Sardinia Holiday Villas and Travel Guide
Sardinia is a quintessential Mediterranean beauty boasting a stunning coast with plunging valleys, mountain ranges and forested slopes. Only a few miles by ferry from mainland Italy, it can still seem a world apart.
The coastal areas of Sardinia promise great outdoor activities including swimming, boating, windsurfing, hiking, climbing, and camping. Move away from the coastal areas and you will come across a landscape liberally sprinkled with the island’s extraordinary history: conical stone fortresses that predate the arrival of Romans by more than 1000 years, curious temples, giant tombs, and remains of entire Bronze Age villages. The north-western part of the island is dotted with Pisan-Romanesque churches while Cagliari and Alghero retain their Spanish feel.
Accommodation in Sardinia
With the sun shining year round, there is no better excuse for renting private vacation villas in Sardinia whenever you need to escape the hectic urban routine. Whether you are looking for a romantic holiday or a fun-packed family vacation, you’ll find a wide range of villas, farmhouses, condos and cottages in Sardinia that enjoy serene seclusion but are within easy distance of the facilities and amenities you could need for a self catering holiday.
Activities and sightseeing in Sardinia
Sea:
Sailing is a popular activity on the island, particularly in the Costa Smeralda area and so don’t miss this opportunity if you like to sail.
Islands:
Check out the Asinara National Park and the Maddalena archipelago in the north, the islands of San Pietro and Sant'Antioco in the south.
Beaches and coasts:
The north and northeast coast boasts many beautiful beaches. Alghero area is famous for its underwater caves and grottoes and is a magnet for the scuba divers. The Eastern coast has some interesting beaches including Cala Gonone, Arbatax, Muravera and Villasimius. The west is characterized by large beaches some kilometres long. Piscinas (Marina di Arbus) with its 60 m-tall sand dunes, is well worth a mention.
Hills and mountains:
The Domusnovas area (close to Iglesias), with its vertical walls of limestone is popular with the mountain climbers. There are large caves to be found in areas like Dorgali, Santadi, Oliena, Domusnovas, and Alghero.
Monuments and sites:
Some of the best monuments and sites are to be found in Cagliari, Oristano, Olbia, and Nuoro. Check out the Amphitheatre in Cagliari, the Antas site in Fluminimaggiore and the well-preserved Castello di Acquafredda near Siliqua. There are several museums of interest including the Museo sardo di antropologia ed etnografia and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Cagliari.
Eating out in Sardinia
The traditions and habits for eating out are very strong in Sardinia. Be aware that you are unlikely to get anything to eat in restaurants between 4 to 7 pm except in the tourist-friendly areas. Most restaurants don’t serve pizzas before 7 pm. There are a number of pizzerias serving fresh, stone oven baked authentic style pizzas as well as pasta dishes. Besides pizzas, you can try out the following:
Culurgiones: These are similar to Ravioli with a filling of potatoes, 'Pecorino' cheese, egg, onion, mint and garlic.
Malloreddus: A type of gnocchi, these are served al dente with a tomato, meat or cheese sauce.
Porcheddu: A young pig roasted in a special manner over a wood fire with an aromatic local shrub called mirto.
Stufato di capretto: A rich casserole made from kid goat, artichokes, wine and egg.
Nightlife in Sardinia
The nightlife in Sardinia is extremely laidback though you can find plenty of action in the touristy areas. Alghero and Cagliari have lively places for late-night drinking and dancing. The island promises interesting festivals such as the Festa della Birra in San Pantaleo or the Festival Algher featuring jazz, musical concerts and plays in Alghero that can keep you out all night.
Golfing in Sardinia
There are three golf courses that are particularly renowned: Pevero Golf Club in Costa Smeralda, Golf Hotel Is Molas in Pula, and the 18 hole course Golf Club Is Arenas.