Porto Rotondo

Porto Rotondo, one of the most prestigious Sardinian and Italian tourist places, is located just minutes from Olbia, along the SS 125, on the northern side of the promontory of Punta Volpe, between the Gulf of Cugnana and Marinella. This is a well-designed tourist settlement, born in the golden years of great development of the Costa Smeralda. The buildings were raised from 1963 around the marina in a circular way (hence the name of the town) designed to be inserted in the best possible way in the surrounding environment.
The village is characterised by a network of streets and squares framed by colorful houses. Along the docks and the small round square of San Marco there are many stores of famous signatures. A stairway leads to the church of San Lorenzo, designed by Andrea Cascella, in granite.
During the bathing season this prestigious town is just two steps from the exclusive Costa Smeralda and offers the possibility to eat, drink, listen to music, dance and spend a pleasant holiday.
It is also interesting to do an excursion in the direction of Punta Volpe, which separates the Gulf of Marinella from the Gulf of Cugnana, with many beaches: the beach Ira, with a white and fine sand and rocks from the water located in the Punta Nuraghe, to the west Porto Rotondo, surrounded by a green Mediterranean scrub that contrasts with the white sand and turquoise sea, and small coves of Punta Asfodelo. From each one of them and also from the coastal streets it is possible to enjoy breathtaking views of the sea and the mountains of Gallura.
In the locality of Porto Rotondo there are other beautiful beaches with a calm and crystalline sea. The beach of Sassi has a sandy bottom and small pebbles tending to the colour gray, next to a beautiful cliff. Its waters have the characteristic of being transparent and peaceful. Behind the sandy beach there is a background of Mediterranean scrub that makes the landscape charming and colorful.
The beach of Alghe, with a sandy bottom of grey nuances which alternate with stone areas. Surrounded by rocks and low bushes, this quiet cove frequently hosts posidonia on its beach. Close to the beach stretches a wide range of Mediterranean scrub with its characteristic color and juniper and mastic fragrances. Even here between games of blue you can admire a highly crystalline sea.
The beach of Punta Volpe has a sandy bottom made of clear small grains, and pebbles with rocks that surfaced on the water. The cream-colored beach, with golden hues, is in front of the rocks that take varied colors in different times of day. The sight of the islands of Mortorio and Soffi and of the beautiful coastline enrich the evocative surrounding environment of the beach.
Finally Marineledda has a sandy and clear bottom. A solitary and quiet beach surrounded by a landscape of great beauty enriched by a very low and profumated vegetation alternating with polished granite rocks.

Holidays in San Teodoro

San Teodoro is on the north eastern coast of Sardinia, 30 km to the south of Olbia. It is one of the most desirable tourist places in Sardinia. The clear sea and white beaches of the location make of this a true nature's show. The town offers many services for tourists from many accommodation structures to a lot of practicable sporting activities, entertainment on the beach, hiking in the hinterland where you can admire a unique nature and find the traditions and history of this corner of Sardinia. The village is renowned for its nightlife and the presence of several large and exclusive nightclubs on the coast. The architecture is typical of the Costa Smeralda, with low houses and typical materials such as granite and trachyte. The stretch of coastline surrounding the town is also fascinating. The beaches are a spectacle not to be missed and are really numerous. La Cinta is the most known and popular of San Teodoro. It has a beach that stretches for about 5 km. A narrow strip of land rich in low vegetation separates the lagoon located behind the beach. White sand dunes and century-old junipers decorate the landscape. La Cinta is also ideal for long walks, nature presents great interest aspects related to birds and birdwatching. Several couples of pink flamingos plough in its waters. You must also see the beach at Cala Brandinchi, in the locality of Capo Coda Cavallo, with a very clear and fine sand, the Sardinian Caribbean. The beach also has a small dock, suitable for small, recreational boats. It also deserves to be visited the island of Tavolara that you can admire in front of the town, towards the north. A massive limestone trapezoidal-shapre island that rests on 525 m hight granit. It is an area of great natural interest, protected by a marine protected zone, one of the most exclusive and uncontaminated localities of Sardinia. You can reach it with the ferry departing from Porto San Paolo (just north of San Teodoro) every half hour during the summer.

European Jazz Expo 26 edition

Cagliari also proposed this year a three-day immersion in jazz. It began on November 14, 2008 the edition number 26 of the European Jazz Expo combined with the International Jazz Festival in Sardinia. The festival was staged at the Congress Center of the International Fair Centre of Sardinia in Cagliari. Probably because of a very successful edition in the yeat 2007 with the presence of 24,000 fans, this year there were over 40 concerts in three days divided into six halls with variable capacity.

On the stage of the Congress Center there were representatives of the best original productions of Sardinia and the world, world-famous musicians, young talents with a recent musical history, until arriving to the great protagonists of international jazz. Three days when the great masters of World's Jazz performed together with the emerging bands of all the international festivals. There were also scheduled seminars, conferences, meetings with artists, exhibition activities, screenings, presentations of books and discs, video reviews and photography exhibitions.

Among the original news, Cagliari this year became destination for gastronomic tourism. Giovanni Fancello, one of the best chefs in Sardinia and the Mediterranean, passionate and student of the food culture, proposed (to a maximum of 150 people at a time) a guided and free tasting session of a Sardinian dish accompanied with fine wines of the island.

Costa Smeralda Rally 2008

27th Edition of the Costa Smeralda Rally, 8yh test of the Italian Rally Championship also valid for the World Rally Trophy. Even this year with great anticipation and enthusiasm started in Porto Cervo one of the most important and resonant events of the summer season and sports of the island. There we 69 crews who have dealt in a full race on earth.

733.35 km divided into two main stages and 12 special tests that amounted to 150.38 Km. A large crowd of spectators, fans or not, took part in the opening ceremony of this sporting event in Piazza Risorgimento in Arzachena. The headquarters of the competition were set up in Olbia, at the Molo Brin. The first stage saw competitors engaged in the Nuorese area and the second one in Gallura.

The Tuscan Paolo Andreucci in pairs with Anna Andreuss from Friuli, with the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX RalliArt Italy, have dominated and won the competition.

From the sea to the mountains. There are several areas in the north-west of Sardinia that the race has affected, both coastal and internal. An ideal thing for lovers of this sport and also for the curious to see some of the most fascinating places in Sardinia. A way to live together sport and nature, immersed in an exciting mix of scenery, sights, tastes and smells that give all authenticity to this land.

Porto Corallo

In the region of Gerrei located in the south-west of Sardinia, part of the municipality of Villaputzu, is Porto Corallo named like this around the sixteenth century because its sea bottom was rich in coral formations.

The white beach of Porto Corallo is reached from the town in a few minutes. It is dominated, like many other ports and maritime locations of the island, by a warning Spanish tower built in stone and surrounded by Mediterranean scrub. To the north, about 25 km, are the town of Quirra and its homonymous beach, whereas to the south the beautiful beaches of Costa Rei: Foce of Flumendosa, beach of San Giovanni, a few miles from Muravera: beaches Le Saline, Cristolaxedu, Colostrie and Ferraxi.

Close to Porto Corallo, beyond the charming landscape, there are many interesting sites of archaeological and historical importance. During the Nuragic era the place was part of Cagliari, and became property of Visconti in the Early Middle Ages until the arrival of the Pisans who settled in the nearby castle of Quirra and reigned on all the surrounding territories. Built around the year 1200 on a formation of limestone, the Castle of Quirra had indeed served to protect the area from attacks. At his feet it is still possible to see the church of San Nicola in late-Romanesque style dating from the thirteenth century, and to the east, the ruins of the castle of Gibas.

Aglientu Summer Festival 2008

The festival is the result of collaboration of the Arts and Culture Commitee and the pro-loco Aglientu, which together organize this event dedicated to music copyright, jazz and blues, and traditional Sardinian's flavours. The edition of 2008, celebrated on the 18, 19 and 20 August, had as guests: Paolo Bonfanti Band, The Blues Wild Cats Blues Band, Attenti Al Gorilla, Umberto Fiorentino, Fabio Zeppetella and Funk Project. The duo Umberto Fiorentino and Fabio Zeppetella hold on the evening of August 20, a free master / stage for all guitarists who wanted to participate. Everything in the three days was be accompanied by tastings of fine cheeses and meats of the area; pennette allo scoglio, red and white wine and passiti wines, and finally Sardinians' sweets. For those who wanted to take this opportunity to enjoy the natural setting and the splendid natural corner of Aglientu host of the event to spend a few days of relaxation, they could stay in one of the many hotels or b & b in the area and visit the beautiful beaches of Vignola Mare and Portobello. The town is also near the most famous seaside resorts locations of the province of Olbia-Tempio, Maddalena and Lavezzi, reachable by car in a short time.

Golf in Sardinia

A beautiful and fun way to know Sardinia is to come to play golf. There are several greens on the island that for years have attracted thousands of fans to spend a holiday of sport and discovery of traditions, natural beauties and the flavors of the most beautiful island in the Mediterranean.

Is Molas
Is Molas was founded in 1975, located in south western coast of Sardinia is one of the most famous greens of the island. The golf course has 18-holes par 72. There is 9-hole field par 36. The centre has a clubhouse and a hotel for those who want to stay close to the field to enjoy the golf full time. The field is located 40 minutes away from the airport of Cagliari.

Is Arenas
It was designed by Robert van Hagge and founded in 1999, the golf course Is Arenas is located in the province of Oristano. The field, considered by experts as one of the most beautiful is an 18-hole par 72. The green is located in a beautiful area near the sea and with spacing sand dunes and forests that make it particularly impressive. It is an hour's drive away from the airport of Cagliari.

Holidays in Carloforte

Carloforte is famous for its Genoan origins. The construction of the town and its architecture recall those villages of the Ligurian coast. The island offers the opportunity to taste the Genoese cuisine. To visit the beaches of the island proceeding in a south direction, pass beside the astronomical observatory, in the south-east coast you arrive to the beaches of Girin and that of Punta Nera where there is a burial cave of the Bronze Age and the beach of Bobba. From here you can walk to the famous columns, trachyte spires emerging from the water that are the last residues of a lava blanket eroded by the sea. Going always along the coastal road your cross the provincial road to La Caletta, and if you make a detour to the left you can visit Cala Mezzaluna with its majestic cliffs. Here the sea has created wonderful caves that were once the ideal habitat for the monk seal. Always following the main road and going left to the beach La Caletta, located between Cannoni and Spalmatore.In the southern Carloforte, along the salt marshes, you can see groups of flamingos. In the inner parts of the island you can still admire various quarries manganese, diaspri, ocre red and yellow. In route by car you can admire the vineyards and the typical white houses in the carlofortine hinterland that characterize San Pietro. The provincial road ends in capo Sandalo where it is possible to admire the view to the west coast. In the promontory there is the lighthouse, built in 1864, which is still a point of reference of maritime traffic in the western Tyrrhenian Sea.

Holidays in Cagliari

Cagliari is the capital of Sardinia. The city offers many opportunities for the tourists who want to spend their holidays on the island. Located in southern Sardinia, the city offers the possibility to make a beach and cultural holiday. The Poetto beach, about eight kilometers long, has many services offered by the various bathing establishments. Despite the disastrous restructure made by the province of Cagliari the beach is still one of the most beautiful of Sardinia. Unfortunately the sand is no longer the white flour that used to be. Despite this the beach is wide and on weekends there are thousands people who bathe in its waters. For those not satisfied with the sea, the city offers the possibility to visit many museums and monuments.
The castle, the most ancient part of town is surrounded by high walls and protects the old town. Among the sights worth visiting are the cathedral and the royal palace. Among the museums certainly the most famous is the archaeological one located at the "Citadella dei Musei" in the castle containing archaeological findings of Nuragic and Phoenician time.

Barumini The Nuragic Village Su Nuraxi

The nuraghe of Barumini, UNESCO World Heritage, is certainly the most famous nuraghe of Sardinia. Its history dates back to about three thousand and five hundred years ago when the ancient people built a nuraghe and a small settlement of huts on the hill. The nuraghes are the symbol of the civilization that lived in Sardinia. They are an exceptional testimony of the constructive capacity of the Sardinian people. These buildings combine in a perfect way the needs of of the time to create buildings with a defense and a civilian purpose. Today, thousands of years later, they are the witness of a culture linked to the megalithic civilization of the Mediterranean. The site is one of the main tourist attractions of Sardinia. The nuraghe of Barumini consists of a central body enclosed by a square bastion and further walls with 4 towers. Around the nuraghe there is a large village of huts, including the so-called head of the hut and those related to domestic activities or rituals. The huts have a structure that consists of a story usually circular, an atrium, the well and the oven (kitchen) in addition to a number of rooms up to 8.

The town of Bosa

Bosa is located 2 meters above sea level and has 7813 inhabitants. Located in the western part of Sardinia is spread in a beautiful basin on the banks of the river Temo. Its origins date back to centuries. IX to C. From XI century it became feud of Malaspina, who fortified the town. Even today you can admire the castle and the walls built at that time. The Castello di Serravalle or Malaspina was built in stages from the second decade of the twelfth century when the towers were made. The scheme is similar to that of the castle of St. Michele in Cagliari. The great tower was designed by John Còpula, built in the tufa color pink. The successive enlargements brought the castle to reach a perimeter of 300 meters including the seven towers. Within the castle was built in the XIV century. the church of Our Lady of Regnos Altos. In the town deserves a visit of the leather tanneries along the banks of the river Temo. The complex was still functioning until the end of the Second World War and it is now a national monument subject to protection.
The construction of the cathedral of the Diocese of Bosa dates back to the period between 1062 and 1073. The facade, attributed to Anselmo from Como, was done by a shrine with columns on the top. There are also representations of S. Peter and S. Paul, Madonna col Bambino and St. Costatino imperatore. In the apse there are pagan inscriptions from nearby Roman necropolis and medieval town of great interest.

The south west of Sardinia: Sant'Anna Arresi and Porto Pino

Sant'Anna Arresi is a small town in Sulcis, especially busy during the summer due to its closeness to some of the most beautiful sea locations of this territory, one of all is Porto Pino, with its beautiful dunes and crystal clear sea. Sant'Anna Arresi is a very lively cultural town and an important jazz review takes place in August and hosts big names of world. Very near Sant'Anna Arresi there are many attractions among which it is worth pointing out the mining of a Suclisi and Monteponi and Porto Flavia, and the beautiful islands of Sant'Antioco and Carloforte. Porto Pino is formed by a wonderful system of dunes of fine white sand, overlooking a turquoise sea and coming out of a natural sea-pine forest. Behind the dunes there are the ponds Is Brebeis and Maestrale exploited by local crops. In spring-summer period it is possible to admire numerous species of birds, including the famous pink flamingo.

The South West of Sardinia: Pula and Chia

Pula and Chia, with their beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters, are two of the main Sardinian tourist localities in the south-west. Located on the border between the territories of Campidano and Sulcis they represent one of the favourite destinations for summer holidays. Pula is known above all for the famous golf green Is Molas Golf Club, one of the most striking in Italy, with its 18 holes. A few kilometers from Pula is Nora, an ancient city founded by the Phoenicians in the VIII century BC, one of the first true cities of Sardinia (for some scholars, the first).
Chia belongs to the tourist town of Domus de Maria, famous for having 10km of coast 4 or 5 among the most beautiful beaches of the whole Sardinia, with Su Giudeu, Cala Cipolla and Tuerredda above all. There are many hotels, houses and villas for the holidays, and dozens tour operators offer excursions on sea and on land, and ever more Chia is a Do Not Miss destination for tourists in Sardinia.

Holidays in South Sardinia: Villasimius

One of the most popular holiday locations in Sardinia, as well as one of the most known, is certainly Villasimius. Located on the extreme south east point of the island, just ahead of Capo Carbonara, Villasimius presents a naturalistic and service offer really irresistible for tourists, with a fantastic sea, beaches of fine white sand for kilometres, a marine protected area, a town that in summer months, from June to September, has a very complete and attractive offer. Villasimius is a holidays destination suitable for families as well as for young people, although in recent years it has favored the holidaymakers in search of serenity and peace with a series of restrictions on closing hours which have aroused many doubts in tour operators. Not to be missed, returning from the beaches or the sea, the beach of Timi Ama and the beach of Porto Giunco. Villasimius has a tourist harbour where it is possible not only the rental of the dock for those arriving by boat and but also to rent RIBs to spend a splendid day in the area where it is possible to encounter rare fish species not suspicious to men. Fishing, of course, is forbidden and severely punished.

The North West of Sardinia: Stintino

Located in the extreme northwest tip of Sardinia, just in front of the island of Asinara is Stintino, a town that bases its economy on tourism thanks mainly to a spectacular marine environment.
It is in this town that lyes is one of the most beautiful beaches in absolute of Sardinia, the beach La Pelosa, an enchanting environment with low water for hundreds of meters sloping in different shades of blue to the island Piana, which raises between Sardinia and the island of Asinara.
Stintino is a fishing village that offers visitors many opportunities, from fishing boats that bring tourists off to fish and then cook the fish and return to port, restaurants, rental sailboats, hiking to the Asinara.
Stintino is a tourist essential location if you come on holiday in the north west of Sardinia.

Diving into the depths of Ogliastra

Ogliastrine coasts are rich in interesting sites for fans of diving with and without cylinder; sports called respectively Diving and Snorkelling (from "snorkel", the respirator tube that is used together with a mask).
Among the interesting "treasures", natural or otherwise, that can be admired in these depths, there are many varied species of fish, underwater caves, coral red benches, walls, dried, genuine archaeological sites and some wrecks now the habitat of fish and shellfish. The Italian merchant "Nasello", sunk during the Second World War, lying about 30 meters deep, facing the beach of Cala Luna, in the Gulf of Orosei. While in Portu Cuau thare is the wreck of the "Levante", merchant sunk in the '60s.
In Ogliastra there are several centres equipped for Diving: Cala Gonone, Orosei, Santa Maria Navarrese, Tortolì-Arbatax and Barisardo are some of localities where you can also do courses and obtain patents of various levels.
Finally, the neophytes are recommended to have caution even if they decide to immerse themselves with the help of a qualified instructor, and note that in all depths there is always the risk of dangerous bump into fishes such as Weevers, Redfish and Murene, all those can cause from a puncture to an extremely painful bite. Certainly less dangerous but equally important to avoid contact with are the jellyfish and wounds from sea urchins and corals.

Holidays in Villasimius

Villasimius is one most famous and beautiful tourist localities in Sardinia. Its beaches are well known for the beauty of the sea and the sand. The Timi Ama and Porto Giunco are probably the most crowded beaches as well as the most famous ones. In August, there are probably too many people but the other months you can enjoy a delightful spectacle. The sand is swept by the wind creating a corrugated effect.
Villasimius offers dozens of Hotels and Residences where to spend your holidays relaxing and having fun at the same time. In fact, there are many nightclubs where to spend the nights eating and dancing (The Peyote, The Fortesa). For those who prefer a house or villa, Villasimius offers hundreds of private apartments that can be rented. The most beautiful areas to rent a house in Villasimius are Cala Catarina and Notteri.
In Villasimius there is also a tourist harbour available for the mooring of your boat where you can also rent rafts for a trip to the islands. The island of Cavoli and Serpentara are worth spending in the rental of a boat. Indeed, since it was created the natural park of Villasimius the area has been repopulated by fish that can be admired by snorkeling or diving with an organized group or with one of the diving associations of Villasimius.

Capo Caccia, Alghero (SS)

At twenty km from Alghero (SS), in the north-west Sardinia, is Capo Caccia, an imposing limestone promontory of rocks and tall stacks up to 300 metres from where you can enjoy a unique and magnificent view to the Gulf of Alghero and the nearby island of Foradada.
Capo Caccia takes its name from the imposing huntings held in the surrounding territories, which often ended with the capture of abundant game. Today the whole area has fortunately been declared a protected zone with the purpose of protecting terrestrial and marine species that might have disappeared irretrievably. To protect the natural heritage of the promontory there are the Marine Protected Area Capo Caccia and Isola Piana, and the Park of Porto Conte, natural habitat of many unique species such as the griffin, or rare such as the Sardinian Pernice, peregrine falcon, the gull real and eagle of bonelli.
At the foot of the promontory are the caves of Neptune, discovered in the eighteenth century, famous for their length: over 2,500 metres of tunnels, galleries, wells, lakes and caves, a real goelogic jewel . Below sea level is instead the Cave of Nereus, named after the father of Nymphs Nereidi, who with its reputation as a more extensive underwater cave of the Mediterranean each year attracts many visitors.
The surrounding area also takes the name of Coral Riviera, because all the surrounding seabeds are rich in precious Corallium Rubrum, the famous red coral used in many jewels of Sardinian tradition, which is fished and worked by artisans of the area.

The North West of Sardinia: Alghero

One of the most fascinating areas for those who decide to spend their vacations in Sardinia is certainly the area of the north west, where there is Alghero, the Riviera del Corallo. Alghero, therefore, one of seven cities of Sardinia, is one of the first tourist places discovered in the'60s and'70s, is the queen city of tourism in Sardinia, with constant streams intensified thanks to the Low Cost companies, Ryan Air in particular. Sea, of course, local crafts with beautiful coral, food and wine with seafood specialties, lobster on everything, and DOC wines, with the cellars of Sella and Mosca and Santa Maria la Palma above all. Kilometres of beaches of fine white sand, crystal blue sea with shallow water suitable for children, many natural attractions such as the spectacular Grotte del Bue Marino, uncountable attractions for the evening and night, with the market by the sea, local pubs and discos. The city is suitable for families and young people.

Holidays to relax in Arbus

As I already had occasion to write, Sardinia is not only sea and beaches, and sometimes you feel the need for a vacation in the truest sense of the word. After months spent between work and commitments, we would like to spend some really relaxing and disintoxicating time. Sardinia has this as well, fortunately.
Today I would like to recommend this type of holiday in a Bed and Breakfast or a Farm House near Arbus, in the province of Medio-Campidano. Arbus is located at the foot of Mount Linas, to the west at about ten km from the sea, and covers a vast territory that includes tourist attractions of various kinds: maquis, mountainous landscape, of course very beautiful coastlines and the abandoned mines of Ingurtosu and Montevecchio. These last are wonderful locations turned into geomineral parks where it is possible to visit the old mining town, what is left of railway line used in the past to transport ore and then taken up to ships. Everything is bathed in a natural landscape in which peace reigns. For those who do not want to give up on the sea and managed to avoid the high season, the beaches of Capo Verde, the sand dunes of Piscinas, Scivu and Portu Maga.
See you!

Welcome Post

I open this new blog with the first welcome post.
The purpose of the blog is to talk about the tourist Sardinia, to mention not only its famous already known localities but above all to introduce all those places still unvisited but very interesting as well. Sardinia is not only crystal clear sea, there is too much history and culture to be discovered in this island at the centre of the Mediterranean.
This is the first post of a long series that I hope will convince you to visit Sardinia in your next holidays.
Greetings.