Sardinia is not just a location for a beach holiday!
You must not forget that Sardinia is not all about the coast, and beach holidays. Just go inland, the interior remains largely unspoilt and is covered with extensive cork oak forests, rough rocky terrain and unusual granite outcrops. The mountains are great for exploring, walking on old shepherd’s trails and enjoying the amazing landscapes, where you will find wild mufflon, and wild boar. Here you can easily experience Sardinian traditions, hospitality, local festivals, and handicrafts that are amongst the best preserved in Europe. All through the year many varied and colourful local festivals are celebrated all over the island, and are well worth a visit.
For historians the island is steeped in history because of its many invaders over the centuries. There are 7,000 Nuraghi (Bronze Age) sites dotted all over the island. Take a drive up and trek to the hidden village of Tiscali in the centre of the Island and witness the irony of a foregone community that lived in Bronze Age times BUT lends its name to one of the most progressive Internet & Telecoms Corporation in the world.
Sport for .....
Land Lovers
Sardinia is also a paradise for sports enthusiasts; there are exceptional facilities for golf at the Pevero Golf Club, considered to be one of the most beautiful courses in the world.
All year round there is the opportunity for exploring this beautiful island cycling, trekking, walking, climbing in the mountains, and horse riding. There is even a down hill ski slope on the island!
Seafarers
On the coast there is a constant wind so conditions are ideal for sailing, windsurfing and kite surfing. The sheltered coves and clear waters are a true sailor’s paradise. The crystal clear waters are also ideal for snorkelling or sub aqua. Big game fishing is a popular pastime from Porto Rotondo.
Gastronauts
Sardinians are very proud of their cooking. Traditional Sardinian food comprises surprisingly not of seafood, but food from the land…. suckling pig, lamb and wild boar. The famous pecorino cheese, made from ewe’s milk, home made pasta’s, hand baked breads, and pastries made from honey and almonds.
Seafood is a relatively new addition to the Sardinian diet despite being an island, and still is mainly eaten only on the coast.
The warm sunny climate produces very ripe grapes, which make for strong deeply coloured wines. You must try the famous digestive of Grappa, and the local speciality Mirto, made from wild myrtle berries and leaves.
If you want to enjoy a long and healthy old age and wish to live to be 100. American scientists from the National Institute on Ageing and the National Geographic Society suggest one of the places to live would be in a Sardinian mountain village. The people benefit from a healthy diet, excercise, a positive attitude and drink on average one glass of wine per day. Sardinain red wine too has been found to be extremely good for you!
Children
There is plenty to keep the children occupied. The beaches are golden sand, and the sea is safe and crystal clear. So plenty of swimming, snorkelling and sand castles. In the summer season many of the beaches have pedalos, wind surfers and kayaks for hire. There is an excellent water park in Baia Sardinia.
A submersible submarine for trips under the sea, and for dolphin watching in Golfo Aranci. Roman remains in Olbia. Apart from the pool in the condominium, there is a large swimming pool complex nearby with three Olympic sized pools, two indoor and one outdoor.
Added to this pizza, pasta and great Italian ice cream makes eating out easy.
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Chilling adults
If you fancy lazing on a tropical beach, but do not want a long haul flight. Sardinia offers the best beaches outside of the Caribbean.
Fantastic beach bars, beach clubs and restaurants abound. Sections of a couple of local beaches are set aside for sophisticated beach ‘lounging’ with fine dining, day beds, sofas (yes, sofas) massage and Jacuzzi actually on the beach.
From June to September why not experience the ultimate evening ‘chill out’ partake in Maria’s Pilates class on the local sandy beach while the sun sets against the back drop of Isola Tavolara.
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www.mamabeach.com
www.jaguaronthebeach.it
Shopoholics and people watching
You will not be disappointed with chic designer boutiques, rubbing shoulders with more traditional shops and weekly markets selling local handicrafts, linen, cork and coral and filigree jewellery.
During the summer months Porto Cervo is the next stop after St Tropez and is a magnet for the rich and famous.
Not to be missed is the eclectic market in the artists village of San Panteleo. Where the fusion of Latin cultures meets the eccentricity of musicians, artists and the glitterati, all set in the magical mountains behind the Costa Smeralda.
What a Great Get Away – Sardinia offered it to Mr Bond!!!!
Another entry for Bond but this time it is Q's ingenuity that allows 007 to escape the clutches of megalomaniac Stomberg's agents. A chase through the twisting mountainous roads of Sardinia between Porto Rotunda and Porto Cervo, seems to be going Bond's way until a missile firing helicopter pops up over the horizon of the coast line above Cala Di Volpe (visit & drive those roads yourself, nothing’s changed in 30 years!).
Displaying the aplomb expected of an agent on Her Majesty's Secret Service, Bond drives the Lotus straight off a jetty into the sea where, with the press of a few switches, the Esprit sprouts fins, propeller and a periscope before knocking the helicopter out of the sky with a sea to air missile. The scene ends with a delicious Jaws spoof as the Esprit drives out of the water onto the crowded beach at Cala Di Volpe.
Sardinia offers something for everybody...
