If you are looking for an interesting destination, starting with fascinating culture and history, breathtaking landscapes and white beaches with a clear and pampering sea – Sardinia is the destination for you!
It is the second largest island in the Mediterranean. It is part of Italy but differs from Italy both in its independence and in its unique characteristics from culture to language.
Forget everything you knew about Italy! It is the “Island of the Emerald Sea”, surrounded by pristine nature and thousands of years of traditions.
We will give you a glimpse into the main places, the favorite beaches for summer vacationers, and of course the fascinating festivals for winter vacationers.
Vacation in Sardinia - get to know the towns of the island
Sardinia is known as a paradise in the heart of the Mediterranean. Obviously, the crystal clear beaches and white sandy beaches of Sardinia are the main attraction of the island, but there is an endless list of places to discover in Sardinia such as the most famous cities and towns, small magical islands around and of course, important historical sites
Alghero
Alghero is a lively beach town with a great atmosphere and Catalan history that is felt in the streets and in the sites you will visit. It is famous for its historic center and charming paved alleys. History is evident here from every direction – in the Chiesa di San Francesco church, where the prayer is still said in Catalan (it is also worth visiting the monastery from the 13th century), in the impressive walls built by the Spanish to protect against attacks from the sea (where you should take a walk at sunset), in the cathedral Alghero and its bell tower The Catalan influence is evident even in the food, which we will talk about later.
Recommended hotels in Alghero
Hotel Catalunya – a 4-star hotel in a great location with private parking and a rooftop with an amazing view of the city.
Villa Las Tronas Hotel & SPA – 5 star spa hotel on the beach. 10 minutes walk to the center of Alghero.
Luxury Liberty House – a clean and pleasant guest house within walking distance of the city and the beach.
Neptune Caves - Grotta di Nettuno
Neptune’s Caves are a must-visit destination! You can reach them by boat from Alghero or from the pier in Porto Conte (the last village before the caves).
If you insist on arriving on foot, you will have to go down about 650 steps carved into the cliff and in the end also climb them all on the way back.
It’s very impressive but definitely not for everyone. On the other hand, if the sea is rough, then the boat is also uncomfortable. of your choice. In the worst case it will be a nice story to tell the grandchildren 🙂 The caves stretch over four kilometers, but only some of them are open. You will find many stalactites and stalagmites and even a terrestrial lake.
The tour departs every hour and the boat should be booked in advance. If you liked Neptune Cave and if geology interests you in general – here is an excellent collection of the karst caves on the island:
The impressive Grotta su Marmuri cave, the Grotta di Ispinigoli cave with the huge sentinel, the Grotte Is Zuddas cave with the amazing and special crystals that look like flowers, the Grotta di Su Mannau cave with its lakes and the San Giovanni Cave.
Gallura - perfect for beach lovers
Gallura is an area in Sardinia located in the northeast of the island, where you will find magical beaches with clear water, granite cliffs will surround you, the green will wash your eyes in oak forests and ancient olive trees.
All you have to do is find your favorite hidden bay and let nature and peace take over you. Another thing that characterizes the island is the cork – which is produced here and exported from here to the world. You can see the beginning of its formation in the surrounding cork oak forests. And then to watch with excitement the wooden corks in the factory, and see them in their familiar form, as we know them from the opening of the wine we drink.
Recommended accommodations and hotels in the Gallura area –
Tempio Pausania
This is the main town in the Gallura area. Besides the beautiful landscapes, the healing springs, the culture and the history, many travelers come precisely during the colorful carnival that takes place in February where there are a lot of characters made of papier-mâché and the place has a great atmosphere. The summary of the carnivals will appear later in the article.
Nuraghi Valley
If you want to see rock structures from the Bronze Age, this is the place. Even today, scientists debate what they were used for, but the prevailing hypotheses are that they were observation towers or buildings for sacred ceremonies
In Sardinia they have several thousand Nuraghes scattered everywhere. We recommend that you see at least one! You can admire such a structure in Santu Antine Nuraghe or Su Nuraxi di Barumini, which is a UNESCO heritage site. recommended to see at least one! You can get an impression of such a structure and a Nuraghe village that surrounds it, for example in Santu Antine Nuraghe or Su Nuraxi di Barumini, which is a UNESCO heritage site.
Cagliari
Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia. Whether you land in Cagliari, pass by it, or spend the night in nearby places – the city has a wide variety of things to do, for whatever style of trip you plan.
The old quarter of the city is called Il Castello and it overlooks the “Gulf of the Angels” from above. Most of the attractions are in this district. Start by climbing the Bastion of Saint Remy and Terrazza Umberto.
Don’t miss the lovely Cathedral of Santa Maria. The view over the city and the bay is breathtaking. Other attractions you can find there are The city hall, the Roman Amphitheater of Cagliari and the nearby botanical garden, local breweries, the San Benedetto market, a variety of museums, great restaurants, and popular beaches such as the really long Poetto beach
Recommended hotels in Cagliari
Castelsardo
A charming village from the Middle Ages, where you can stop for an hour or two as part of your itinerary, take a nice walk through the village to enjoy the baskets that are the famous local product, and the kind old women who design them by hand, see the cathedral and the bell tower and visit the castle. Near Castelsardo you can stop to take a picture with the most famous rock in Sardinia – the Elephant Rock! Be careful not to feed him 🙂
Costa Paradiso
An amazing beach full of small bays that are located between impressive cliffs, vacation homes and nature. The place is very touristic and the most popular bay on the beach is Li Cossi which can be reached by walking a ten minute path from the parking lot. The road is very beautiful.
This is the beach most loved by the locals thanks to the sand that makes it easy to enter the water. Because most of the coastal strip is full of cliffs. You don’t have to come during the bathing season to enjoy the place, the cliffs and the sea are so beautiful that a walk along the waterfront will do the trick.
Bosa
Falling in love with Bossa starts already at the access road, which provides an amazing angle to the place. Also an excellent angle for photography, of course. The town is small and beautiful, sitting on the bank of a river, with the castle of Malaspina at the top of the hill. From there you can view the whole city with its picturesque pastel-colored houses.
The old stone bridge will connect you to the old town and the cathedral. It is recommended to climb from the bridge through the medieval streets, up to the castle, and watch the sunset from there. Later in the article you will find details about Bosa’s festivals.
A recommended hotel in the city – Palazzo Pischedda
Costa Smeralda
The “Emerald Coast” area is actually a 55 km long beach full of luxury resorts, where you can find celebrities and rich people from all over the world vacationing there. You can understand why. Nature with a crazy view of bays, green in the eyes and clear water. You can spend the night in Porto Cervo, Enjoy the famous Stella Maris Church, and end the day with the local nightlife.You can also visit the fishing village of San Teodoro, this village is also blessed with a selection of accommodation, nightlife and wonderful attractions
Recommended hotels in the area –
Orgosolo
Orgosolo, the town located on the side of a mountain, became famous, mainly thanks to the graffiti that covers it, which has become a symbol over the years. Wander through the streets of the town, from the main street Corso Repubblica to the last alley and admire the murals of local artists. Paintings that express village life or current political protests – these change every period. Some of the works managed to survive for years.
The Sinis peninsula and the Tharros archaeological site
On this peninsula you will find several beaches, some of the most beautiful in Sardinia. The area is an amazing nature reserve full of lagoons, marine animals, flamingos and more.
The beaches are highly recommended. Each of them is different, in terms of the landscape and the sand – starting from pleasant white sand to sand made of quartz particles in different colors.
Antiquities Tharros – the ruins of the Phoenician city that was built on top of the ruins of the Nuragi settlement and later also became a Roman city.
What is important here is the fact that the main evidence of the Phoenician presence in Sardinia was found.
If you haven’t exhausted the archeology here, you can also visit the village of Santa Cristina and the holy well in Paulilatino.
Arcipelago di La Maddalena
7 islands that are part of an amazing national park. The main island is La Maddalena and its main attraction is the special beaches (in our opinion the most special is Capocchia du Purpu but any other choice will probably not disappoint you).
You can get there by taking the car on the ferry or renting a car on the island. Start your journey on the panoramic road that surrounds the island and enjoy the impressive views. If you want to avoid the headache of planning, you can close an organized day trip at any of the local tourism companies that will take you to several islands.
The carnivals of Sardinia
A once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience that is celebrated in the winter, but without a doubt, it is worth exchanging the summer vacation for it. As we always say – there is no “off season”, there are simply people who don’t dress warm enough 🙂
Sardinians know how to party! They live lively lives, dance, throw parties, and glorify their glorious culture and traditions. Adjust your schedule to take part in one of the following carnivals as part of a vacation you won’t forget. We have collected several styles of carnivals to suit everyone.
The carnival in Mamoiada
There are many reasons to visit Mamoiada – the local wine, the good cheeses, the famous masks that are unique to the place, where you can see their production process in the factory, and of course the highlight – the carnival.
It takes place every winter between mid-January and the end of February and introduces us to the agricultural-pagan cult rituals of the shepherds. It is not similar to other well-known festivals in the world in any way.
There is something dark about this festival from its foundations. And this is even after a process of refinement has gone through over the years, for example the human sacrifice was converted into an animal sacrifice.
These ceremonies are intended to bring prosperity and a good harvest and appease the demons and harmful spirits. At the carnival you will see two types of characters – the mamuthones which are 12 scary characters – they represent the animals and the dark sides of wild nature, and in front of them the shepherds – the Issohadores – in colorful clothes and a white mask. They pull young women from the audience with a lasso rope as a virtue for good luck and fertility
Get your cameras ready for exceptional photos and your stomach for a few festive glasses of wine.
Gavoi Carnival
At the Gavoi Carnival you will find a small and calm community that every February comes alive with drumming and dancing celebrations, symbolizing the arrival of spring. Here too, as in every carnival, you will find yourself dancing with the happy residents to the sound of the drums (handmade drums), and drinking quantities of wine.
People wear different masks, here the outfit is less formal and important. The emphasis is on the sound, the fun and the rhythm.
On the last day of the festival, crosses will be drawn on the foreheads of the participants using burnt cork and the church bells will announce the end of the celebration.
Carnival Sa Sartiglia in Oristano
In this carnival you can see horse shows and riders in colorful costumes and masks.
As a symbol of the ancient tradition from the Middle Ages in memory of the knights from the time of the Crusades.
It is important to know that if you order tickets in advance, you will get the whole package – from the trumpets heralding the arrival of the knights and horses, to participating in age-old competitions such as hitting a target with a spear.
Carnivals in Bosa
On a normal day Bosa is a charming and pastoral town. But if you come in February you’ll find yourself in the middle of a pretty wild festival. The first part of the ceremony begins in the morning – it is about the s’Attitidu celebrations. In these celebrations the men of the town dress up as women, wearing black clothes and masks with sexual symbols.
They ask the women for “a drop of milk for the dying baby” –
A request with sexual connotations. When the evening comes, the Giolzi stage takes place, in the evening they dress in white and look for the king of the carnival together. When they find it, they burn it.
The ceremonies are wild, the dolls are dismembered, the men “break into” the houses and the community members leave the houses. It signifies a stoppage of accepted social norms and laws. Definitely not for everyone.
In September there is a more relaxed festival in the town, in honor of Saint Maria of Malaspina.
You can enjoy musical performances and processions of people wearing the old dresses of the city, showing scenes from the Middle Ages. In short – definitely more pleasant and civilized 😊
You should combine the festival as part of a trip of several days. It is not only fun and joyful, it is also a glimpse into the long-standing traditions of Sardinia and the local culture.
It is recommended, if you have enough days, to combine your vacation in Sardinia with a few days in beautiful Sicily or the Naples area.
