Island of Sardinia

Sardinia is an island part of the Italian Republic. The island is located in the center of the western Mediterranean Sea, about equidistant from the coasts of Europe and Africa. Amazing natural landscapes, many monuments of ancient civilizations, medieval architecture of cities, modern sea and thermal resorts attract millions of tourists to Sardinia every year.

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Video: Sardinia

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Colors of Sardinia

Sardinia is not quite Italy, and in many ways not Italy at all. It is no coincidence that in the modern administrative hierarchy of the Italian Republic the island occupies the position of autonomy with a special status, which guarantees a certain independence of the local administration, as well as the protection of the cultural peculiarities of the islanders and the local language, because many inhabitants of the island in everyday life communicate in the Sardinian language. Autonomous Sardinia has its own attributes of identity: anthem, flag and coat of arms, whose heraldry dates back to the Middle Ages.

The subsoil of Sardinia is rich in deposits of coal, precious metals, the mountains store scatterings of gems, the forests are full of game, rivers irrigate the fertile lands of the valleys. The excellent climate, the purity of the environment has earned Sardinia the fame of the land of the long-lived.

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The island is divided into four provinces, with a separate metropolitan area (metropolis) of Cagliari. The capital and the provinces attract tourists with medieval towns with knights’ castles and royal palaces, monuments of antiquity and buildings of even more ancient times.

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Vast territories of Sardinia have the status of national parks and nature reserves. The island has many natural attractions. Among them – wonderful natural sculptures created by the erosion of rocks, caves and grottos. Italians consider the best in the country well-groomed beaches of Sardinia with their snow-white, golden or pink sand. But there are also many wild, secluded beach corners, which can be reached only by water.

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At the service of travelers here is created a modern infrastructure – in excellent condition are local roads, in cities and resorts built thousands of hotels and restaurants, equipped with hundreds of kilometers of beaches. International airports connect Sardinia with the whole world, and seaports receive cruise liners, passenger ferries from continental Italy and other Mediterranean countries. The warm climate allows for a good vacation and sightseeing in Sardinia at any time of the year.

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History

The earliest artifacts indicating human habitation in Sardinia date back to the Paleolithic period. Radiocarbon analysis of campfires found in the island’s karst caves showed that fires were already being made here about 100,000 years ago. This dating indirectly indicates that the first inhabitants of Sardinia were already able to build boats on which they sailed to the island through the straits of the sea.

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Deposits of obsidian, a volcanic glass, are found on the slopes of the mountains. Primitive people of the Paleolithic era made sharp arrowheads, axes, knives and other tools from it. The heyday of a distinctive civilization formed in Sardinia, falls at the end of III – early II millennia BC.

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By a happy whim of nature, Sardinia has been free of destructive earthquakes for many thousands of years. This geological stability of the earth’s firmament has contributed to the preservation of structures erected in ancient times, which today are the main attractions of the island. The whole territory of Sardinia is literally dotted with ancient stone structures, created by the inhabitants of the island in the Bronze Age – about 4 thousand years ago. They were called nuraghi. The last nurag was built in the IX century BC. Such stone castles European knights began to build only a thousand years later. Historians argue about the purpose of the nurag to this day. Some consider them defensive structures, others – temple complexes. A version of using the towers as astronomical observatories is being considered. These unique structures are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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Builders of the Nuragic civilization erected other structures that cause amazement and gave rise to many legends. Among them are colossal underground crypts made of multi-ton stone slabs. The length of these tombs is up to 30 meters. For the incredible size of the crypts are called the Tombs of Giants. According to legend, they were once buried Cyclops, but no remains of the Sardinian giants have not yet been found.

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From about the 10th century BC, colonies of Phoenicians and then Greeks began to appear in Sardinia. Evidence of fierce resistance to the expansion of foreigners on the part of the locals has survived, the Sardinians for centuries waged guerrilla warfare against the invaders. After the victory over Carthage and the defeat of this maritime empire, Sardinia was colonized by the Romans. That period is marked by grandiose buildings. Remains of Roman fortresses, aqueducts and civic buildings are scattered all over the island. Several well-preserved amphitheaters still host theatrical performances, shows, and festivals.

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During the Middle Ages, the island was ruled by the kings of Aragon, at which time it became known as the Kingdom of Sardinia. Later, the island belonged to the Spanish crown, but Spanish domination of Sicily ended in the early 18th century after the death of the childless King Charles II of Spain. In 1720, at the end of the conflict between European monarchs over the Spanish succession, the Kingdom of Sardinia, which also included a number of continental territories, was taken over by the Savoy dynasty. In the 19th century, as a result of the war of liberation led by General Garibaldi, the island of Sardinia became part of a united Italy.

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Although the beauty of Sardinia was described by enchanted European travelers and writers in the century before last, the tourist boom began here only after World War II, in the 50s of the last century. And since the 90s, vacation on the island has become especially popular, thanks to the emergence of a new air service – low-cost, allowing short-term budget travel. More than 10 million tourists visit Sardinia every year.

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Culture and traditions

There are many festivals held in Sardinia throughout the year. On the penultimate Monday of September, the whole island celebrates Santa Maria de Aquas day. The center of the festivities, lasting four days, is at the thermal resort of Sardara, where tens of thousands of Sardinians come. At the beginning of May is held Sa Festa de Pastoris, a colorful festival of shepherds. In June the feast of St. Anthony of Padua is celebrated, and in mid-August the island hosts celebrations dedicated to the Blessed Virgin of Assunto, the patron saint of the villages.

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Each town and village hosts regional festivals dedicated to patron saints, national heroes, historical events, and the day of the town’s foundation. For example, on May 1, Cagliari celebrates the day of St. Efisius. Tens of thousands of citizens put on national costumes and head on a 40-kilometer journey to the city of Nora, where the saint was executed by the Romans. The column stretches all along the road, joined by more fellow travelers along the way. It is the longest religious procession in Italy.

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Among the people of the mountainous regions of Sardinia, the art of mastering an ancient form of musical polyphony known as cantu tenor has been passed down from generation to generation. Singers produce guttural sounds reminiscent of the throat singing of the indigenous peoples of Tuva, located in Eastern Siberia. This song tradition can be encountered, for example, in the mountain villages of the eastern regions of Sardinia. Another national style of choral singing, cantu tsuncordu, is similar to the liturgical music of Catholic Christians.

The national musical instrument of the Sardinians is the flute launeddas (launeddas). It consists of three reed tubes of different lengths and thicknesses, bound together with beeswax. The tubes have holes drilled in them at a certain distance. The instrument allows musicians to create vast variations of sounds. No folk festival or ceremonial rite of the indigenous islanders can do without this music. The antiquity of the instrument is evidenced by a bronze statuette of a flutist made 4,700 years ago, it was found near the town of Ittiri in southwestern Sardinia.

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Since ancient times, the island of Sant’Antioco off the southwestern coast of Sardinia has produced an amazing fabric known as bissus or linen, a completely unique fine cloth resembling Chinese silk. The fabric is made from golden protein threads produced by certain marine mollusks (Latin name Pinna nobilis). The strands of threads, initially sticky and then hardening in water, serve as strong anchors for attaching the mollusk to underwater rocks. A single clam produces only about 1.5 grams of filaments several centimeters long. In ancient times, the almost weightless and extremely expensive bissus linen was used to weave clothing for the upper classes, from the patricians to the emperors of Rome. Golden threads were also used for precious embroidery. The oldest find of a fragment of a bissus garment in Sardinia dates back to the 4th century B.C.

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Today, only a few Sardinian women have mastered the labor-intensive art of making such an ultra-fine fabric. For example, a pair of women’s stockings from it can easily fit into a matchbox, a walnut shell can serve as a case for gloves. Clothes made of “sea silk” are fabulously expensive. With samples of this ancient craft can be found in the museums of the municipality of Calasetto, in the province of South Sardinia.

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Sardinian cultural phenomena also include the incredible number of long-lived people, especially in the mountainous regions of the island. Scientists attribute this fact to the favorable climate, cleanliness of the environment, local food, industriousness of the islanders. A hundred-year birthday is not an uncommon event here, and some long-livers set absolutely incredible records. On July 6, 2018, Sardinia said goodbye to the resident of La Maddalena, the patriarch of a large family, Giuseppina Projetto, who passed away at the age of 116. Sardinia ranks first in the world for the enviable number of residents who have crossed the century mark, sharing it with the Japanese island of Hokkaido.

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Geography and landscape

In the ranking of the largest islands in the Mediterranean, Sardinia ranks second, only slightly behind Sicily in terms of area. However, due to the rugged coastline with many capes, bays and coves, Sardinia’s coastline is larger than Sicily’s, totaling 1,849 kilometers.

The population of the island is 1.66 million. The capital of Sardinia is the ancient city of Cagliari.

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Like the arrow of a giant compass, Sardinia stretches 270 km from north to south in the Mediterranean Sea, the island is 145 km wide and has a total area of 24,100 km². To the north, across the 20-kilometer-long Strait of Bonifacio, lies the French island of Corsica. To the south of the island stretches the coast of North Africa (Tunisia). The nearest land to the west is the Balearic Islands (Spain). The Tyrrhenian Sea (188 km) separates the eastern shores of Sardinia from the coast of the Apennine Peninsula, where continental Italy is located.

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According to geologists, the relict rocks of Sardinia are among the oldest in Europe. The period of tectonic activity in the area of the island stopped hundreds of thousands of years ago, the local volcanoes died out before the first humans appeared on Earth. Unlike rather close Sicily with its active volcano Etna, Sardinia very rarely experiences earthquakes.

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Sardinia has such different landscapes and biodiversity that geographers have coined a special definition for the island: a microcontinent. Mountains, forests, rivers, fertile plains, deserted rocky sea coasts cut by bays, sandy beaches have different but harmoniously coexisting ecosystems. A car here can serve as a kind of time machine: leaving a crowded modern city, in a quarter of an hour you can find yourself in the middle of an area untouched by civilization with pristine landscapes that have not changed a bit over the past millennia.

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More than 80% of the island is covered by hills, rocky plateaus and mountain ranges. The most extensive plain of Nurra is located in the north of Sardinia, while the highest peaks rise on the east coast, in the Gennargentu mountain range. The peak of the highest mountain, Punta La Marmora, rises to 1,834 meters.

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The largest river of the island is the Tirso (152 km), it originates on a high plateau, crosses Sardinia from east to west and flows into the Gulf of Oristano. A hydroelectric dam built in 1924 dammed the river and created the largest artificial body of water in Italy – Lake Omodeo, up to three kilometers wide and about 20 km long. Dams on other rivers on the island create about 50 more large artificial lakes.

The large natural lake Lago di Baratz is located in northwestern Sardinia, in the municipality of Sassari. The lake is surrounded by pine forests with rich Mediterranean vegetation. There are olive and strawberry trees, dense shrubs of evergreen turmeric and myrtle, aromatic herbs, glades covered with lavender and rosemary bushes, numerous species of wild orchids. The lake is home to huge black catfish, and waterfowl nest in shallow lagoons and reed beds. Local legend claims that at the bottom of Lake Baratzes rests an ancient city once submerged by water.

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Sardinia is surrounded by several miniature islands. The largest among them is the picturesque island of San Antioco (109 km²), which is the top of an ancient volcano. In the marshy lagoons of the island live herons, cormorants, seagulls and pink flamingos. Ancient Roman geographers called this island Plumbaria, here were developed lead mines and silver deposits.

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Flora and fauna

Sardinia’s geographical isolation has contributed to the preservation here of several unique animal species that are no longer found in the Mediterranean. These include one of the symbols of the island’s fauna, the Sardinian mouflon. Forest reserves are home to red deer, Sardinian finches and foxes, gophers, hares and rabbits. Only here there is a population of wild Sardinian striped cats, distinguished from European species by their small size, thick fur and tassels on the ears. They live in dense forests all over the island, but it is extremely rare to see the elusive cats. They hunt only at dusk or dawn. Presumably, these cats were brought to the island by ancient Phoenician navigators from North Africa. The cats guarded the cargo in the ship’s holds from rats and mice.

Endemic wild horses graze on a rocky plateau in the center of Sardinia, and Sardinian white donkeys live on the protected islet of Asinara. From here to the French Côte d’Azur and the Principality of Monaco stretches an 87,500 km² internationally protected marine region known as the “Sanctuary for Marine Animals”. It is home to thousands of sea turtles, dolphins and cetacean mammals, including huge fin whales and sperm whales. On the coast and uninhabited rocky islets there are huge colonies of gulls, flamingos.

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The island of Sardinia has vast forests of evergreen cork oak trees. The bark of these trees is sought after by winemakers – 80% of Italian wine bottles are corked with Sardinian cork.

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Climate

Sardinia has a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and warm winters, but differences in topography create distinctive climate zones across the island. In January thermometer columns in different regions of Sardinia fluctuate between +6 and +15 °С. In June-September air temperature on the coast reaches +28 … +35 °С, and sometimes up to +40 °С. Sea breeze and moderate humidity make the high temperature quite comfortable. In autumn and winter on the island there are abundant precipitations, short rains with thunderstorms happen in summer. However, about 300 days a year in Sardinia there is no rain at all, the weather is clear and sunny. The coast of the Gulf of Cagliari is the least exposed to rainfall.

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On the mountain plateaus in the interior of the island, the climate is harsher. Snow often falls in January/February in the mountain valleys above 1000 meters, but it does not last long. In the eastern highlands of Jennargentu it snows during the winter months and temperatures drop below freezing. In the summer, it is cooler, especially at night.

It is often windy on the island. The prevailing wind is a dry and fresh mistral coming from the northwest. The mistral is particularly strong in winter. In March and November, the island is subject to the seasonal sirocco, a strong wind from the southeast that originates in the African Sahara. The sirocco causes severe storms in the Mediterranean Sea.

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The most favorable holiday period in the resorts of Sardinia lasts from May to October.

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Cagliari Metropolitan Area

The metropolitan area of Cagliari is situated on a bend in the coast of the large gulf of the same name on the southern tip of Sardinia. It is home to one of the island’s international airports and a major seaport.

The city of Cagliari was the capital of the Kingdom of Sardinia from 1324 to 1848, the city’s appearance is shaped by the buildings of this period.

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Sunny Cagliari is a friendly and lively Mediterranean city immersed in the greenery of gardens and parks. The Botanical Garden of the University of Cagliari, established in 1866, is home to 2,000 species of Mediterranean and tropical trees. The park is open to citizens and tourists for strolls.

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The streets of the city are lined with date palms and evergreen fragrant shrubs. Hiding in their shade architectural monuments tell about the history of the city, dating back to the settlements of the Nuragic civilization. It is proven that settlements on the territory of Cagliari uninterruptedly existed for at least 6 thousand years, changing only the civilizations and peoples that inhabited the city.

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Available for viewing the oldest monuments on the territory of Cagliari – Neolithic dolmen Domus de Janas (House of Fay) and a large necropolis of the Carthaginian era. Preserved amphitheater and part of the aqueduct of the Roman period (II century BC), survived Byzantine Basilica of San Saturno (V century.).

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In the Castello district, on a hill in the center of the capital of Sardinia, stands a powerful medieval fortress with well-preserved walls and towers made of white limestone. This fortress was built on a peak dominating the bay by the Spaniards in 1324. Many of Cagliari’s old buildings are made of white limestone and light brown travertine, and their ornate facades give the streets a festive and somewhat theatrical look. The Gothic Cathedral of Our Lady of Bonaria (1329) makes a strong impression. In the historic neighborhoods among the houses visible remnants of medieval city walls, there is a harmonious combination of facades of Renaissance buildings, palaces and villas in the Baroque style, buildings erected at the end of the XIX century, when the architectural fashion reigned Art Nouveau or Art Nouveau.

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There are several museums and art galleries in Cagliari. First of all, you should visit the Archaeological Museum. It houses priceless artifacts of world significance from the Neolithic era right up to the Byzantine Middle Ages. Of great interest is the art museum of Siamese art, its exhibits were collected by Sardinian traveler and collector Stefano Cardy at the beginning of the last century.

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Cagliari’s many glamorous nightclubs have gained popularity throughout Italy. Here the public is entertained by famous DJs, live rock concerts, fashion shows, parties with celebrities. On the stages of clubs tour artists from foreign countries, international beauty contests are held. Clubs and nightclubs and restaurants are crowded on weekends – partygoers from all over the country come here to have fun these days, good thing, the cost of airfare (low-cost) from Rome, Florence, Milan or Naples is no more expensive than a box of chocolates.

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Among the most popular nightclubs is Caffè de Candia, located at Via de Candia 3. A stone’s throw from this establishment, by the picturesque medieval bastion of St. Remy, are the terraces of the Caffè degli Spiriti club. On the terraces themselves, people dance and then relax on soft sofas or swing in hammocks with a martini in hand.

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Club Ex Ma is housed in a vast former slaughterhouse built in the 19th century on the eerily named Via San Lucifero. The spacious rooms allow for grand shows, contemporary art exhibitions.

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By the bastion of Santa Croce you’ll find the stylish club restaurant Libarium Nostrum (Via Santa Croce, 33). Its terraces offer stunning views of the Bay of Cagliari. It’s a great place to admire the sunset.

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Also worth a visit is the Old Square Irish Pub, shining with lights at 46 Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Its specialty is that in addition to a variety of Irish beers, dark English ales and Scotch whiskey, it serves the best Sardinian wines.

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The main beach in Cagliari is Poetto. It starts within the city limits and stretches along the bay to the west for 8 km. Another city beach – Kalamosca – is located to the east of the port. It should be said that on the municipal beaches of Sardinia you can rest for free, spreading a towel on the soft sand. For renting sun beds and umbrellas you will have to pay. It can cost 10-20 € depending on the prestige of the place.

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Cagliari is very close to several seaside resorts, their beaches can be reached by bus or cab in half an hour. The nearest resort, Villasimius, is located just 35 km east of the city.

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Province of Southern Sardinia

The city of Carbonia was declared the capital of the province in 2017. It is one of the youngest cities in Italy, founded by King Victor Emmanuel III for coal mine workers in 1937.Benito Mussolini was actively involved in the planning of the city. The mines in Sardinia lost importance in the 1960s and were closed.

On the northwestern outskirts of Carbonia you can explore well-preserved nuraghes, ancient rock tombs and the ruins of a Phoenician fortress. Not far from the city, the archaeological sites of Monte Sirai are open for inspection: a Phoenician tower, the remains of stone buildings of an ancient settlement excavated by archaeologists. Under the ruins of the Phoenician sanctuary, a statue of the goddess Astarte was discovered in 1964, which became a world archaeological sensation. The statue is exhibited at the National Museum of Cagliari.

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Eight kilometers south of Carbonia is the town of Tratalias. Here is the outstanding landmark of Sardinia, the Cathedral of Santa Maria di Montserrato, consecrated in 1213. The architecture of this majestic structure reflects the transition from Romanesque to Classical Gothic.

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The town of Sardara and its surroundings are full of ancient monuments. The local municipality is recognized as one of the best in preserving cultural heritage. Stroll through the narrow cobblestone streets of the city and admire the facades of the Baroque houses. Among the several ancient churches, the Byzantine church of Santa Anastasia stands out. Under its vaults is a nuragic sacred well turned into a baptismal font. The Romanesque Gothic cathedral of San Gregorio Magna (XIV century) is decorated with sculptures and stained glass windows of considerable artistic value. In the Baroque parish church of the Virgin Mary (1600) you can listen to the marvelous singing of the choir to the music of the organ installed here in 1758.

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One of the oldest thermal spas in Europe is located in the vicinity of the town. Back in the Neolithic period, a sacred well with healing water and a temple complex were built near the hot springs. Later, in the Bronze Age, the complex was supplemented with four nurags. The largest of them is the Arrubiu nurag, made of red granite. In the valley and on the surrounding hills there are about three dozen more nurag and a huge tomb of giants.

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Thermal springs were also used by the Phoenicians, and in the II century BC the Romans built here a luxurious resort – extensive thermae with marble baths and hot pools, halls for gymnastic exercises and library, shaded colonnade for walking. Amidst the picturesque ruins of structures from bygone eras, the spa is still active today.

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After soaking in the warm healing water, go to see the medieval Castle of Monreale, perched on a 274-meter hill at the foot of which the resort is located. The stronghold, with its eight towers and huge donjon, was built in the 9th century. The kilometer-long fortress wall includes an ancient nurag. Behind the wall are the remains of the buildings of a medieval village.

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This walk can be finished with lunch at the trattoria of the village of Sa Costa, located nearby. Here, in 1913, a remarkable archaeological discovery was made. Researchers of the megalithic crypt discovered the famous bronze figures of archers, works of art by masters of the Nuragic civilization. Ceramic vessels with patterned ornamentation were also found here.

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In ancient Iglesias, which is not spoiled by tourists, you can fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a typical Sardinian town, wander through the crowded medieval streets, sit in a quiet tavern and observe the way of life of the locals.

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Not far from Sardara is one of the symbols of Sardinia – a cascade of waterfalls “Cascada de Sa Spendula”, near this natural wonder there is a large amusement park. The waterfalls are most spectacular in the fall and spring, when there are rains that feed the rivers in the mountains.

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Southern Sardinia has many beaches washed by the Tyrrhenian and Sardinian Seas, including the 12-kilometer-long Muravera Beach. Major resort towns include Costa Verde, Piscanas, and Fontanamar. Well-known resorts are located on the islands of Porto Pino, Teulada, Chino and Costa Rey.

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One of the most charming islands is Sant’Antioco, connected to the island of Sardinia by a bridge. It is not crowded even in high season. In the lagoons between Sant’Antioco and Sardinia live flamingos and herons, migrating in the fall to neighboring Africa. On the sandy bottom of the lagoons there are special mollusks, from their fringes local weavers used to make a unique fabric – sea silk.

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The island’s vineyards are cultivated with the Carignano variety, imported from Catalonia. These grapes are used to make excellent wine, sought after by the best restaurants in Europe.

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From May 15 to June 15, shoals of tuna swim off the coast of the island. All the men of Sant’Antioco take to the sea in fishing boats. They are joined by gambling tourists who want to gloriously fish from a motorboat. However, deep-sea fishing is available at any time of the year. The island is well developed water sports, the African wind drives the waves to the delight of surfers, and the underwater terrains are like created for diving.

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Nuoro Province

The mountainous east coast of the island is occupied by the province of Nuoro, one of the least populated in Europe. Nuoro’s landscapes are recognized as the most beautiful in all of Sardinia. It is home to the mountainous Gennardentu National Park, which overlooks the Gulf of Orosei. There is a group of famous beaches of Bidderos. However, access to the protected area is restricted. From June to September, the coastal area can be visited by no more than 130 motorized tourists per day. Tickets must be booked in advance, entry costs €50.

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The park includes the highest peak of the island, Punta La Marmora. The mountainsides are covered with the most extensive centuries-old Mediterranean forest in Italy. Here you can observe wild boars and deer, mouflon and marten. In the crowns of trees and on inaccessible rocks nest rare birds – golden eagles, kites, owls. There are many dolphins in the bay, a colony of extremely rare endangered Mediterranean monk seals protected by law lives here. In summer Finnish whales and sperm whales swim here. Green tours are organized to observe forest and marine animals.”

On the territory of the province are several dozen nuragos, near the coast there are even more ancient mysterious structures made of stone slabs – dolmens.

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Oristano Province

Oristano is the smallest province of Sardinia. It occupies the central part of the west coast of the island. The sandy shores of the vast Gulf of Oristano are home to small resorts and beaches.

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On the Sinis peninsula, in the vicinity of the village of San Giovanni di Sinis, you will find the main attraction of the province – the ruins of the ancient city of Tarros, founded by the Phoenicians in the VIII century B.C. With Phoenician fortifications and sanctuaries there are neighboring buildings of ancient Greek colonists, Romans and Byzantines, medieval towers and basilicas. There is an open-air museum in Tarros. During its tour, guides take tourists to the excavation sites of archaeologists. Artifacts found here by scientists are exhibited in the Archaeological Museum of the neighboring city of Cabrasa, in the museums of Cagliari and even in the British Museum in London.

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In the second half of the 20th century, underwater archaeologists discovered a 100-meter stone wall at the bottom of the bay, enclosing an ancient port that was flooded by the sea 3,200 years ago. Local diving clubs rent equipment and organize underwater excursions for scuba divers.

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The town of Santa Giuste has an interesting Romanesque basilica. On the coast you can explore the first stone Phoenician tomb discovered in Italy.

Province of Sassari

The province of Sassari, in the northeast of Sardinia, is home to the island’s most famous and most expensive resort, the Costa Smeralda, a famous vacation spot for billionaires, politicians and international stars from all over the world. Here, on the coast of a convenient bay with perfectly arranged beaches, is located an elite yacht club. Luxury villas are designed for the owners of luxury yachts, the architecture of these palaces is skillfully combined with the surrounding nature and features of the landscape. For the entertainment of the cream of society there are nightclubs, spa centers, tennis golf courses, restaurants of the highest category, clubs of climbers, sailing and diving.

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This province is also home to the island’s busiest international airport, Olbia-Costa Smeralda. Its 40 check-in halls and 15 terminals can handle 4,500,000 passengers a year. It operates a huge duty-free shopping center.

There are several other popular middle-class resorts in the