Cagliari
Cagliari is Sardinia's capital, a favourite with holidaymakers,
and the biggest city in the region, with a busy industrial port.
Despite its size the old centre is charmingly compact, contained
within the city walls and Pisan fortifications. The main
attractions are the National Archaeological Museum, which contains
prehistoric tombs and other significant artefacts from the Punic
and Roman periods, the impressive cathedral, and a smattering of
Roman ruins. The suburb of Poetto has a four mile (6km) stretch of
sandy beach with some small bars nearby. The famous nuraghe of Su
Nuraxi near Barumini are within easy reach of the town.
Sardinia's history and culture is conveniently packaged in the
Citadel of Museums complex in the centre of Cagliari. Here the
National Archaeological Museum, the National Picture Gallery, the
Cardu Siamese Museum and a collection of anatomical waxes by
Florentine sculptor Clemente Susini are situated, all administered
by the University. The Archaeological Museum houses artefacts from
all the ancient cultures of the island, including ceramics from
Phoenician tombs, Punic jewellery and Nuragic bronzes. The Picture
Gallery contains a collection of contemporary art and sculpture,
while the Siamese museum exhibits fascinating items from the East.
The unique Collection of Waxes consists of 23 models of parts of
the human body, created by Clemente Susini from waxes, resin,
tallow, pitch and balsam.
Address:
Piazza Arsenale
Su Nuraxi
Michal Kosacky
Nuraghe
The mysterious Nuragic people, who arrived in Sardinia around
1500 BC, festooned the island with about 30,000 circular fortified
structures. Today about 7,000 of these remain standing to be
marvelled at by tourists. The complex of Nuraghe in Barumini has
been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List and is the finest and
most complete example of this prehistoric architecture. The
Barumini site can be reached from Oristano or Cagliari on route
131, turning off onto route 197. Other well-preserved Nuraghe can
be seen at Sant Antine. At Nora, on the very southern tip of the
island, are the remains of an extensive Nuragic village including
an amphitheatre, forum, baths, temple and Kasbah. Other good
Nuragic sites are near Villanovaforru, Alghero and Abbasanta. The
purpose of the beehive-like buildings remains unknown but
archaeologists assume they were used as religious temples and
meeting halls as well as military strongholds. Exploring the
ancient sites indulges ones inner Indiana Jones and feels like a
great adventure. For anybody interested in archaeology, or the
ancient history of the region, visiting Nuraghe is a must. You can
only explore Nuraghe on an official tour, but these usually depart
every 30 minutes; bigger groups are advised to pre-book.
Opening time:
Most Nuraghe are closed in the afternoon and on
Sundays
Nuraghe
Roberto Cossu
Trenino Verde
Sardinia has an unforgettable coastline, but the interior of the
island is equally as beautiful. A fun way to explore it is aboard
the Trenino Verde (Little Green Train), a vintage steam locomotive
that puffs its way through forests, over bridges and through
tunnels into some of the island's most scenic mountain areas. The
narrow-gauge train tracks were laid in 1888 to serve the more
isolated areas of Sardinia, and the picturesque restored train and
locomotive is just as old. The train runs on scheduled routes,
connecting Nuoro and Bosa, Sassari and Alghero, Sassari and Palau,
and Cagliari and Arbatax. Most popular is the Cagliari to Arbatax
route, which departs each morning in summer at about 6:45am. The
train is small and tickets are limited so it is best to book in
advance. The train sometimes stops at scenic spots so that
passengers can stretch their legs and take photographs. It is best
to face forwards - the direction that the train is moving in - to
catch the best views. Food is not served on the train but it is
possible to buy snacks and refreshments during stops, especially on
the longer routes. If you are travelling in Sardinia with kids this
is a fantastic activity for the whole family.
Trenino Verde
jeffwarder
Neptune's Grotto (Grotta di Nettuno)
A popular sightseeing expedition from Alghero is a boat ride to
Neptune's Grotto, an impressive deep marine cave at the bottom of
the sheer cliffs of Capo Caccia. The boat ride takes about 45
minutes, and goes past the pretty Bay of Porto Conte. At the cave
visitors can take a 45-minute tour entering through the long
snaking passage that delves into the rock, to view dramatically-lit
stalagmites and stalactites. The contrast of the sun sparkling
bright on the sea and the orange cliffs with the mysterious dark
depths of the cave is magical and sailing in through the gap in the
cliffs is the best way to explore it; however, the grotto can also
be reached by bus from the main terminal in Alghero, or by car,
which on arrival necessitates climbing down 650 steps to the cave
entrance. The cave entrance, from the sea, is only about a metre
above the water level, so it can only be accessed when the sea is
calm. Boat trips into the cave run regularly in summer and are very
popular, but they are less frequent during the rest of the year.
The cave takes its name from the Roman god of the sea, Neptune, and
was discovered by local fishermen in the 18th-century. There are
many underwater caves in the area, which makes it popular with
scuba divers.
Address:
Alghero
Transport:
Boats depart regularly (especially in Summer) from the
port in Alghero to Neptune's Grotto. It is also possible to reach
the Grotto by road from Alghero to Capo Caccia.
Neptune's Grotto
Tobias Helfrich
Garibaldi's House
The famous Italian revolutionary, general and politician
Giuseppe Garibaldi lived the last third of his life on the woody,
undeveloped island of Caprera, a short ferry-ride from Palau on
Sardinia. Garibaldi was a central figure in the Italian Revolution
as he commanded and fought in many military campaigns that
eventually led to the formation of a unified Italy. He famously led
1,000 Red Shirts on his campaign to conquer Sicily and Naples from
Caprera in 1861. He is considered one of the 'father's of the
fatherland' by Italians, and is also famous for his military
campaigns in South America.
The trip to view Garibaldi's house and museum is very popular in
season, with visitors queuing to catch one of the regular ferries
to Caprera. Garibaldi came to live in Caprera in 1855 after a
20-year exile from Italy. The elegant homestead has been preserved
as he left it and visitors can learn a lot about his lifestyle from
exploring the farm; on Caprera he lived a simple, peaceful life
tending his gardens and orchards. Tours of the property end with
his tomb in the garden. There is a relic room filled with some of
his personal belongings and historical artefacts. For many Italians
and foreign visitors Garibaldi's house and grave are a sort of
pilgrimage site, a place to pay homage to a national hero.
Address:
Caprera Island
Tombstones at Garibaldi's House
Daniel
Costa Smeralda
The jet-set strip of Sardinia, Costa Smeralda is a six-mile
(10km) stretch of coastline between the gulfs of Cugnana and
Arzachena on the island's northeast coast, which has become a
developer's paradise and extremely popular with holidaymakers.
Legend has it that a fabulously wealthy consortium of businessmen
first exploited this beautiful wild coastal strip in the 1960s,
backed by the Aga Khan. Today the local villages and towns around
Costa Smeralda have become discreet upmarket resorts crammed with
private villas, luxurious holiday villages, contrived
Mediterranean-style shopping malls, low-rise high-priced hotels and
huge yachting marinas packed with gleaming yachts.
The main town of the area is Porto Cervo, a crime and
litter-free playground of the rich with its ranks of pale pink and
red villas climbing the hill from the busy marina. The other
favourite retreat for celebrities is the town of Porto Rotondo,
situated on a natural cove about 10 miles (16km) from Olbia, site
of the international airport. The town offers a wealth of beaches,
nightclubs, bars and restaurants, most clustered around its Piazza
San Marco, and the marina. The main attractions of the Costa
Smeralda are the numerous sequestered beaches, none signposted,
which can be discovered simply by following a dirt track down
towards the sea. Among the most scenic are Cappriccioli, Rena
Bianca and Liscia Ruja, all south of Porto Cervo.
Costa Smeralda
Evgeny Zhukov
Alghero
The flourishing fishing port of Alghero, situated on the
northwest coast, is Sardinia's tourist centre and attracts
thousands of holidaymakers each year. It consists of a picturesque
and well-preserved old town enclosed in a stout girdle of walls.
Outside, the new town sports a grid of parallel streets filled with
hotels and restaurants. A favoured package tour destination,
Alghero offers beautiful beaches and year-round holiday amenities
together with numerous places of interest to visit. The town is
very Spanish in flavour, having been invaded by Pedro IV of Aragon
in 1354.
The narrow cobbled streets of the old town are lined with
flamboyant churches and wrought-iron balconies, boutiques and
cafes, as well as the workshops of craftsmen working the famed
coral of Alghero. The local cuisine hints of Spain too, and the
town is renowned for its excellent seafood. Authentic Spanish
paellas, lobster alla Catalana and tasty fish soups abound, with
delicious sea urchins on sale from stallholders in the port. Around
the town the coast offers many secluded bays, small inlets bordered
by pine forests and high, jagged cliffs washed by the sea. Inland,
luxuriant vineyards produce some of the most aromatic wines on the
island. Nightlife is sedate, tending more toward sipping cocktails
at a sidewalk café and watching the sunset from the seafront than
frenetic nightclubbing.
Alghero Sunset
Ivonne
Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport
Location: The airport is located 2 miles (about 3km) southeast of
the city of Olbia.
Time: Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last
Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in
September).
Getting to the city:
Public bus lines 2 and 10 connect Olbia airport to the city. The
journey takes 10-20 minutes.
Car Rental:
Car rental companies include Auto Europa, Avis, Budget, Ellepì
Autonoleggio, Europcar, Hertz, Maggiore Rent and Sixt.
Airport Taxis:
Taxis are available outside the arrivals area. It should take
about 10-15 minutes to reach the city.
Facilities:
Facilities include ATMs, bureaux de change, snack shops,
Internet access, and luggage storage.
Parking
Short- and long-term parking available, at €2/hour, €15/day,
€75/month.
Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean sea, is
mainly touted for its lovely beaches and hiking trails and draws
windsurfers and boaters to its shores in droves. The coastal
regions can get very busy in the summer, especially August. Apart
from the wonderful landscapes and outdoor activities, Sardinia
offers the remnants of mysterious ancient settlements: the ancient
Nuragic civilization of Sardinia, which predates the mainland
Etruscan civilisation by several centuries, left stone monuments
dotting the island.
La Maddalena Archipelago National Park (Parco Nazionale
dell'Arcipelago di La Maddalena) is an almost uninhabited group of
islands in a protected marine area, which attracts visitors with
its natural splendour and pristine beaches. Other gorgeous beaches
in Sardinia include Cala Mariolu and Cala Goloritze in Baunei,
which are regularly lauded as the most beautiful beaches in Italy,
and are a must for sun-seekers looking for the perfect
Mediterranean setting. Costa Smeralda boasts the most glamorous
beaches in Sardinia and attracts the jet-set with its luxurious
villas and upmarket resorts. The city of Alghero, on the northwest
coast, is also a tourist hub and has some great beaches.
Those interested in the ancient Nuragic inhabitants of Sardinia
can explore the thousands of fortified circular structures still
remaining on the island. The complex of Nuraghe in Barumini has
been added to UNESCO's World Heritage List and is the finest and
most complete example of this intriguing prehistoric architecture.
Another interesting cultural diversion is provided by the home of
Garibaldi, one of Italy's great revolutionary leaders, which has
been turned into a museum. Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, has
some cultural treasures, most notably in the Citadel of Museums
complex which includes the National Archaeological Museum.