Territory
Oristano airport is the perfect access point to Sardinia as its baricentric position allows to reach any island’s part within 60 – 90’.
Sea, beaches, but also internal areas rich of traditions, cultural events, archaeological sites and naturalistic resources offer an interesting staying to all visitors, all year round thanks to a nice weather in all seasons. Movements are easy due to a good road system and the presence of original means of transport like the “trenino verde” (green train), by which unexplored island areas can be visited in tight and continuous contact with the nature.
It’s so difficult to identify the finest beaches in Sardinia, being the task really embarrassing.
Along the splendid coasts, several and untouched Aragonese (Spanish) towers may be finded, as well as the Spanish and Piedmont ones, important signs of the past.
Some places are well renowned like the Sinis beaches in Oristano area, the Alghero’s Riviera del Corallo, Stintino, Costa Smeralda, Arcipelago della Maddalena, L’Asinara, S. Teodoro, Orosei, Costa Rei, Villasimius, Chia, Carloforte, Costa Verde.
The Island offers different landscapes and natural resources. Mountain environments as Monte Arci and Montiferru in Oristano district, Monte Arcosu, Monte dei Sette Fratelli in Cagliari district, the Gennargentu in Barbagia (Nuoro) in which there is an equipped area for skiers (Bruncu Spina) and the preistoric village of Tiscali, in the heart of Supramonte. Giara of Gesturi highlands, and the famous wild litte horses that live there, are an unique environment in Europe.
Besides important and fascinating archaeological sites like Tharros in Sinis, S. Cristina, Nora, Gennamaria, S. Antioco, Terme of Fordongianus, the most exciting archaeological example is certainly represented by the Nuraghe, that can be seen in a great number almost averywhere in the landscape. The most known are those of Santu Antine in Torralba, Losa in Abbasanta, Orrubiu in Orroli, Palmavera in Alghero, Nolza in Meana Sardo, Serra Orios in Dorgali, and finally the very important big village of Nuraghi in Barumini.
Several caves and scientifically relevants grottoes can be also visited: Neptune grottoes in Alghero, Ispinigoli and Bue Marino in Dorgali, Su Murmuri in Ulassai, Grotta del Fico in Balnei, San Giovanni in Fluminimaggiore, Is Zuddas in Santadi.
Cultural displays are mostly related to religious and carnival events and enriched by folk shows spread and appreciated by the locals: sagra di S. Efisio in Cagliari (May day), the Sartiglia in Oristano (last Sunday and Tuesday of Carnival period), the Ardia of Sedilo (first week of July), the Cavalcata Sarda (middle of May) and the Festa dei Candelieri (penultimate Sunday of May) in Sassari, the Sagra del Redentore in Nuoro (29th of August).
Food, wine and handicraft are other very good reasons to visit and enjoy Sardinia. Starting from local gastronomy, bottarga (sea mullet eggs), honey, pane carasau, torrone, to Sardinian wines, famous in the world: Vernaccia, Malvasia, Cannonau, Vermentino, Monica, to handicraft products realized following traditional methods like knives, baskets, cowbells, golden filigrees, cork objects.