Sardinia is a beautiful island off Southern Italy which has magical beaches, scenery and culture which enchants every tourist who visits. Sardinia enjoys white sandy beaches and warm inviting seas to charismatic towns, forested valleys and harbours.
Sardinia’s main towns have Italian, Spanish and Baroque treasures and the food has similar influences with its homemade pizzas, seafood and fruity wines.
There are a range of resorts in Sardinia. For seaside chic, the glamorous resorts of the Costa Smeralda region, like Porto Cervo and Porto Rafael are ideal. Alghero has medieval walls, atmospheric streets and nearby beaches. Sardinia is a classic summer escape which can’t help but mesmerize you from the moment you arrive.
Things to do
Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean but it has its own identity to Italy. It has really got a cultural character of its own. One of the things that set Sardinia apart from Italy is its beaches. The island’s north coast alone is scalloped with eighty coves. What also contributes to its cultural changes is that over the centuries, there have been seven different civilizations that have left their architectural mark on the capital, Cagliari.
Sardinia has wonderful sandy beaches and warm blue seas offering a range of water sports including scuba diving and snorkelling where you can explore the Roman galleys and wrecks of all kinds, as well as the array of colourful reefs.
On land there are lush green golf courses, cycling along the rugged coastline and walking activities available to explore the mountain ranges and some of the unspoilt areas of Europe.
Shopping
The capital city of Cagliari is a great place to go Shopping. Sitting parallel to the quay, this 19th century row of arcades which has all the stylish Italian names you would wish for. The narrow streets have tiny antique and handicraft stores where you can find the more unusual souvenirs. Almost every town has a weekly or daily food market which is worth a visit for its cheeses and pastries. The small town of Bosa’s renowned for its goldsmiths’ workshops, while Alghero’s old town is the place to hunt out bespoke pieces of polished red coral jewellery.
Nightlife
Sardinia is a great place to skip the whole neon nightclub noise, as after dark the pace tends to crank down rather than up, with evening revolving around fine dining and good company. This is hardly surprising given how the Sardinians love food and wine. In the capital of Cagliari there is a huge collection of bars where you can mingle with a laid back crowd and take in the culture and atmosphere of a fantastic island.
Eating out
Sardinia has a wide range of island specialties consisting of fresh, simply prepared ingredients as well as handmade pasta. The top dish is porceddu which is roast suckling pig with myrtle leaves.
One of the best eateries in Sardinia is Dal Corsara which is a refined restaurant near the Via Roma. Alternatively there is Al Tuguri which is a 15th century building, which serves up seasonal delights such as sea urchins to onion soup!
At Gianni Pedrinelli, Porto Cervo there is unbeatable al fresco dining and fresh seafood dishes to in enjoy.
These are just some of the culinary places you can visit in Sardinia. Whether it’s fish cooked in garlic, parsley and hazelnuts to Catalan lobster in a special vinaigrette, you’ll be spoilt for choice what to choose off the menu!