Sardinia is a beloved tourist destination for Italians. Away from the busy Amalfi Coast and Northern Lakes, this island offers the best of Italian scenery, culture and cuisine whilst having its own unique history and heritage as an island in the Mediterranean Sea.
Heading over to Sardinia yourself? Here are some of the highlights you won’t want to miss.
Rugged, beautiful walking terrain
The mountainous terrain makes it the ideal location for holidaymakers who want to make the most of an Italian walking holiday.
White, sandy beaches contrast with the lush, green mountains, meaning there is something for everyone.
The highest point is Mount La Marmora, standing at 1,834 metres. You can climb it if you wish, and you can expect to be greeted by sights of free-range cows on the way up! It’s also worth mentioning that Sardinia is home to its own wild cat variety, a mouflon (wild sheep) and the Sardinian weasel.
It’s best to follow the designated trails in Sardinia because the rocky, limestone paths can sometimes be a little uneven.
There are many beautiful coastal paths, from which you can appreciate the peaceful beaches and the olive groves and vineyards in the valleys.
The Bronze Age nuraghe ruins
The nuraghi are conical dry-stone towers, built in the Bronze Age in Sardinia. There are over 7,000 of them on the island, and they are easy to spot because they look like large beehives.
So named because they were built by the Nuragic population that inhabited the island for thousands of years.
The purpose of these structures is still up for debate. Some have been excavated while others have been left in peace.
Uncrowded beaches
Sardinia’s beaches have a uniquely stunning quality. The turquoise transparency of the water is the type of thing you might have thought only the Caribbean possessed. Paired with whiter-than-white sandy beaches, Sardinia is a paradise for Italian and international holidaymakers alike.
“Is Arutas” is one especially notable beach, known for its white and pink sand. The surroundings are wild, so this 480-metre-long beach is the perfect spot to come for some peace and quiet.
Another one is Cala Goloritze, a beach that you can only access on foot or by boat. In addition to its obvious beauty, many people are drawn to this beach for its snorkelling and rock-climbing opportunities.
Charming Sardinian villages
There are several towns and visits on the island also worth a visit.
Castelsardo is so named for the castle that sits at the top of the hill on which the village is built. You can visit this castle, now a museum, where you will see traditional crafts woven according to local techniques.
You can also stroll around the many alleys, the harbour and the Piazza del Novecentenario and soak in the atmosphere.
Meanwhile, Porto Cervo is the main town of the island. It homes a meagre population of only several hundred people. If you don’t mind it being quite touristy, it’s still a great atmosphere for a visit. In fact, it could be one of the world’s most opulent resort cities, with around 700 mega yacht berths.
Now you know where to go in Sardinia, all that’s left to do is to get out there and see it!