondo is also a famous location; it overlooks the wide Gulf of Cugnana and is full of villas and piazzas embedded in a splendid natural environment.
Those who prefer the mountain to the sea can explore the area of Gennargentu, the greatest mountain range in Sardinia, with its peculiar landscape, where Man and Nature joined one another and decided that the latter should have the priority. This region is rich in flora and fauna, with its mouflons, golden eagles, Sardinian deer and several species that are now threatened with extinction.
Among its wonders, Sardinia offers the visitor the Nuragic complexes scattered all over the territory. These are unique monuments in the world that testify an ancient culture, that remains partly mysterious, and that went from the fifteenth century to the sixteenth BC. The Nuragic constructions were built using great blocks of stone and develop around a central cone-shaped tower that transmits strength and power. These are archaeological sites where it is possible to grasp the archaic charm of ancient rituals and domestic life. Of these many constructions, the complex of Barumini, in the province of Cagliari, is among the sites in the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The provinces of the region are: Cagliari (regional capital), Carbonia-Iglesias, Nuoro, Olbia-Tempio, Oristano, Medio Campidano, Sassari and Ogliastra.
It is not easy to make a list of the amazing beauties of Sardinia. Places like San Teodoro, Santa Teresa di Gallura, Poltu Quatu, Baia Sardinia are only some of the charming locations that deserve a visit.
Visiting the Maddalena Archipelago and its “seven sisters”, the main islands of the archipelago, and sailing along the coast of the Maddalena National Park with its lively seabeds, perfect for scuba-diving lovers, is an incredible experience.
Caprera, the second biggest Island after Maddalena, is full of pastures and pinewoods, and shows its visitors the places where Garibaldi lived, with a museum-house in the typical Mediterranean vegetation, which guards the memorabilia of the “hero of two worlds”, as well as his and his family’s grave.
Sailing from Caprera to the Bocche di Bonifacio, you will be struck by the beauty of Budelli Island, wild and uninhabited, with its enchanting Rosa beach, a natural masterpiece named after the pink colour of its special corals and shells, that can be admired from the sea.
Again in the north-west of the Sardinian coast, in front of the Natural Park of Asinara Island, we can find one of the most famous tourist resorts, Stintino, which combines the charm of a lively fishing village with high-level accommodation facilities. This small seaside town, that looks like a painting with its white houses and the contrast between the crystal-clear sea and the light blue sky, offers endless leisure possibilities, from golf to excursions and scuba-diving, from cycling to horse-riding.
In front of the well-known Pelosa beach, is the homonymous Tower, a sixteenth-century Aragonese building, one of the oldest sighting towers in Sardinia. On the central-east coast of the island, in the Gulf of Orosei, are extraordinary beaches made up of white sands and wild nature. Many caves and coves are the destination of tourists who want to discover unparalleled views and sensations; Cala Gonone, Grotta Bue Marino, Cala Liberotto, Cala Goloritzè are some of those natural sceneries where time seems to stand still.
Sardinia combines sea and nature with folk traditions, mysticism and curiosities, like the mysterious giant’s tombs and domus de janas, the house of witches, ancient caves dug out of the ground and scattered around the region, just like the nuragic constructions. These stone towers are the biggest and best-preserved megalithic monuments in Europe; the most important town with nuragic traces is Su Nuraxi di Barumini, near Cagliari, inscribed on the World Heritage List by Unesco. In Cagliari, besides admiring the several colonies of flamingos of the lagoon, it is really worth joining the traditional festivals and fairs that take place all year round, like the beautiful festival of S. Efisio, one of the most important religious and folklore events in Sardinia, where all of the participants arrive from other towns of the region wear their traditional costumes. Heading back to Oristano, make a stop at the Roman archaeological site, Tharros, and enjoy its breathtaking view overlooking the sea.
Stintino offers endless leisure possibilities: golf, boat excursions and scuba-diving, relaxing strolls, cycling or even horse-riding, as well as exploring the hinterland to admire the typical Mediterranean vegetation or ancient archaeological finds, like the nuragic constructions near Porto Torres.
Staying in this area is even more interesting if you can watch and participate in the “Regata della Vela Latina” (Latin Sail boat race), an important International event dedicated to old sails with hundreds of traditional sailing boats arriving from all over Italy reach the crystal-clear sea of Stintino at the end of August. The Vela Latina was the typical Mediterranean sail since the period of the Maritime Republics.
The archipelago of La Maddalena with its windy islands, full of natural inlets and picturesque landing places, is the ideal destination for sailing, but also for horse rides and mountain bike trails, an alternative way to enjoy the sunset on the beach, as well as granitic views and natural sceneries among cistus and gorse bushes.
It is worth taking a trip to the National Park of Asinara on the homonymous island, considered as one of the most charming in the Mediterranean Sea, amid colonies of white donkeys that still live in the wild. There is a wide range of activities to choose from and practise, abiding by the rules in the Park : from trekking along thematic routes, to cycling, riding horses born and bred on the Island, sailing, guided scuba-diving and go on a rubber-tyre train tour that allows admiring the landscapes of the area stopping at the most suggestive spots.
In Gennargentu, a big and particularly beautiful mountain range, it is possible to do several activities, like trekking and excursions to archaeological sites, as well as skiing on the slopes of Bruncu Spina, one of the highest peaks with its 1829 mt, and Mount Spada, where there are skiing facilities and restaurants.
Sardinian food satisfies the most demanding palate with its simple and natural ingredients and with its delicious recipes made using the delicate and strong local products. The main ingredient is wheat, used to make the famous pane carasau, but also the well-known malloreddus, culurgiones and fregola.
You cannot leave the island without tasting the savoury porceddu, a grilled suckling pig which is served on cork trays and covered in myrtle branches. As for fish, the lobster of Alghero, the bottarga of Cabras and Carloforte tuna fish are absolutely excellent. Other exclusive fish dishes are clam soup and spaghetti with sea urchins.
Sausages and cheeses are some of the tastiest local products and Sardinian pecorino is certainly the most renowned. Sardinian people accompany their dishes with excellent wines like Vermentino di Gallura or Cannonau. Myrtle liqueur is delicious as well.
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