Site search

It is a technological jewel, constantly updated and essential for revealing the mysteries of space and allowing science to make important steps forward. The Sardinia Radio Telescope is a single-dish radio telescope, located in Pranu Sanguni, nine kilometres from the village of San Basilio and 40 km from Cagliari. The site, managed by the Cagliari Astronomical Observatory on behalf of the Italian Institute of Astrophysics, was inaugurated in 2013 and emerged as a research tool also available to the Italian Space Agency. Among the celestial objects that it is able to observe, there are galaxies, black holes, planetary nebulae, neutron stars and pulsars. You can admire a dish with a 64-metre diameter, composed of over a thousand aluminium panels that can move independently, thus allowing the antenna to adapt to the different focal positions of the receivers.

Not only physical elements: the telescope is also involved in the search for signals defined as non-natural, or coming from extraterrestrial sources. The Sardinia Radio Telescope is, in fact, involved in the SETI – Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence - project, through the Breakthrough Listen programme, along with other telescopes from around the world. Furthermore, through the Italian Space Agency, the San Basilio telescope also collaborates with NASA and will be able to provide its contribution to guaranteeing communications during the next missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as tracking satellites and monitoring space debris.

Today, the Sardinia Radio Telescope is the most powerful Italian radio telescope and one of the largest in Europe, as well as one of the most technologically advanced telescopes in the world. This is also thanks to its new ‘glasses’: in 2023, Mistral, a receiver with 415 detectors that operate simultaneously, was installed, allowing us to observe celestial phenomena such as galaxy clusters and gas filaments between clusters, consequently deepening our knowledge of the dark matter of the universe.

During a visit, which you can book through the Cagliari Astronomical Observatory website, researchers, technicians and communicators at the observatory will tell you about all the interesting facts and various aspects of the research project, before taking you for a walk to see the radio telescope up close, located at an altitude of 700 metres, and observe the sky, trying to imagine new and exciting astronomical discoveries.

It is one of the sources of pride in a city that, thanks to its artistic and cultural ferment, has earned itself the title of ‘Sardinian Athens’. The National Archaeological Museum of Nuoro, dedicated to the intellectual and political figure of Giorgio Asproni, is located in the historic centre of the main city of Barbagia, a stone’s throw from the Cathedral of Nostra Signora della Neve. The exhibition is located inside a historical 19th century neoclassical-style building that belonged to Asproni himself. It was inaugurated in 2002, but contains a collection with a decidedly older history: the collection dates back to the early 20th century, when Canon Mauro Sale entrusted the objects in his possession to the Municipality of Nuoro. Thanks to donations from private individuals and the activity of the Gruppo Grotte Nuorese, the ‘speleo-archaeological civic museum’ opened in 1978 and, after closure and integration of the collection following further excavation campaigns, led to the emergence of the present-day museum.

The exhibition maintains its dual archaeological and palaeontological nature: starting from the evidence of vertebrates from Monte Tuttavista in Galtellì and from Grotta Corbeddu in Oliena, you will find yourself travelling through time, with Palaeolithic and Neolithic artefacts, objects dating back to the Copper Age and a rich Nuragic collection, including artefacts from the sacred well of Su Tempiesu in Orune and from the village of sa Sedda 'e sos Carros in Oliena. Regarding the latter, you can admire the reconstruction of its spectacular circular well. There is no shortage of evidence from the Phoenician-Punic and Roman eras, with materials also recovered from the depths of the sea. The journey ends with the Middle Ages, represented by artefacts found in the Castello della Fava in Posada. One of the main attractions is the reconstruction of the tomb and of the funeral objects of Sisaia, a woman who lived in the early Bronze Age (2200-1800 BC) in the territory of Dorgali, famous as evidence of the most ancient cranial drilling achieved on the Island.

One of the fascinating features of Nuoro is its varied cultural attractions. Walking for a few hundred metres, you will reach the MAN – Museum of Art of the province of Nuoro. Inside, works by the greatest Sardinian artists, like Nivola, Lai, Delitala and Ciusa, coexist with contemporary trends. In the outskirts, there is the ethnographic museum, where you can gain a deeper knowledge of Sardinian material culture, with objects, masks, clothes, musical instruments and toys. A stop at the birthplace of the most famous Nuoro-born personality in the world, Grazia Deledda, is a must. It has now become the Grazia Deledda Museum. Lastly, the open-air museum in Piazza Satta, ‘created' by Costantino Nivola, is worth a visit.

The church, the enclosed courtyard and accommodation for the hermits - known as the ‘hermitage’- belonged to a monastic order, as confirmed by medieval sources, but it is not known with certainty which one. Furthermore, even the date engraved on an ashlar on the façade is the subject of debate. These two elements are enough to describe the aura of charm and mystery surrounding the church of Santa Maria di Cea, located in a valley six kilometres from Banari. The area was an important centre of wine production in Roman times, after which it was abandoned for ten centuries. In fact, sources mention the village of Seve and the priory of Santa Maria as existing in the 12th century. It was commonly thought that the convent belonged to the Vallombrosians; in reality, however, no medieval document mentions it among the estates of the Benedictine order. The association began to appear in the 16th century, when the monastery was joined to that of San Michele di Salvennor, coming back to life after centuries of abandonment.

One theory, supported by inscriptions and a tau symbol engraved on the façade, as well as documents from the 14th century, suggests that it belonged to a military-knightly order, that of the Knights Hospitaller of Altopascio. On the façade, there are three epigraphs that are difficult to interpret: one, in particular, shows a date, but the last two characters are quite unclear, making it difficult to read: it could be 1250, 1260 or 1261. The building style is Romanesque, constructed with limestone ashlars; the apse faces east and the façade is divided by a cornice. In line with the main portal, you will notice a window and the bell gable. On the north side, there is a second entrance, called the ‘holy door’, through which only the monks entered. It has is a single-nave layout with a trussed roof dating back to work carried out in 1973, perhaps respecting a previous model, although the idea that the church hall was originally barrel-vaulted cannot be ruled out.

The courtyard contains the remains of structures from the old monastery: traces of room perimeters, an oven to the north and, in the centre, the well, around which you will see sections of the original cobblestone flooring.

The feast of Santa Maria takes place around 8 September and lasts two days, with processions and celebrations in the churchyard. Another opportunity to visit Banari and taste its typical products is the renowned festival of the golden onion, in July.

With climbing opportunities available year-round thanks to the island’s pleasant climate that ensures optimal climbing conditions, Sardinia stands as an enticing destination for those seeking varied and breathtaking routes amidst its natural beauty. Providing unforgettable experiences, its diverse landscape offers a wide range of climbing walls, grades and styles suitable for individuals of all levels, whether you're just starting out on your climbing journey or you're an experienced climber ready to push your limits and showcase your skills in Sardinia. From the dramatic limestone crags of Cala Gonone and the mesmerizing granite spires of Nuoro, Sardinia really does have it all. Discover your next climbing adventure in Sardinia's diverse terrains!

Exploring Sardinia by mountain bike is an exceptional way to surround yourself by its wild nature. There are numerous cycling routes that cross its breathtaking coasts, as well as lesser-known corners of the hinterland. The island is famous for seaside tourism which is concentrated in the summer months, although spring and autumn are also magical periods for admiring its beautiful scenery with the sea view filling your eyes and your feet on the pedals. Even in winter it offers sunny days and mild temperatures, ideal for active holidays in the company of your bike.

Discover the mountain bike routes in Sardinia

• MTB excursion in Cardedu
• MTB excursion in Orosei
• MTB excursion: La Maddalena archipelago
• MTB excursion Pala di Monti and Rio Pitrisconi
• MTB excursion: the red river and Piscinas
• Visit Sardinia by bike

Sought-after because of its strategic position, it bears witness to the historical period of the Judicates and the Pisan and Aragonese dominations. It is one of the symbols of Olbia and, along with the Basilica of San Simplicio, one of its most important medieval monuments. The Castle of Pedres stands on the top of a granite rock about 140 metres above sea level, five kilometres south of the town in the Gallura region. According to fourteenth-century sources, downstream, a few hundred metres south of the castle, there was a village called Villa Pedresa, which has now disappeared. It is assumed that the manor house was built in the thirteenth century, during the ‘dominion’ of the Visconti of Pisa. Around the middle of the 14th century, it was entrusted to the hospital friars of San Giovanni di Gerusalemme and it then passed into the hands of the Aragonese. It was later abandoned starting from the next century.

To go up to the castle, you can follow a path with a flight of steps built in recent times, following a route that may have been used by soldiers during the Second World War. Halfway along the path, you will see the ruins of a small watchtower built in the same period as the castle. At the top, you can admire the remains of the fortress: the keep has a quadrangular layout, with two remaining floors - out of four original ones - and is about ten metres high. It also has an underground cistern. The ‘surviving’ corner is formed by two sides that belong to a second cistern and traces of two rectangular rooms. The castle was surrounded by a double wall: the first enclosed a fortified area, where the garrisons were probably located; the second protected the keep.

On the right, you will notice another building. It dates back to the Second World War and may have been an anti-aircraft post, a casemate or a storehouse. Thus, structures built six hundred years apart coexist on the top of the rock. You’ll take another big leap in time by walking three hundred metres to the west: here, you’ll find the fascinating Giants’ Tomb of su Mont’e s’Abe, built in two phases: during the first phase - dating back to the Early Bronze Age (1800-1600 BC) - the tomb was built with a gallery grave; later on, it was transformed into a Giants’ Tomb, with a semicircular exedra, a corridor and a burial chamber.

The archaeological heritage of Olbia, which also includes the nuraghe riu Mulinu, the sacred well of sa Testa and the Roman villa of s’Imbalconadu, as well as evidence that is still visible in the town, is ‘narrated’ in the Archaeological Museum, on a small island next to the port. Speaking of the sea, after visiting the town, you really must spend some time on the splendid beaches of the Olbia coast, overlooking the island of Tavolara.

The winds move fast in Sardinia, to the delight of those who go kitesurfing and those who enjoy the vision, from the beach, of these colourful kites that seem to dance on the water. The Island offers a variety of exceptional spots to satisfy the desire for adventure and adrenaline of all the kitesurfers on holiday. In fact, Sardinia is one of the best destinations in Italy for enjoying this sport all year round, thanks to its constant winds and ideal weather conditions.

Many people consider it one of the most beautiful military works of 19th century Europe. It defended a sea, crossed by Napoleon, Admiral Nelson and Domenico Millelire almost a century earlier, and today it tells its story and offers an enchanting view of the Maddalena Archipelago National Park. The military fortress of Monte Altura stands in Palau, on the hill of the same name to the west of the residential area, a few steps away from the picturesque village of Porto Rafael. It was part of a complex of three military structures, along with the fortresses of Capo d’Orso and Barragge. It was built in record time, in just two years, between 1887 and 1889, using locally-extracted granite stone. This choice had two advantages: faster construction times and, above all, a ‘camouflage’ effect: the buildings in the complex seem to blend into the rocks of the hill.

The three fortresses dominated a strategic space, seriously at risk in the event of a conflict between the European powers. The territory was monitored 360° up to the coast of Arzachena to the east and Corsica to the north-west. In particular, Monte Altura had an anti-ship defence function, equipped with armaments that were cutting-edge at that time. The complex is surrounded by a series of bastions that stand on the granite ridges. After crossing a path surrounded by fragrant Mediterranean scrub, you will pass the entrance once delimited by a wooden door - now made of iron - and you will then see the buildings that survived naval battles, two world wars and decades of abandonment. Fortunately, Monte Altura was never bombed. Lodgings, warehouses, depots, washhouses, a munitions depot and the monumental ramp that leads to the shooting range seem suspended in time, as if they were ready to return to service at any time. The fortress has two levels, connected by a staircase: the upper level contained the armaments, while the other structures found a place on the lower level. The battery of Capo d'Orso, located near the famous rock, defended the port of La Maddalena during the Second World War, but was unable to prevent the tragic sinking of the cruiser Trieste in April 1943. The fortress of Baragge, on the other hand, is located halfway between the other two, overlooking the present-day town of Palau. Also built on two levels, it is now covered in vegetation.

After your journey through history, you won’t be able to resist discovering the jewels of the Palau coastal area: the city beaches of Palau Vecchio, Porto Faro and Spiaggia dell’Isolotto. To the west, beyond the captivating stretch of sand of La Sciumara, the ‘intimate’ beach of Nelson and the little white houses nestled in the greenery of Rafael await you.

In their stories, many make you perceive it as if it goes beyond time and space. Sardinia has given, and continues to give, ideas and settings for engaging events. Myths, legends and traditions cross paths with history and current events. Sometimes in well-defined places, often in imaginary villages, even if easily traceable to real locations. Sergio Atzeni, Giuseppe Dessì, Michela Murgia, Salvatore Satta, Grazia Deledda and Enrico Costa act as guides on this itinerary, with their words immortalised in the Sardinian literary classics.