SARDINIA

Sardinia (Sardegna) is the second-largest island (24,090 sqkm) in the Mediterranean Sea after Sicily, it lies between Italy, Spain, and Tunisia, south of Corsica, the island population is about 1,650,000 inhabitants. Sardinia with around 1.900 kilometres of coastline, is one of the most popular beach lovers destinations, the island is particularly famous for its beautiful sea and beaches, the coasts are jagged and rocky, interspersed with marvelous beaches of very fine sand and countless inlets. On the eastern side as on the western one, to the north as to the south, Sardinian coasts make a charming sequence of pastel blue waters alternating with the emerald sea, while candid shores give way to stretches of golden sand or to cliffs carved by time. People who visit Sardinia discover not only one of the most beautiful and original places in the world but also have an unforgettable holiday. Sardinia is also rich in other interesting places, such as some charming sea towns and archaeological ruins. In additions Sardinia offers visitors an array of gastronomic specialities from the ancient cooking traditions of the shepherds to the sea food specialities of the coast. The island is rich in both handicrafts and arts, its carpets, baskets, pottery and its gold filigree jewellery are both unique and of the highest quality.

Sardinia main attractions: Sardinia has a lot to look at: dazzling beaches, clear water, ancient fortress cities, prehistoric ruins and many tourist resorts. Sardinia’s coastline is sublime, the beaches are Sardinia’s obvious major attraction, while the interior of the island is mountainous and makes for excellent trekking and sightseeing.

Very ancient and peculiar remains of the prehistoric and protohistoric eras are the megalithic "Tombs of the Giants" as at Arzachena (Li Lolghi and Lu Coddhu Ecchju) and at Dorgali (S'Ena e Thomes); the "domus dejanas" (houses of the witches), tombs dug into the rock as at Corongiu, Sant'Andrea Priu and Filigosa; and the "nuraghi". The nuraghi, truncated cone towers in huge stone and fortified dwellings of the earliest inhabitants, number about 7,000 and can be found all over the island. The most interesting are at Barumini (Su Nuraxi di Barumini, a UNESCO World-Heritage site since 1997), at Abbasanta (Nuraghe Losa), at Dorgali (Serra Orrios), at Torralba (Nuraghe Santu Antine) and at Orroli (Nuraghe Arrubiu).

Phoenician and Roman remains have come to light at Tharros, Nora, Carbonia (Monte Sirai), Sant'Antioco (Sulci), Cuglieri (Cornus), Fluminimaggiore (Tempio di Antas), Bolotana (Punic Fort of Mularza Noa o Pabude) and Genoni (Monte Sant'Antine); there are Roman relics at Porto Torres (Roman town, Roman bridge), Fertilia (Roman bridge), Porto Conte (Roman Villa), Fordongianus (Forum Traiani, roman town) and Cagliari (Roman Amphiteatre, Villa di Tigellio, Necropoli di Tuvixeddu).

The early Christian period is represented by the Paleo Christian church of San Giovanni of Sinis (6th century). From 11th century the Giudicati appeared, this was also a period of ascendancy in Sardinian art, culture and religion, as exemplified by the magnificent Romanesque churches built from the tenth century onward with their impressive paintings and stunning architecture. Starting from the tenth century in the next 200 years, nearly 70 churches were built all over the Island, most of them are in the countryside far from the urban centres. The most interesting are Santa Trinita di Saccargia, San Gavino at Porto Torres, Nostra Signora di Tergu, Santa Maria at Ardara, Santa Giusta cathedral at Santa Giusta, Santa Maria in Trattalias, Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio, San Pietro at Sorres, San Pietro at Zuri, Santa Maria at Uta, San Simplicio at Olbia and San Lorenzo di Silanus. 

Beaches: The island contains numerous extraordinary tourist areas, including the Costa Smeralda, Maddalena Archipelago, the area of Orosei Gulf and Gennargentu, Costa Rei, Sinis, Asinara island, Costa Verde. The beaches are along the whole coast of the island: North Coast: Stintino (La Pelosa). Costa Paradiso (Vignola, Li Cossi, Tinnari, Isola Rossa, Badesi, Platamona, Balai, Sorso, Lu Bagnu). Santa Teresa-Palau-La Maddalena (Santa Reparata, Rena Bianca, La Marmorata, Cala Coticcio (Caprera), Cala Andreana (Caprera), Cala Spalmatore (La Maddalena), Spiaggia Rosa (Budelli), Porto Pollo). Costa Smeralda (Cala di Volpe, La Celvia, Liscia Ruja, Long Beaches, Mortorio Island's Beaches, Pevero Beach, Baja Sardinia Beach, Capriccioli Beach, Poltu li Cogghi/Spiaggia del Principe Beach, Portisco Beach, Punta Volpe Beach, Rena Bianca/Razza di Juncu Beach, Romazzino Beach, Ira-Porto Rotondo Beach). East Coast: San Teodoro (Porto San Paolo, Cala Coda Cavallo, Brandinchi, La Cinta, L'Isuledda, Sant'Anna). Capo Comino (La Caletta, Capo Comino, Berchida). Orosei Gulf (Cala Osalla, Cala Cartoe, Cala Fuili, Cala Luna, Cala Sisine, Cala Birìola, Cala Mariolu, Cala Goloritzé). Ogliastra (Marina di Tertenia, Su Sirboni Beach, Perdepera Beach, Torre di Barì Beach, Cea Beach, Lido di Orrì Beach, Lido delle Rose Beach, Is Scoglius Arrubius Beach, Santa Maria Navarrese Beach, Lotzorai Beach). West Coast: Alghero (Mugoni Beaches, Lazzaretto Beach, Baja di Conte Beach, Cala Argentiera - La Frana Beach, Maria Pia Beach, Poglina - La Speranza Beach, Porto Ferro Beach, Porto Palmas Beach, Punta Negra Beach, Torre del Porticciolo Beach, Le Bombarde Beach). Penisola di Sinis (Mari Ermi Beach, Is Arutas Beach). Costa Verde (Is Arenas Beach, Portu Maga Beach, Funtanazza Beach, Gutturu'e Flumini-Marina di Arbus Beach, Piscinas Beach, Pistis Beach, Scivu Beach, Torre dei Corsari, Cala Domestica). South Coast: Villasimius (Porto Sa Ruxi, Capo Carbonara, Spiaggia del Riso, Campu Longu Beach, Campus Beach, Porto Giunco, Punta Is Molentis, Simius Beach, Capo Boi, Cala Caterina, Timi Ama Beach, Cala Burroni). Costa Rei (Costa Rei Beach, Capo Ferrato Beach, Cala Pira Beach, Cala Sinzias Beach, San Giovanni di Muravera Beach, Scoglio di Peppino Beach, Porto Pirastu Beach). Cagliari (Il Poetto). Pula (Nora Beach, Santa Margherita di Pula Beach, Porto Culumbu-Perd'e Sali Beach, Saia Beach, Pinus Village Beach). Chia (Porto Campana Beach, Su Cardolinu Beach, Su Stagnoni de Su Sali (Su Giudeu) Beach, Porticciolo Beach, Colonia Beach, Cala Cipolla Beach, Spiaggetta dl Morto). San Pietro (La Caletta o Spalmatore).

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Airports and Flights: Three are the main airports of Sardinia: Alghero Fertilia Airport, Cagliari Elmas Airport and Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport.

Alghero Fertilia Airport has the following Domestic and International flights: Air One (AP) has Domestic flights to Milano Linate and Roma Fiumicino. Alpi Eagles (E8) in summer time (from March to October) has Domestic flights to Napoli, Venezia, Verona. Ryanair (FR) has Domestic flights to Pisa e International flights to Germany (Alghero-Düsseldorf Weeze, Alghero-Frankfurt Hahn), to Spain (Alghero-Barcelona Girona), to UK (Alghero-Liverpool, Alghero-London Stansted, and during summer time (from March to October) Alghero-East Midlands), to Ireland (Alghero-Dublin). Thomsonfly (TOM) in summer time (from May to October) has International flights to UK (Alghero-London Gatwick).

Cagliari Elmas Airport has the following Domestic and International flights: Air One (Milan-Linate, Rome-Fiumicino). Air Vallée (Genoa). Alitalia (Venice). Alpi Eagles (Venice). Blue Line (Paris-Charles de Gaulle). bmi (London-Heathrow, Manchester). British Airways (London-Gatwick). Brussels Airlines (Brussels). Darwin Airline (Berne, Geneva, Lugano). easyJet (London-Luton). Edelweiss Air (Geneva, Zürich). Excel Airways (London-Gatwick). Flightline (Paris-Charles de Gaulle). Iberia Air Nostrum (Madrid, Barcelona, Ibiza, Valencia). Jetairfly (Brussels). Lauda Air (Olbia, Salzburg). Lufthansa (Munich). Meridiana (Bologna, Milan-Linate, Naples, Olbia, Palermo, Rome-Fiumicino, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Turin, Verona). MyAir (Venice). Ryanair (Girona, Pisa). Thomas Cook Airlines (Brussels). TUIfly (Cologne/Bonn, Munich, Stuttgart).

Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport has the following Domestic and International flights: Air Vallée (Cagliari, Genoa). Alitalia Alitalia operated by Air Alps (Parma). Alpi Eagles (Venice, Palermo). Darwin Airline (Berne, Lugano). easyJet (Berlin-Schönefeld, London-Gatwick). easyJet operated by easyJet Switzerland (Basel, Geneva). Flybaboo (Geneva). Helvetic Airways (Zurich). Iberia Iberia operated by Air Nostrum (Barcelona, Madrid). Lufthansa Lufthansa Regional operated by Lufthansa CityLine (Munich). Meridiana (Bologna, Cagliari, Florence, Lodon-Gatwick, Milan-Linate, Milan-Malpensa, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Rome-Fiumicino, Turin, Verona). TUIfly (Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart).

Marine transport: The Mediterranean’s largest ferry companies run services connecting Sardinia with the main ports in Italy, France and Corsica. There are ferry services to Cagliari (south coast), Porto Torres, Santa Teresa di Gallura, Palau (north coast), Olbia, Golfo Aranci, Arbatax (east coast). Olbia is the main ferry-port connection between Sardinia and the Italian peninsula. Grandi Navi Veloci: From Genova to Porto Torres. From Genova to Olbia. Moby Lines and Linea dei Golfi: from Genova, Livorno and Civitavecchia to Olbia. From Genova to Porto Torres. From Piombino to Olbia. From Bonifacio (Corsica) to Santa Teresa di Gallura. Snav: From Civitavecchia a Olbia. Sardinia Ferries - Corsica Ferries: From Livorno to Golfo Aranci. From Piombino to Golfo Aranci. From Civitavecchia to Golfo Aranci. From Bonifacio (Corsica) to S. Teresa di Gallura. Tirrenia: From Genova to Porto Torres. From Genova to Olbia. From Genova to Arbatax. From Civitavecchia to Olbia, Arbatax and Cagliari. From Fiumicino to Golfo Aranci. From Napoli to Cagliari. From Trapani and Palermo to Cagliari. Medmar Linee Lauro: From Napoli to Palau. CMN: From Marseille (France) to Porto Torres. From Propriano (Corsica) to Porto Torres. Saremar: From Bonifacio (Corsica) to Santa Teresa di Gallura.

Climate in Sardinia:

Cagliari (Sardinia)	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rainfall (mm)	45	58	43	38	23	10	2	7	30	56	56	56
Min Temp (°C)	6	6	7	9	12	16	18	19	17	13	9	7
Max Temp (°C)	14	14	16	18	22	26	29	29	27	23	18	15

The weather in Sardinia is typically Mediterranean with moderate climate, mild temperatures all the year round and the winters are short. During the cold season, prevalently mild, humid mistral winds from the northwest blow while in spring and summer, the winds from Africa are traditionally hot and dry. The north-western region is rainy while the climate in the south is much dryer. The months between October and February are the rainy season while the driest months are July and August; it rains irregularly throughout the rest of the year, annual rainfall varies from 450 to 600 mm. The best period to visit Sardinia is April-June, in fact by Easter, the whole island is in bloom. The countryside is aglow in the yellows of wild gorse and mimosa. Fragrant blue lavender blends with white cistos bushes and wild violets and orchids line the walkways. Around the time spring's colors fade, red corn poppies begin to bloom in the yellow wheat fields, and the landscape shows its summer colors. Along the sandy beaches of Southern Sardinia one can start swimming very early in the year. In fact, the swimming season lasts from May through October. Also September and October are good months for tourists. The peak season is July-August, during this time the thermometer often reaches or exceeds 38°C, but the high temperatures are made bearable thanks to the pleasant sea breezes and winds which are often present on the island.