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Sardinia Overview

Sardinia is the Mediterranean island that looks more like a slice of the Seychelles. An autonomous region of Italy, it has a culture and history like nowhere else, together with 1,800 kilometres of coastline that make it a haven for lovers of all type of watersports. As a result, holidays to Sardinia are to be savoured.

With beauty like this all around, it’s unsurprising that over the centuries, the island has been fought over and captured by the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Spanish and the Piemontese. The legacy of all that strife and cultural change for the visitor though, is that Sardinia holidays offer surprises and contrasts at every turn.

Our parc at Torre del Porticciolo for example, lies close to the fortified city of Alghero, whose long colonization by the Spanish has left a distinctly Catalonian flavour to the town’s architecture and cuisine. Why not take a look at our information for holidays in Spain?

But head for Baia Blu La Tortuga on the Northern tip of the island, or Isuledda on the Costa Smerelda (Emerald Coast), and you find yourselves back in Roman times. This really is a culturally and historically diverse island.

Nature lovers will find the mountainous interior equally fascinating, with rugged mountains, vast caves full of stalagmites, lush forests and some really stunning waterfalls and natural springs to discover.

Yet for all that, if you just want to enjoy the crystal clear waters and endless sunshine, Sardinia has those in abundance too, not to mention some exceptional seafood restaurants serving lobster, catfish, red mullet and even sea urchins, together with the robust but very enjoyable local wines that include Cannonau, Vermentino, Hisony, Graniti and Sienda. With all the above on offer and more, why not book a Sardinia holiday today? Alternatively, take a look at what our Sicily holidays have to offer.

If you would like to spend time in mainland Italy take a look at our camping in Italy holidays for our available parcs including Lake Garda holidays, Tuscany holidays and more.

Places to visit - Sightseeing

Sardinia’s beauty is so much more than skin deep. Beyond the crystal waters and perfect beaches, there is an island with a vibrant culture and rich history to discover:

Alghero
While Sardinia is very much an Italian territory, Alghero has an almost entirely Spanish feel, thanks to its Catalan colonisation in the 14th century. Its walled, old town close to the beach is therefore as surprising as it is picturesque.

Cagliari
First settled by the Phoenicians in the 7th century, Cagliari is an impressive regional capital, with a host of fine buldings to discover, across the four historic quarters of the Marina, Villanova, Castello and Stampace.

Olbia
Christened ‘the happy town’ by its Greek conquerors, Olbia is still a lively and charming town with a very special location on the Costa Smerelda, spectacular views over the islands of Tavolara and Molara and the lovely church of St Simplicio.

Porto Torres
A lovely town in its own right, Porto Torres’ fame lies in the many Roman relics to be found here, as well as in the gorgeous 11th century Basilica of San Gavino, which is built mainly from marble and granite.

Neptune’s Grotto
These spectacular marine caves lie just outside Alghero, from where you can take cruises around the coast and into this vast labyrinth of caves, where huge stalactites descend from the ceilings.

Thermal Baths of Fordongianus
These fascinating ruins lie close to Oristano, where Romans once gathered in these splendid pools and arcades to enjoy the hot sulphurous springs rising up from the earth beneath them.

Roman Ampitheatre, Cagliari
This 2nd century ampitheatre is highly unusual, as it is mainly carved out of the rocks of a natural ampitheatre. It has also been restored in some parts, enabling it to host theatrical events to this day.

Sassari
One of the oldest cities on Sardinia, Sassari is a treasure trove of ancient sites, from its 13th century city walls to the magnificent Cathedral of St Nicholas of Bari and the wonderful Piazza d’Italia. There’s just so much to see here.

Nuraghi di Palmavera
There are approximately 7,000 Nuraghic sites in Sardinia and this is one of the largest. Situated north of Alghero, the site is home to the remains of a palace and is surrounded by approximately 50 circular huts.

Necropoli di Anghelu Ruju
Open all year round, this pre-Nuraghic necropolis is located next to Alghero airport and is a popular tourist attraction. It was discovered by accident in 1903 following purchase of the land by a local winery. The necropolis dates back to the early Copper Age (3300-2700 BC) and excavation work has uncovered 37 underground burial chambers.

Great for younger kids

Water Paradise
Close to Sorso, this is a great waterpark for both relaxing in the pools or enjoying the high speed thrills of the waterslides. It’s also a great choice for younger families, as many of the areas are ideal for small children.

Great for older kids

Aquadream
While it’s suitable for the whole family, where Aquadream comes up trumps is in its choice of game and slide areas, with everything from water soccer to the white knuckle Black Hole and Max 3 waterslides to enjoy.

Places to visit - Activities & events

Surfing
Unusually for the Mediterranean, surfing is a popular sport here, with boards and instruction available at a number of locations, and warm, crystal clear waters to make learning to surf here an absolute pleasure.

Golf
The wonderful scenery and warm climate make Sardinia an excellent place to enjoy golf, with a number of championship-standard courses across the island, including the Pevero Golf Club in Porto Cevero and the stunning Is Arenas Golf Club.

Horse riding
They have a real passion for horses here on Sardinia, not to mention herds of wild horses still living out in the wilds. So you will find many equestrian centres here, with a host of country and shoreline treks available.

Sea Fishing
There can be few pleasures so fine for any fisherman as standing in the warm waters of the Med and casting into a sea that is rich in all kinds of fish. So whether you bring your own tackle, or hire it here, be prepared for some very pleasant fishing.

Porto Conte National Park
This popular natural park is located north of Alghero which consists of various peaks and leads out to the sea. It's also home to Le Pinnette State Forest and lends itself perfectly to various walks, tours and activities, including birdwatching. Suitable clothing and footwear is recommended as well as your own supply of water and refreshments.

Unmissable events in Sardinia

Sagra di Sant Efisio
Held on the first of May every year, this important religious festival involves literally thousands of Cagliari donning medieval garb to join a 40km pilgrimage to Pula in honour of St Efisio. A quite remarkable spectacle.

Festadelmare
This four-day festival at the beginning of September is held in the village of Santa Lucia, close to Olbia, and offers visitors an eclectic mixture of music, art, exhibitions and workshops that celebrate the importance of the sea.

S’Ardia Horse Race
Held in early July every year, this fast and furious horse race goes from Oristano to Nuoro, in honour of St Constantino.

Fireworks and Fried Fish
Every August in Alghero they hold a massive fireworks display on the Busquets walkway at the port, which is traditionally followed by a feast of fried fish, which are always fresh from the sea.

Places to visit - Eating out

While you might expect fish to dominate Sardinia’s cuisine, lamb, and indeed sheep’s milk are also essential to almost every recipe here:

• Roast lamb – Leg of lamb cooked in garlic, shallots and fennel, served with toasted bread and pecorino cheese.
• Pane guttiau – Cheese on toast, but made using paper-thin flatbread grilled with salt and mature pecorino cheese.
• Grilled sardines – The eponymous fish of the island, marinated in tomato, garlic and olive oil, then grilled or fried. Simply delicious.
• Wine – Sardinian wines may not enjoy worldwide renown, but the Vermentinos of the North make an excellent accompaniment to most dishes here.

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