SARDINIA: Italy’s Most Untouched Island.

The people, the nature and the food is what sets Sardinia apart from any other island in the world.

In D. H. Lawerence’s book “Sea and Sardinia” he is quoted as saying that “Sardinia is left outside of time and history”. His affirmation has a certain “poetic” truth, which captures the sensation that unites everyone who goes to Sardinia. It is the sensation of finding oneself in a region where the stunning beauty of nature, the genuine character of the people and the exquisiteness of their cuisine and ancient traditions will never change.
Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily and actually 10km closer to Africa than mainland Italy.

The natural beauty of this island is enough to take anyone’s breath away. From sand dunes and wheat fields to pine forests and lakes, the view is constantly changing and always inspiring.

The island is covered with hearty, green Mediterranean plants that dot the landscape with hundreds of colors throughout the year. The scent of the air on this island is recognizable with every return trip. Perhaps it comes from the ancient land of arid climate and salty waters or the infusion of fresh spring flowers, 100-year-old vineyards and 1000-year-old olive trees … the aroma that welcomes you is that distinguished smell of a magical island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.

Sardinia’s history is very ancient. Proof has been found of human life dating back to 250,000 BC. The most common artifact on the island was left by the Nuragic civilization. Over 7000 stone, tower like structures remain yet with no written record it is a mystery as to their significance. There are many hypotheses yet one thing is agreed upon; this civilization was astronomically and mathematically advanced. It is nothing short of a miracle that these towers still stand, 3500 years later. Many of these sites are visited annually by anthropologists, archeologists and tourists alike.
A report done by National Geographic deemed Sardinians as one of the top three populous of longevity in the world. Sharing household duties, eating pecorino cheese and drinking red wine in moderation were the explanations they gave. The red wine is like everything else on this island … hearty and pure and goes well with all meals.
The Sardinians are some of the most sincere people one will ever have a chance to encounter. They get such joy out of life, out of conversation, out of lending a helping hand, out of preparing food and certainly out of eating it. They hold very firmly to their traditions and beliefs but at the same time have a very open mind and heart to outside cultures and philosophies. They are curious but not invasive. It doesn’t matter where you are on the island. The island is full of authenticity. You feel it in the people, in the food, in their towns and throughout the islands beautiful sea and mountain landscapes.
One region in Sardinia of particular interest is Ogliastra. It forms central eastern coast and the interior mountains which is called Sopramonte. Here you witness gigantic, jagged limestone platforms in the sky that descend peacefully into the sea. From a deep navy blue to a clear soft turquoise there simply are not enough descriptive words of color to describe its hues, nor any another place in the world that can respectively compare. Over 1000 miles of coastline, the beaches create a pearl necklace encircling the island. From one beach to the next the change can be dramatic. From a fine, white sandy beach to a pink pebble beach, it’s a paradise no matter where you are.

One way to experience the best of Sardinia’s sea and land is a very unique trip of Trekking and Sailing. Offered by Island Spirit Adventures, you will spend one week sailing up the eastern coast of Sardinia with integrated days of hiking. Your Captain drops you off at one beach and accompanied by guides, you hike up into the mountains and down to the next beach. The beauty of these hikes is that their route is practically kept under lock and key by locals so it is very rare that you will encounter other people. The hikes can be quite rigorous but the views are breathless and if you like the sensation of being places where very few others have been, then you will quickly forget the climb! Plus, at the end, you are greeted with a dip in the sea and another “best meal I ever had” aboard your sailboat that awaits you. Each day is a new adventure; varied hikes, different ports or bays for mooring, and with a change in wind, you could find yourself at a local winery or cheese makers shop. You definitely have a cultural in with Island Spirit Adventures and one thing is certain. Your body is fully nourished each day with the freshest and finest Sardinian cuisine; seasonal fruits and vegetables, slow roasted pig or lamb, fish, pasta of regional flare and wine from the islands red cannonou grape or white vermintino to tie it all together.

Vacation in Sardinia can be as active and adventurous as your heart desires or you can fall into the pace of island life and do as the Sardinians do…eat, sleep, drink and be merry day after beautiful day!

WHEN TO GO:

May and June are fantastic months to go as the weather is not to hot and there are few to no tourists. September and October are good months as well. NOTE: Some services may be limited or even closed for the main tourist season is July and August. Prices for everything are high during these two months.

HOW TO GET TO SARDINIA:

Schedules for passenger ships vary according to season. However, there are daily routes year round departing from Genova, Livorno and Civitavecchia and arriving to either Cagliari and Olbia.

The two ship lines are called Moby and Tirrenia.
There are numerous flights each day from Rome and arriving to Cagliari and Olbia and Alghero. There are also numerous flights each day arriving from major European cities.

Alitalia and Meridiana are the Italian airlines.

Air One and Ryan Air are airlines with flights arriving to Sardinia from major European cities.
TRANSPORTATION WHILE IN SARDINIA:

The public transportation is poor at best. There are bus lines and a train track, but for efficiency it is recommended to rent a car or travel with a guided tour. Make reservations early especially if traveling in August as there are a limited number of rental vehicles available.

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