Sardinia is not the first place you’d think of when looking to go on holiday, however if you’re looking for something different from the normal beach holiday in the sun, then look no further than the Mediterranean Island of Sardinia.
You’ll find untouched beautiful landscape and stunning scenery combined with plenty of things to do which make holidays to Sardinia different from any other you’ve been on.
Firstly, rather than booking a hotel, why not stay on an Agriturismo farm or in a log cabin?
An Agriturismo farm is ideal if you want to immerse yourself in true Sardinian culture – you’ll live with a Sardinian family who will put you up in their home, usually on a farm.
You may be asked to help out with some of the daily tasks as part of your stay, however you’ll be away from the city; and if you’re lucky you may get away with just putting your feet up for a few days, as you’re still paying for your accommodation. Most farms offer activities to pass the time, such as cookery classes, wine tasting, tours of the local area or horse riding tuition.
You’ll experience the Sardinian way of life, and be treated to some local cuisine, at a much lower cost than if you stayed in a hotel in Calgiari.
Alternatively, you could hire a log cabin on a campsite. Again, cheaper than a hotel, but located in the middle of the countryside where you can soak up the sun in the summer when temperatures top 30°c. Some log cabins have their own swimming pool for you to cool down in, or there may be communal pools in the camping village.
Things to do
Unless you’re planning on doing literally nothing for the duration of your stay, you’ll want something to do, so read on and discover what Sardinia has to offer.
Visit Calgiari
See the Nuraghe of Sardinia – the village of Barumini is home to a megalithic monument (called Nuraghe) built over 3000 years ago that is currently on the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are over 8000 nuraghes still standing in Sardinia, some of which have been excavated and been made open to the public. Dotted all around the island; you shouldn’t have to look too far to spot one of these historic structures.
Check out Arcipelago di La Maddalena National Park – situated off the coast of Sardinia, there are many small islands in La Maddalena National Park which can be explored by boat tours starting from the small nearby town of Palau. You may even catch a glimpse of dolphins swimming in the area so remember to take a camera.
Visit Costa Smeralda – a luxury tourist destination featuring amazing beaches, Costa Smeralda is a hangout for the rich, with many yachts and boats on display in the harbor in Porto Cervo. There’s plenty to do along the coast, mainly water sports such as sailing, windsurfing and scuba diving.
Head to Alghero – one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island, Alghero is an historic town with many bars and restaurants, and immaculate white beaches. If you like outdoor activities, Alghero should be on your list of places to visit, with caving, climbing/hiking and mountain biking trails all on offer. The most famous sight in Alghero is Neptune’s Grotto, a cave in the sea, with boat trips available to tour the cave. Neptune’s Grotto is also an ideal location for scuba divers, with many underwater caves also nearby.
The lakes and lagoons of Sardinia – Sardinia has many lagoons and lakes, including Santa Gilla and Cabras lagoons; home to pink flamingos. For a day away from sightseeing, head to Lake Gusana, where you can hire a boat out on the lake, or go kayaking if you don’t mind getting wet.
Sardinia’s events and festivals: throughout the calendar year there are many different festivals on, the majority of which are celebrating the rich history of Sardinia:
April:
San Giorgio festival (St George’s Day) in Bonnanro, Bitti and Onifai is celebrated with a horse led procession through the centre of the town.
Sardinia Day – April 28th: The National Day of Sardinia, commemorating the Island’s release from Piedmont ruling, is celebrated with processions, parades and firework displays.
May:
Sant’ Efisio Festival – Similar to most celebrations in Sardinia; a huge procession is led through the center of Calgiari, carrying an effigy of Sant’Efisio, while locals play a Sardinian wind instrument called a “launeddas”. The reason behind the festival is that in the 17th century, thousands of people died during a plague, and the town prayed to Sant’Efisio to save the people of Calgiari.
Cavalcata Sarda – Usually the third Sunday in May, Cavalcata Sarda is another festival and parade, featuring over 3000 horses, horse races, dancers and musicians.
June
St John the Baptist Day – June 24th: Similar to Cavalcata Sarda, the celebrations feature horses, dancers, poetry competitions, musical performances and a huge fireworks display.
July
S’Ardia horse race – A 2 day festival in honor of the patron saint of Sedilo, St Constantine. The main spectacle is a horse race, where the best rider of Sedilo is chased around the course by 100 other horse riders.
August
The Archer’s Tournament – 24 archers take part in a medieval style competition, followed by a medieval parade.
Fireworks and fried fish – on August 14th in Alghero, at the port on Busquet walkway, a fireworks display is put on for spectators, while there are stalls selling various different fried fish dishes.
September
The Shoeless Men Run – a large battle is re-enacted to depict the fight between locals and the Saracens.
The festival of Sant Miquel – September 26th, celebrating the patron saint of Alghero in true Sardinian style, with parades, musical performances and a fireworks display.
October
Sagra della Castagna – The chestnut fair held in late October. The event includes wine tasting, food stalls and as always, a parade.
November
Mountain Products Agricultural Fair – celebrating the Island’s arts and crafts, the fair shows off paintings, exhibitions and musical performances by locals.
Try some of the local food
You can’t go on holiday and spend your time eating the same boring meals you’d have at home, so why not sample some of the local dishes such as:
• Porcheddu – roasted pig cooked on a wood fire
• Malloreddus – gnocchi served in a meat sauce with either cheese or tomato
• Stufato di capretto – a goat’s cheese casserole served with eggs and artichokes.
• Culurgiones – onion, egg and garlic ravioli, served with potatos.
• Ostrich – the meat is supplied by two local ostrich farms on the Island, and is prepared as a speciality.
Finally
Not everyone on the Island will speak English, especially the further in land you go, so you’d do yourself no harm to learn some Italian phrases. In some towns, people speak Catalan and French, so you may be able to get by using either of these languages.