Here below are some tips about the most popular regions of Sardinia and their highlights.
GALLURA region
Gallura is the north-east part of Sardinia. It is one of the most famous region of the island thanks to the Emerald Coast, La Maddalena archipelago and the delicious local wine Vermentino di Gallura D.O.C.G.
In more, Olbia hosts the most important Sardinian port and airport for regular, charter and private flights. The town faces the Gulf of the same name, famous for mussels farming, and has an amazing view on Tavolara island.
Costa Smeralda - Emerald Coast - is one of the most prestigious summer destinations in the whole Mediterranean area and it is often compared to Costa Azzurra or Monte Carlo as villages like Porto Cervo or Porto Rotondo are a must for VIP travellers arriving by private jets or by luxury yachts.
Gallura landscape is also renowned for the rugged coast and skyline thanks to huge natural sculptures in the local granite rocks.
In the north lies La Maddalena Archipelago National park nicknamed the Mediterranean Caribbean for the crystal clear colour of its water and the snow white sandy beaches. It’s definitively worth a trip!
Gallura region is also rich in archaeological sites dating back to the Nuragic era: nuraghe La Prisgiona and Albucciu, Su Monte S’Abe and Coddu Vecchju giants’ tombs, Sa Testa sacred well; but also some remains of the Roman period. Large forests of cork oaks grow in the hinterland placing Sardinia as the leading Italian region for cork production.
From Santa Teresa Gallura port there are several daily crossing to Corsica, the nearby French island.
Nurra region
Nurra is the name of the north-west part of the island and includes also Asinara island. In the past some shepherds used to live on the island then, for many decades, there has been an important prison and nowadyas it is a National park.
During the summer you can reach the island by boats that leave from Stintino or Porto Torres. Nature on the island is outstanding and besides others features there is a protected breed of small white donkeys living in the wild and a fully equipped hospital for turtles.
In Nurra region valleys and plains are fertile and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Along the roads you may find the kiosks selling fresh products or sometimes you may enter the open gates leading to a private house and plantations and you can buy freshly picked products. Olive trees, lemon and orange trees grow in many gardens. Around Alghero and Fertilia there are vast vinyards. One of the most visited is Sella&Mosca, the widest of Sardinia. The north-west coast is part of the natural reserve Capo Caccia. Between Capo Caccia and Alghero lie several beaches as Lazaretto, Le Bombarde, Maria Pia, Cala della Dragunara, Pischina Salida and some others. Alghero has a medieval citadel on the sea that protects a very picturesque historical centre.
Sassari is a big interesting town and has one of the 2 universities of Sardinia.
In Porto Torres you can find Roman remains of the ancient town Turris Libyssonis and the port ensures connections by ferries to France, Spain and Italy.
Barbagia region
Barbagia is the name of the large mountainous area that covers the central part of Sardinia and includes Gennargentu ridge, the western part of Ogliastra region and the calcareous Supramonte close to Oliena and Orgosolo. The whole area is about 1300 square kilometres large. Barbagia is an ideal destination for nature lovers, hikers and all those who prefer to relax far away from the crowded sea shore. The area is covered by holm-oaks, Mediterranean scrub, almond trees and forests that are home for deers, wild pigs, mouflons and hawks. The landscape here has many different aspects: limestone cliffs in Oliena, narrow valleys along the Cedrino river, pastures close to Seui and Ollolai. Local shepherds have lived and worked in the mountains for many centuries but since shepherds’ economy has become even more difficult than before, many young people leave their native areas and look for other sort of jobs on the coast or even in Italy mainland. While driving across the countryside you may bump into herds of sheep, little cows or some pigs reared in the wild. Since the central part of the island with the mountains is rather impervious, local people have maintained their traditions for a long time and none of the conquerors was interested in occupying the area that had little to offer for an easy living.
The name Barbagia derives from the Latin word “barbarous” given by the Romans to the natives with the meaning of “foreigners” that doesn‘t understand nor speak the same language.
Still nowadays some people in this area during Carnival put on scary wooden masks and dark animal furs to celebrate archaic rituals related to the presence of animals and influence the everlasting cycles of life and the destiny of the farming year.
Take a visit to the Mediterranean masks museum in Mamoiada and learn about this particular aspect of Sardinian history.
Among the the most typical products of Barbagia I have to mention the Cannonau red wine, similar to Grenache, sheep cheese, the roasted suckling piglet and many handmade objects connected with weaving.
Ogliastra region
Ogliastra is the eastern central part of the island and Arbatax is its main port and the third largest town of this region after Lanusei and Tortolì. Its name derives from the Arab language and means the fourteenth tower. It refers to the tower built by the Spanish to protect the area. The countryside around Arbatax is very nice and some local rocks on the coast are so red that they are now protected as a Natural monument In more there are many white sand beaches with transparent water and an amphitheater shape view on the high mountains towards the hinterland. In Ogliastra there are many small villages where the people maintain various traditions as this region is a bit far from the main touristic destinations. Only a 30 minutes walk will take you from the tower in Arbatax to the local lighthouse where is a breathtaking view over the sea and the bay. Not far from there you find the beaches such as Porto Frailis and Orri. In the near by wetland mussels are bred for traditional lunches on the spot or for export.
Costa Rei region
Costa Rei is about 50 km far from Cagliari the main town of Sardinia. The place is renowed for the beautiful beaches and the wetlands where many different spicies of birds live. Costa Rei is considered a Natural area, but it is also well equipped to provide an unforgettable holiday: houses, hotels, boats to rent, hiking excursions and diving schools just to name some of the main attractions. Nearby there is Villasimius, where in the past there used to be a forteress and now you may find a wide choice of restaurants, hand-made souvenirs, ice-cream shops and cafés. For nature lovers, the nearby Flumendosa valley offers an amazing view mostly when pink lauriels blossom along the river path. Cala Pira is a small beach dominated by a Spanish tower while near Piscina Rey there is an archaeological site with about 20 “menhirs” or the so-called standing-stones. Generally speaking Costa Rei is the ideal place for a relaxing holiday, but in case you want to buy some important items, shoes and fashion cloths you better go to Muravera or directly to Cagliari.
Pula region and the south western coast
Pula extends in the south of Sardinia close to Nora archaeological area. This region is suitable for family holidays and also for history lovers. Pula town centre has characteristic houses with a sheltered courtyard typical of the rural architecture. A few km away from the town there is a beautiful beach that stretches up to Santa Margherita di Pula where during the summer holidays there are many kiosks and other outdoor facilities. Some of the oldest apartments and hotels in this area were built in the shade of the pine trees right next to the beach.
From Pula a cycling path and a road lead to the ruins of Nora and the nearby beach. This Phoenician-Punic and Roman town dates back to the 8th century BC and big part of the objects found in the ancient town are in the local museum or in Cagliari archaeological museum.
Another popular destination in the area is Is Molas golf course and thanks to the fertile soil the area provides also very tasty small tomatoes and other vegetables that are served in the restaurants or can be bought in the local greengrocers.
Going west from Pula lie Capo Spartivento and Chia that offer some of the nicest beaches of the area as Campana, Su Giudeu and Cala Cipolla. There you can find long sandy beaches with dunes covered with junipers. Some dunes are quite high and nowadays protected together with the nearby wetlands where, among other birds live some pink flamingos.
Sulcis – Iglesiente
The region with this historical name extends from the villages Buggerru and Nebida in the north down to the tourist area Chia in the south. It also includes Sant’Antioco island which is connected to Sardinia by a bridge and San Pietro island. This last one started to be inhabited only during the 18th century by some people coming from Tabarka island in Tunisia where their ancestors moved two centuries before from Pegli near Genoa to fish coral. Their influence on the little island is still very strong, mainly for the common use of the local dialect and the cuisine. They were and still are very skilled fishermen specialized in tuna fishing.
The south-west of Sardinia was famous for mining copper, lead and coal. The area reached the highest development at the end of the 19th and at the beginning of the 20th century when even foreigners came to Sardinia to invest in the explotation. However, this area has attracted people looking for minerals for about 3000 years. Now all the mines are closed, but they can be visited upon reservation.
Ask me to help you for the visits.
When you are in this region you should not miss to visit Porto Flavia close to Masua and built in 1924. For those times it was a very innovative system to storage and transport minerals. It consists of a 600 m long corridor excavated into the rock; at the end of the corridor there is a big hole in the mountain situated high above the sea level from which the minerals used to be taken out and loaded directly into the ships anchored below. In more, from there you take a breathtaking view over Pan di Zucchero rock natural monument.
Buggerru is also famous for its long beach, ideal for surfers. Right on the sea shore, next to the village, there is a complex of buildings where the minerals exploited used to be brought for a first selection.
If archaeology fascinates you, you should not miss to visit near Villaperuccio, Montessu precious necropolis created almost 5000 years ago with the so-called domus de janas. You may also visit next to Carbonia the Punic town Monte Sirai.
If you prefer to relax, choose one of the following beaches: Porto Pino, a 4 km long beach with high sandy dunes or Capo Pecora with white sand and high cliffs on both sides of the beach, or Portixeddu, just to name a few.