Sardinia

 A chance to time-travel over 300 years

Sardinia is a large island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, between the Balearic islands which include Majorca and Ibiza, and the Italian peninsula.  If ancient history and its appreciation number amongst your interests, then a holiday in Sardinia could be just the thing for you.

Sardinia is one of the oldest civilised places in the whole of Europe, with its ancient Nuragic civilisation dating back to 1500BC, far before that of Italy itself.  This beautiful Mediterranean island is also perfect for swimming, boating, hiking, climbing and camping, so if you’ve ticked off one or two of your hobbies from that list, a Sardinia holiday is ideal for you.

Your Sardinia holiday will most likely be centred in one of three areas, those being Cagliari, where one third of the whole island’s population lives, to the south, or Sassari and Olbia to the north.

There are also less tourist-based areas such as Alghero, Bosa, La Maddalena, Nuoro, Oristano and Porto Torres.  Most of the interior of the island is unpopulated and undeveloped aside from a handful of villages.  A holiday in Sardinia will see you enjoy a typically balmy Mediterranean climate, especially from mid-May to mid-October.  Beware though, Sardinia is prone to heavy rainfall, particularly in the late autumn, winter and early spring months,

Cagliari is the island’s capital city and has its own airport.  For a relaxing Sardinia holiday, you can spend as much time as you desire on the beautiful Poetto Beach, which stretches for nearly five miles.  Cagliari offers much in its picturesque old town which is built on a very steep hill.  Shopaholics can attend to their retail needs in the parts of the town called Via Alghero, Via Paoli and Via Dante.

A holiday in Sardinia must feature a sampling of Italy’s finest cuisine, and the old towns presents frequent opportunities to sample authentic pizzas, pasta and Sardinia’s famous seafood.

Sassari is Sardinia’s second-largest city and has a diverse heritage with both Spanish and Italian influences.  Founded in the early middle ages, Sassari has actually been inhabited since the New Stone Age and contains numerous important archaeological sites and ruins.  If you want on your Sardina holiday to travel further back in time than you’ve ever travelled before then Sassari should satisfy you.  There are also numerous museums and research centres.

For a gentler holiday in Sardinia Olbia makes a perfect tourist base.  Certainly less dense than either Cagliari or Sassari, Olbia is the only centre of population in its area and is reachable via ferry from mainland Italy.  It has a handful of excellent restaurants, hotels and bars.

Alghero is a historic old town with Catalan influences, so for something a little different when it comes to your Sardinia holiday you could set up in what is known as little Barcelona.  The atmospheric old town is home to many bars and cafés and the restaurants in Alghero are particularly known for their fine seafood.  Out of the city you’ll find the splendid beaches at La Pelosa and the charming little medieval town of Bosa.

A holiday in Sardinia definitely offers you something unique; a centuries-old island influenced by many civilisations, both ancient and contemporary.  Book your Sardinia holiday and experience everything that Italy has to offer in the highest terms.