A picturesque village is the first star of the spring event. The colourful houses of Bosa cling to a hill dominated by the Malaspina Castle, reflected in the Temo. The walk along the river and the Ponte Vecchio leads you to discover the old tanneries. You will be welcomed by a glass of malvasia wine and impressed with coral jewellery, asphodel baskets and precious textiles. Bosa is a concentrate of history and craftsmanship, industrial archaeology and special treats. Do not miss the churches: the ‘cathedral’ of the Immacolata Concezione, Nostra Signora de sos Regnos Altos inside the castle, and san Pietro extra muros, at the centre of Bosa vetus. And then there is the natural beauty: the park of capo Marrargiu , the reserve of Badde Aggiosu and, on the coast, Bosa Marina, s’Abba Druche and Compoltitu.
Next, there are two extraordinary centres of worship. Galtellì is located at the foot of Mount Tuttavista, with the statue of Christ standing on its peak, a destination for pilgrimages. As you climb, you will come across the Preta Istampata, a rock with a 'window' overlooking the valley. The history of the village, an episcopal see until 1495, is a place of profound religious faith. You will walk along the streets where the stone houses are positioned around five churches. This setting inspired Nobel prize-winner Grazia Deledda: this bond is honoured by the parco letterario deleddiano, a literary park dedicated to Grazia Deledda. On the same weekend, Laconi is also on show. The village, set in the greenery next to the Sarcidano hills, revolves around Saint Ignatius. His house, the parish museum and the church named after him, are landmarks along the devotional trail. A visit to the island's main menhir complex, to the Menhir museum and to the Aymerich park will make your unforgettable weekend complete.
Two weekends spent in the heart of the Island. First the spectacular sight of Gavoi: the mountains covered in forests protect it, while Lake Gusana embraces it. Strolling amidst the granite houses, you can savour some Fiore Sardo cheese, bread and Fresa cheese, as well as some local pastries. You will be captivated by the balconies full of flowers, from which literary personalities and actors perform during the L'Isola delle Storie (Island of the Stories) festival. If you want to get to know the traditions, there is Casa Porcu Satta, with beautiful Gavoi gowns, toys from the past and musical instruments, like Su Tumbarinu. Then there is Oliena, where the essence and charm of the Barbagia region are still alive. Skillful artisans are the true richness of this location: they create silk shawls and filigree jewellery. Around it, there are mountains and valleys, like that of Lanaittu, a paradise for trekkers, in which there is the village of Tiscali and the grottoes of Sa Oche and Su Bentu. Another destination not to be missed is the Su Gologone spring, which is a national monument.
Aggius, deep in the Gallura region, will charm you with its stone houses, textile art and typical stazzi buildings around the residential area. It is famous for the village choir and the Holy Week rituals. Other things to be added to the picture are the Ethnografic Museum filled with history and traditions, the Museum of Banditry, which is one of a kind, and the Nuraghe Izzana, the biggest in Gallura. Then you go down through the Medio Campidano province, to Sardara, the border between the Giudicati of Arborea and Calari. A symbol from that period is the Castle of Monreale. The village is currently linked, as it was in ancient times, to the thermal springs, which the Romans called the Aquae Neapolitanae. You can relive ancestral Nuragic rituals in the sacred well at the Sanctuary of Sant'Anastasia, the artefacts from which are kept in Abbas Villa. The residential area with its Campidano houses, prestigious villas and churches of San Gregorio Magno and of the Beata Vergine Assunta are all very evocative.
Springtime grand finale in Castelsardo, the Asinara golfing centre: it is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy and has kept the noble status of fortified 'signoria' (seignory). In the Middle Ages it was an unassailable stronghold built around the Doria castle, where the Museum of Mediterranean Weaving is currently located, symbolizing the village's artisan vocation. The fortress was home to the bishops until the building of the Cathedral of Sant'Antonio Abate that stands out with its bell tower overlooking the sea and a majolica-tiled dome. There are numerous attractions: the megalithic rock faces of Mount Ossoni, the Elephant Rock, the 'red' cliffs and the beach of Lu Bagnu. The sea also comes to the table: lobster, spiny lobster, sea urchins and shellfish. During Holy Week, Spanish-style rituals take place, among which the Lunissanti.
