Mediterranean Paradise on the Italian Island of Sardinia

Sardinia's traditional dishes are a heaven for foodies, history enthusiasts will enjoy exploring archaeological sites, and for those who love the outdoors, the island's nature reserves are perfect for a relaxing day. Sardinia is a destination where events and activities often depend on the season and time of year. Explore hidden gems and popular spots in Sardinia with Hostelling International Slovenia and stay up to date with our latest travel tips!

A glimpse into Sardinia's history

The island of Sardinia has been inhabited since prehistoric times, with evidence going back to the Paleolithic era. Later, during the Bronze Age, the island was home to the Nuragic people, who left behind over 7,000 examples of Nuragic fortresses or settlements. These ancient megalithic monuments can reach heights of up to 20 metres. The tallest discovered fortress in Sardinia, called Nuraghe Arrubiu, stands at an impressive height of 25 to 30 metres, making it the tallest megalithic monument from the Bronze Age found in Europe.

The most famous example of megalithic architecture, which is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the village of Su Nuraxi di Barumini. The best-preserved example is the village of Serra Orrios in the municipality of Dorgali. The largest archaeological site in Sardinia, featuring a royal house with three floors, Sa Domo de su Re, built in the 19th or 18th century BC, is located in the town of Torralba, known as Santu Antine or Saint Constantine.

The island is home to numerous archaeological sites, including Nuragic tombs such as the Giants' Tombs, as well as other burial monuments made of stone blocks, known as dolmens. Sacred wells and tall stone pillars, known as menhirs, can also be found on the island. These wells, or underground sanctuaries, are scattered across the entire island. They were dedicated to the worship of water, one of the most important elements in Nuragic belief, closely linked to the Nuragic religion.

A few kilometres outside Paulilatino stands the best-preserved sacred well in Sardinia, Santa Cristina. It is designed to create a play of light and shadow, which, with the special effect of reversed shadows, appears during the equinoxes. The tall stone pillars, or menhirs, were used in burials of the dead. They date back to the Neolithic period and can reach up to 5 metres in height. The famous site with 60 menhirs, Pranu Muttedu, is located near the village of Goni.

National parks and nature reserves

The island of Sardinia covers 24,100 square kilometres and 35% of it is covered in natural, green, and grassy areas, which include numerous parks and nature reserves. The protected areas include forests, caves, beaches, and several marine areas. Two natural reserves on the island worth mentioning because of their ecosystems are the Parco naturale regionale Molentargius - Saline and the Santuario dei Cetacei in Liguria. The first nature reserve is known for transporting salt with donkeys, which were used for a long time in the salt production industry in Cagliari. The name Molentargius comes from this, as it means "donkey handler" in Sardinian. You can also spot pink flamingos here. The whale sanctuary in the Ligurian Sea aims to protect marine mammals, like whales and dolphins, to help preserve the natural heritage of sea life. Special attention should be given to the three national parks on the island, each with its own unique flora and fauna:

• Gennargentu National Park was established in 1998 in the eastern central mountain range of Sardinia and covers 74,000 hectares of protected land. It is home to many endemic plant and animal species, cave systems, and the deepest canyon in Italy – Su Gorroppu. Some beaches are also part of the national park, such as Cala Luna and Cala Goloritzè.
• Arcipelago di La Maddalena National Park is located in the municipality of La Maddalena and, with 180 kilometres of coastline, covers 12 islands and over 130 islets across 20,000 hectares. It was founded in 1994 to protect the untouched nature of Mediterranean scrublands, ponds, and holm oak forests. There is an environmental education centre on Caprera about the park called CEA.
• Asinara National Park was originally an island that held a prison colony from 1885, and later became a high-security prison in the 1980s. The national park was founded in 1997 across the entire island, covering 5,000 hectares, where Mediterranean shrubs like tree spurge, juniper, and mastic grow. You can also see mouflons and the island's white donkeys.

A list of four tours for a cultural trip

This time, we've selected four tours for a cultural trip. You'll explore the historical features of Sardinia's capital, Cagliari, and visit important archaeological sites. These include Nuraghe Losa in the village of Abbasanta, Castello di Pedres, and the Giants' Tomb of Su Mont’e s ’Abe. You'll also see the sacred well of Sa Testa, the Roman aqueduct near Olbia, and the San Simplicio basilica. Finally, don't miss the Nivola Museum in the town of Orani. On the first tour, you can explore the underground tourist attractions in Cagliari. You'll see a tunnel from World War II lit by candles, the crypt of Santa Restituta, and the underground museum of Saint Eulalia.

Next, head to the Nuraghe Losa archaeological park, where you can explore an ancient Bronze Age site. You can also spend time in the museum of the archaeological park. Continue your day of exploring archaeological sites by heading to the town of Olbia to see the most important monuments of the Nuragic civilisation. Then, stop in Orani to learn about the life of Constantine Nivola.

• Cagliari Underground
• Nuraghe Losa Archaeological Park
• Basilica San Simplicio
• Nivola Museum

Visiting Cagliari, Abbasanta, Olbia, and Orani on these tours offers a glimpse into Sardinia's nearly 4,000 years of history. You'll learn about the Nuragic civilisation, which inhabited the island until the early Middle Ages. Join us on a journey through cultural landmarks and get closer to the rich culture of Sardinia, one of the Mediterranean's most fascinating destinations.

My island tour guide

When planning your trip and thinking about what your destination has to offer, remember that you can find all the essential information for understanding your journey through Hostelling International Slovenia. Join us and get a membership to help you manage your trip with all the benefits of an HI membership card. During your travels, let the travel articles written by our journalists be your guide. Through them, you'll get to know the global destinations they've explored.

Check out our free online magazine Globetrotter to read about how Mateja Mazgan experienced Sardinia. She gathered her adventures in the travel article Travel Adventures in Sardinia. You can also get additional literature from Lonely Planet, where the Sardinia book offers more than 34 maps as well as countless travel tips. This way, you can prepare well for your trip and experience the island with the help of a travel guide, in your own way.

Activities in bays and forests

To get to know the island of Sardinia as best as possible, we have prepared outdoor activities through which you can explore the bays, forests, and mountains. You can see the picturesque beaches in the Orosei Gulf including Cala Luna, Cala Sisine, Cala Biriala, Piscine di Venere, Cala Mariolu, and Cala Goloritzè on a boat for 12 people. During the boat trip, you will also be taken to some caves, such as the Cormorani Cave and the Azzurra Cave.

You can also join a trek that goes from Cala Gonone to the deepest canyon in Italy, Su Gorroppu, starting from the village of Dorgali. The view of the canyon with towering limestone rocks and boulders on the 12-kilometre adventure will leave you speechless. You can try canyoning with ropes, and if needed, continue to the natural pool Bau Mela, where you'll experience breathtaking nature and ancient forests near Villagrande Strisaili, in the beautiful Ogliastra region. A one-kilometre-long canyoning trail winds along natural pools formed by streams from the Gennargentu peaks.

You can continue creating beautiful memories with the following three activities, all of which take place at sea:

• Departing from the town of Palau, a seven-hour sailing trip through the Maddalena archipelago will take you to the islands of Spargi, Budelli, Caprera, and Santo Stefano. The La Maddalena National Park offers the opportunity to swim in crystal-clear waters and visit the pink beach, which is closed to the public.
• A water activity from Santa Maria Navarrese takes you on a speedboat cruise along the Baunei coast, where you can visit several beaches and the Fico Cave. You can swim in Cala Goloritzè, Piscine di Venere, Cala Mariola, Cala Gabbiana and Cala Biriala. During your eight-hour tour, you'll be listening to the stories of the tour guide.
• The third and final sea activity is an eco-friendly dolphin watching trip from Golfo Aranci, taking you around the waters near Figarolo Island, where you can spot common bottlenose dolphins. Set sail on the sea tours and make unforgettable memories.

A surfer's paradise with the best waves

On top of everything we've discovered on our trip to Sardinia, there are also tons of beaches where the surf scene is thriving. The surf season starts in autumn and runs through spring, offering surfers about 200 days of waves. The waves can reach up to 4 metres high, making it perfect for competitive athletes and experienced surfers. The beaches we recommend for your next surfing adventure are Porto Ferro, La Speranza, and Piscinas. On all three beaches, you can catch both left and right waves, making them suitable for both beginners and experienced surfers.

Surfing in Sardinia is one of the best things that you can do in the Mediterranean. You can catch different waves while enjoying the stunning beaches, all with mountains rising in the background. You can also experience and take part in the three-day La Sagra del Surf surfing festival in Mandriola, which brings together various sports disciplines, and check out some of the photographic exhibitions focused on surf culture in the so-called Windsurf Village.