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Cliffs overlooking the sea, canyons, caves, waterfalls. The most famous Sardinian hiking itineraries stretch across several days of walking through inaccessible and deserted areas, often reserved for expert trekkers. EEA-classified trekking trails require the careful assessment of ability and physical condition, verification of weather conditions, adequate equipment and the possibility for communication. The marking and tracking of the trails are not always exact and is sometimes sketchy, so it is essential to be accompanied by guides. A challenging but unique hike passes through the peaks of the Gennargentu and reaches Punta La Marmora (1834 metres). The name is a tribute to the 19th-century Piedmont-born cartographer and general, who made maps and wrote scientific works dedicated to Sardinia. Walking on the Gennargentu, you can admire the landscape of the eastern coast and you might spot mouflons and golden eagles. An itinerary also starts in the deepest part of Ogliastra and moves towards the ‘rooftop’ of the Island: a four-hour walk that starts from the Nuragic village of Ruinas, in the territory of Arzana, climbs up to the Florisa, La Marmora and lastly the ‘della Croce’ peaks, which have always been a point of reference for hikers tackling the massif.

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.

Silence amplifies the sounds of nature. The breeze cools the rhythmic pace. Wonderful landscapes flow by on easy roads. The mild climate goes hand in hand with discovering lands rich in history and culture and getting to know the communities that inhabit them. Quality facilities welcome you at the end of a day of riding. Authentic and delicious dishes recharge you so you’re ready for the next day. Sardinia has all the elements that a cyclist looks for in a holiday. Routes of varying difficulty offer a wide range of choices, from beginners to experienced cyclists.

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.

Follow the path of the sun coast to coast, from the enchanting bays of the east coast to the unspoilt beaches of the Costa Verde in the Medio Campidano and the Sulcis-Iglesiente, passing through the charming green heart of Barbagia. At dawn, while the last stars are still shining, you can swim or canoe to meet the sun as it rises over the horizon of one of the endless jewels of the east coast, from Golfo Aranci to San Teodoro, from the Gulf of Orosei to Sarrabus.

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.