Site search

The island is an infinite world to explore on a hike. Through the Rete Escursionistica della Sardegna (Sardinia Hiking Network - RES), you can explore the island with routes suitable for everyone, from beginners to experts. It is important to stay alert at all times, even when the route seems easy. At the end of the day your effort will be rewarded with unforgettable experiences. Towns and hinterlands offer the first insights into flora, fauna and history: Monte Urpinu, Botanical Garden, Molentargius-Saline Park and Sella del Diavolo (the ‘Devil’s Saddle’) in Cagliari, Mount Ortobene in Nuoro, in particular the stretch from the Chiesa della Solitudine church to the statue of the Redeemer, Monserrato Park in Sassari, the tour of the springs in Tempio Pausania and Aymerich Park in Laconi (with its medieval castle). From here, it is only a few steps into the Funtanamela forest. 500 hectares of holm oaks and Mediterranean maquis, a habitat for Sardinian deer and wild Sarcidano horses, along routes that follow the ancient herding routes between Barbagia and Campidano.

Sardinian cuisine reflects thousands of years of stratified culture, with added value brought by the extensive production of traditional desserts. The names, shapes and details of the recipes vary depending on the territories, but the basic ingredients are identical, simple and aromatic. The result is a variety of delicacies, like the famous seada or sebada, made of two disks of pastry, one on top of the other, with a tangy, stringy cheese filling, flavoured with lemon or orange peel. After frying in boiling oil, it is drizzled with honey, preferably strawberry tree honey, and served hot and crispy. Its origins are in the agro-pastoral culture of Barbagia, when the shepherds returned home after the transhumance, welcomed by the warmth of the family. The biscuits of Fonni, similar to sponge fingers but softer and flavoured with lemon or vanilla, are perfect for every occasion. In the Campidano area, the pastries are known as pistoccus. They are made from eggs, sugar and flour. The is pistoccheddus grussus are dry, light, crumbly biscuits and are ideal for breakfast. They come from the villages around Monte Linas, where they are called gallettinas. For an afternoon snack, there’s nothing better than a ricotta cake or an ancient dessert known as su papai biancu, already made in the Middle Ages in Cagliari: a milk pudding sweetened with almonds and lemon.

It is no coincidence that in Sardinia the thermal waters, filtered by ancient volcanic rocks and heated by the effect of the geothermal gradient, flow near domus de Janas and nuragic sites. In fact, it can be said with relative certainty that the benefits of their saline-bromine-iodine or sulphurous composition have been well known since prehistoric times. These characteristics did not escape the notice of the Roman colonisers, who identified areas on sites already known in the Nuragic age where thermal baths could be built, which have survived to the present day. Even then, the 'patricians' benefited from curative and aesthetic treatments in unique surroundings. Today you can enjoy them in modern and cosy facilities, perfect for relaxation, wellness and pampering.

A sense of freedom, a rhythmic and relaxing pace, silence broken only by the sound of the wheels. A ‘sweet’ journey to discover the enchanting scenery of an ancient land, partly unspoiled, sometimes harsh and wild. You can circumnavigate over one third of the western and southern coast of Sardinia, from Alghero to Cagliari, on your bike. The almost 400 kilometres take you through places rich in traditions, with a legacy of the past, places where you can combine your passion for cycling with a ‘thirst’ for cultural enrichment. Away from traffic and noise, you will cycle along safe roads, mostly provincial, municipal and urban secondary roads, as well as sections of state roads and cycle paths, rich in places of interest as well as natural and cultural attractions.

It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best". Ernest Hemingway loved travelling on two wheels, the sense of freedom, the rhythmic pace, exploring new lands. He would probably have enjoyed cycling through Sardinia amidst enchanting scenery, comforted by a mild climate, away from traffic, on safe, sometimes deserted roads, in close contact with the local area and its communities. Cycling is the means and common thread for discovering an authentic, ancient and sometimes unspoilt land.

Magnificence, shared memory, authenticity and a sense of community: this is the most encompassing effort to safeguard, enhance and promote the cultural heritage of Sardinia. Over the next seven weekends, the 22^nd edition of Monumenti Aperti (Open Monuments) – a candidate for the 2018 Europa Nostra award, a European Union award for cultural legacy – will shine a special light on the island’s architectural, historical and natural heritage: some 800 places of extraordinary cultural value that include the museums and archaeological sites, churches and historical buildings, natural monuments and parks of 59 municipalities all over Sardinia, seven of which are new to the movement. Each town will tells its tale through literary itineraries, architecture routes in cities that have been marked by centuries of powerful rulers, and journeys into the dawn of time among the remains of ancient civilizations. As you follow the route, some 18,000 volunteers – many of whom are school children of a variety of ages - will narrate the stories that marked the history and culture of their town.

Granite coves shaped over time by the weather, arches of sand resembling amphitheatres, halls set between the walls of white limestone rocks or red porphyry, squares in evocative villages, archaeological sites and even marine grottoes. Views of nature, often referring to ancestral times, become stages and come to life with the musical scores of famous performers from all over the world. From mid-July to mid-August, jazz, blues, soul, rock, pop and light music concerts take place: Jazz in Sardinia in Cagliari, the Dromos festival in the Oristano area, Abbabula with events in the Pre-Nuragic ziqqurat at the Mount of Accoddi (Sassari) and events in the Parco dei Suoni, in Riola Sardo, a unique setting surrounded by sandstone coves, a short distance from the site of the Giants of Mont'e Prama. Here, the acoustics and the natural 'stage' seem to have been especially designed for music. Then there are other events taking place in the Sinis Peninsula, at Cabras: exclusive locations like the amphitheatre of the ancient town of Tharros and the beach of Is Arutas with its grains of quartz.

It takes its name from the mighty, tall tower of Piscinnì, which can be reached by a pathway and was probably built between the 16th and 17th centuries by the Spanish. It stands on a promontory, dominating the wild and striking panorama of beach and Mediterranean vegetation all around. Although the beach is part of the municipality of Domus de Maria, it is set between the earthly paradise of Tuerredda and the stupendous coves of Cape Malfatano, two of Teulada's most splendid and famous treasures, in a stretch of coast defined as a rias due to the rapid evolution from one landscape to another, from fine, very clear sand to towering cliffs of clay and granite. In practice, it represents the 'other sea' of Domus, famous for the countless enchanting beaches of Chia, 16 kilometres away from Piscinnì on the scenic panoramic road of the Costa del Sud, which is often the scene of car manufacturer commercials and which the historic car magazine 'Quattroruote' ranks as the fourth most beautiful road in Italy. It is ten kilometres from the town.

The vast sandy beach is white and soft and plunges into wonderful crystal-clear waters in shades of green and turquoise. The sandy seabed with a few rocks slopes gently down to the sea. The sea is constantly whipped by the wind, a popular destination for surfers and kite surfers and also popular with anglers and divers. In addition to the path leading up to the tower - built with limestone and granite rocks at the behest of merchant Pietro Porta - there are other footpaths leading to two beautiful, secluded coves, called Porto and Torre Piscinnì, which complete the enchanting bay. Behind the coastline, you will see the large Piscinnì pond, which recedes in summer, and is rich in plant varieties and now a site of Community interest. As this is a livestock farming area, it is common, especially in the low season, to encounter grazing cows or goats 'relaxing' between the pond and the beach.

Natural beauty, environmental wealth and history, too. In Punic and Roman times, the low cliffs bordering the beach to the east and the area around the tower cove were intensively mined for sandstone blocks to be used in the construction of buildings. The coastline still bears clear traces of the period: you will be able to spot the 'artificial' squared shapes of the rock and the flat surfaces of the cliffs, which were respectively excavation fronts and quarry floors two thousand and 500 years ago.

Beyond the confines of the bay you will return to the territory of Teulada and can enjoy, further north, two more splendid beaches set in the a rias stretch of coastline: Campionna, with pebbles mixed with rocks, whose name derives from the small island in front of it that can be reached by sea; and sa Canna, which takes its name from the abundance of fish in its seabed, made up of rocks of various sizes.

Four festivals in the lesser islands of Sardinia, islands in the Island. Tavolara, a limestone mountain that emerges from the sea, in mid-July turns into an immense cinema with a starry vault of Una Notte in Italia. Established in 1991 to focus on filmmaking and creativity in Italian cinema, it is now a traditional event at national level. Meeting and interaction between the public, artists and experts already starts on board the boats that reach the island leaving from Porto San Paolo near San Teodoro and a little south of Olbia, that is, the three Municipalities involved in the 29th edition. In almost thirty years, the best Italian actors have walked on this unique red carpet surrounded by the waters of the spectacular marine reserve of Tavolara-Capo Coda Cavallo. Una Notte in Italia 2019 is a travelling edition: it start on Tuesday 16 July in the nature reserve of San Teodoro lagoon, then it move to Porto San Paolo on Thursday 18 and then from Friday 19 the screenings are held in the enchanting setting of the island of Tavolara.