The island of Sardinia (Sardegna) is located in the Mediterranean Sea to the west of the Apennine Peninsula.Its area is slightly more than 24 thousand square kilometers; more than 1.66 million people live permanently in Sardinia.Sardinia is part of Italy as an autonomous region (Regione Autonoma della Sardegna); it is divided into 8 provinces, the administrative center is the city of Cagliari.
Sardinia lies in close proximity to the French island of Corsica (Corse); they are divided by the Strait of Bonifacio (Bocche di Bonifacio), its width is a little more than 11 km.Sardinia is dominated by mountainous relief, in the east of the island the mountains come almost close to the water; lowlands prevail in the western part of the island.It is warm and dry here - up to +10º C in winter, above +25º C in summer.
History
The island has been inhabited by people since ancient times: archaeologists have found many prehistoric monuments of 4-2 millennia BC.Some of them are unique and testify to the close connection of Sardinia with other peoples who inhabited the Mediterranean.The island was ruled by the Phoenicians, Romans, and Arabs, and was successively owned by the Aragonese dynasty, Spain, and Austria.Thousands of Nuraghe, megalithic towers around which people settled, have been found in Sardinia.They were built in the 2nd millennium BC; scientists still know nothing about the origin of the builders of these colossal structures.The uniqueness of the buildings is that the huge stones from which the towers are made are not fastened together, and the entire tower is held only by the mass of stones pressing on each other. Sardinian nuraghes are protected by UNESCO.
Gastronomy
Sardinia is one of the regions of Italy where pecorino cheese is produced in large quantities.It is made from sheep's milk, and it entered the diet of local residents as early as the time of the ancient Romans.Two varieties of Pecorino Romano and Pecorino Sardo are produced on the island.From the latter, Sardinia makes a special type of cheese, casu marzu, a specific product that is not consumed anywhere else.Larvae of the cheese fly live in the soft cheese mass; for this reason, cassava was banned in Italy for a long time as an infected product.In 2010, it was recognized as a cultural asset of the island and allowed to be sold again.Local residents eat it with great pleasure, cheese is considered a delicacy.
Notable places
Su Nuraxi di Barumini (Su Nuraxi di Barumini) - an ancient fortress (although scientists still argue about the purpose of the building) is a combination of passages between high stone walls.Entrance to the territory of the complex is possible only as part of organized tourist groups.History lovers must visit the territory of the first city founded on the island by the Phoenicians.
Nora is located 30 km from Cagliari; it was found by accident in 1950, when a storm washed away the ground, and ancient masonry was found under it.Remains of residential buildings, temples, and ancient streets have been preserved here.Excavations are still underway.
Not far from Alghero is Neptune's Grotto (Grotte di Nettuno) - a part of a large cave open to tourists, into which you can penetrate 80-100 meters deep.
In the middle of the last century, stairs were cut into the rock to reach it; the grotto is also accessible from the sea.
The cost of the visit is 13 euros, another 15 must be paid for the boat, if you do not want to walk up 650 steps.
To the north of Sardinia, between it and Corsica, lies the La Maddalena archipelago (Arcipelago della Maddalena).It consists of 62 islands, one of which, Budelli, became world famous thanks to Michelangelo Antonioni's film "The Red Desert".The island is part of the national park; it is deserted.Its area is only 1.6 square meters, and the total length of the coast is 12 km.The small beach is covered with pink sand because it contains the smallest particles of seashells.Access to the beach is closed, but you can admire it from the sea.
Beaches
The island of Sardinia is primarily 180 km of various beaches.Sandy and pebbly, white and pink, orderly and wild, Sardinia's beaches are distinguished by the purity of the water and coastline and the beautiful landscape.
Resorts
The emerald coast of Costa Smeralda (Costa Smeralda) is the most fashionable beach area on the map of Sardinia. It is located in the northeastern part of the island. It got its name thanks to the Lebanese billionaire prince Aga Khan, who bought the land here in 1960. The prince rebuilt a large resort area, which includes the Costa Smeralda yacht club.
Porto Cervo is rightfully recognized as the pearl of the Emerald Coast.It has developed infrastructure and the best yacht moorings in Europe.
A popular vacation spot for the "rich and famous."
Spiaggia del Principe beach is named after the Aga Khan.Sandy, has the shape of a horseshoe, a gentle slope and a granite bottom.
Liscia Ruja beach is beautiful with its shallow bay, white and pink sand and surrounding strawberry and juniper trees. Ideal for families with small children.
To the south is Petra Ruja - the pink beach of the Emerald Coast.Such a shade is given to it by fragments and shells of picturesque red rocks, that spread out on the coast. Hotels in Porto Cervo are the best in Sardinia, many are elite and expensive, but there are also budget accommodation options.
