What to see in Sardinia, useful information regarding the territory and the places to visit in this island region of Italy.
Tourist information
Autonomous region with special statute, Sardinia is made up of the homonymous island and numerous smaller islands including Asinara, La Maddalena, Caprera, San Pietro and Sant’Antioco.
It is washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Sardinian Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and the Bocche di Bonifacio that separate it from Corsica.
Its provinces are Cagliari, Nuoro, Oristano and Sassari.
Sardinia is the second largest island in Italy, after Sicily, with over one and a half million inhabitants.
It is separated from the peninsula by approximately 187 km of the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west, by the Tunisian coasts by approximately 184 km of sea called the Sardinian Channel in the south, by Corsica by approximately 11 km of sea consisting of the Bocche di Bonifacio in the north and the Iberian Peninsula by the Sardinian sea. West.
Most of the Sardinian territory is mountainous or hilly, including some characteristic rocky plateaus called jars, if composed of granite, and heels, if composed of sandstone or limestone.
At the center of this island is the Gennargentu Massif where Punta La Marmora stands out with its 1,834 meters above sea level.
Starting from the North are the Limbara Mountains, the Alà Mountains, the Rasu Mountain, the Albo Mountain and the Supramonte with the Corràsi di Oliena Mountain while the Linas and the Iglesiente Mountains to the south.
The largest plain is the Campidano, which divides the northern central ridges from the mountains of the Iglesiente.
In the north-western part going towards the city of Sassari is the Nurra plain.
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Given the predominantly mountainous nature of this island region, the rivers are generally torrential in nature, some of which are blocked by large dams which form artificial lakes, mainly used for irrigating fields and for the production of electricity.
Among these artificial lakes it is worth mentioning the basin of Lake Omodeo, which is the largest in Italy.
Following the Flumendosa, Coghinas and Posada basins.
The main rivers are the Tirso, the Flumendosa, the Coghinas, the Cedrino, the Temo.
Baratz Lake, located north of Alghero, is the only natural lake.
Its territory has a harsh and mountainous aspect, even if from the altitude point of view only 18% of its surface can be defined as a mountain, while 68% corresponds to a hill.
The reliefs are concentrated mainly in the eastern part of the island, where there are Mount Limbara (1359 meters), the Gocèano chain with Mount Rasu, (1259 meters), the Gennargentu massif, with La Marmora tip, which with its 1834 meters represents the largest peak in Sardinia.
In the western part of the territory rise Mount Linas (1236 meters), which rises in the center of the Iglesiente, and the Sulcis mountains.
The main plains of the island are that of Campidano, the largest, located in the south-western part, and that of Nurra, which is located in the north-west.
The beautiful Sardinian coast, which stretches for 1897 km, is mostly rocky, with high cliffs, small coves and large inlets with vast sandy expanses.
The most well-known coastline from a tourist point of view is the wonderful Costa Smeralda, located to the north, where the coastal stretch is more jagged, full of islets and inlets with sandy beaches.
Sardinia's climate is Mediterranean, with mitigating influences from the sea, noticeable in any location, although less pronounced in the inland areas of the island.
The rains are concentrated mainly between November and December, while in July and August it is very difficult for it to rain.
Sardinia is very interesting from a tourist point of view, as it has many of the characteristics preferred by vacationers, including a mild climate with little rainfall, concentrated mainly in the winter months, largely unspoiled landscapes, clean and crystal clear sea waters, places rich in history and archeology.
Renowned places also known internationally are Olbia, La Maddalena, Alghero, Porto Rotondo, Villasimius, Palau, Santa Teresa, Porto Cervo, Loiri Porto San Paolo, Pula, Sarroch, San Teodoro, Orosei, Dorgali, Stintino, Costa Smeralda.
The reception for tourists is wide with many tourist villages, cheap and luxury hotels, car and ferry rental services in Sardinia, holiday villages with entertainment, apartments per week, pension hotels, holiday homes and tourist information on where to go and how to do it .
What see
- The Gorroppu gorge, a deep and spectacular canyon located in the Supramonte.
- Gallura and the North-Eastern coast, which from Olbia leads to the Maddalena Archipelago.
- The town of Alghero with its monuments and its sea.
- Barbagie and Gennargentu are the vast mountainous region located in the center of Sardinia, considered the heart of the Sardinian tradition.
- The Iglesiente and Sulcis with the island of Sant’Antioco.
- Ogliastra is an area that extends between the peaks of the Gennargentu and the Tyrrhenian Sea, along the eastern side of Sardinia.
- Sinis and Montiferru, the Sinis peninsula on the north coast of the Gulf of Oristano.
- Villasimius and Sarrabus, in the south-eastern part of the island.
- The Dunes of Piscinas are an area of sandy dunes located in western Sardinia.
The journey with the Green Train through the lesser known places of Sardinia is very interesting.
The main coasts develop in the Gulf of Asinara to the north, Orosei to the east, Cagliari to the south and Oristano to the west.
The total length of the coasts, which for the most part to the north and east are high and rocky while to the south and west they are characterized by sandy beaches with the presence in some cases of dunes and marshy areas with ponds.
In the Sardinian coasts there are also numerous caves, with the presence of karst phenomena, and deep inlets typical of Gallura, a north-eastern region of Sardinia.
Sardinia is surrounded by many small islands including Asinara, San Pietro, Sant’Antioco, Tavolara island and the Maddalena archipelago, which includes the island of Caprera.
Another typical element that is part of the natural environment of the island are the caves including the Grotta di Nereo, located below the promontory of Capo Caccia where you can admire entire rock walls covered with red coral.
Other famous caves are that of the Bue Marino, in Cala Gonone, and that of Neptune in Alghero.
The regional capital is Cagliari while the other provinces are Carbonia-Iglesias, Medio Campidano, Nuoro, Ogliastra, Olbia-Tempio, Oristano and Sassari.
Much of the population lives in the province of Cagliari.
