Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and before Cyprus) and an autonomous region of Italy. The nearest land masses are (clockwise from north) the island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Balearic Islands.
Climate of Sardinia
The island has a Mediterranean climate along the coasts, plains and low hills and a continental climate on the interior plateaus, valleys and mountain ranges. During the year there are approximately 135 days of sunshine, with a major concentration of rainfall in the winter and autumn, some heavy showers in the spring and snowfalls in the highlands. The average temperature is between 11 to 17 °C, with mild winters and hot summers on the coasts 9 to 11 °C in January, 23 to 26 °C in July, and cold winters and cool summers on the mountains -2 to 4 °C in January, 16 to 20 °C in July. Rainfalls have a mediterranean distribution all over the island, with almost total rainless summers and wet autumns, winters and springs.
The Sardinian culture
Sardinia is one of two Italian regions, with Veneto, where the local Statute uses the term popolo (people) for the inhabitants. The Statute of Sardinia is adopted with a constitutional law, although in Veneto this was not through a constitutional law, and in both cases has no recognized legal meaning of any differences with other Italian citizens.
What to see
It is not easy to make a list of all the amazing beauties of Sardinia. Places like San Teodoro, Santa Teresa di Gallura, Poltu Quatu, and Baia Sardinia are only some of the charming locations that deserve a visit.
Visiting the Maddalena Archipelago and its “seven sisters,” the main islands of the archipelago, and sailing along the coast of the Maddalena National Park with its lively seabeds, perfect for scuba-diving lovers, is an incredible experience.
Caprera, the second biggest Island after Maddalena, is full of pastures and pinewoods, and shows its visitors the places where Garibaldi lived, with a house museum in the typical Mediterranean vegetation, which guards the memorabilia of the “hero of two worlds,” as well as his and his family’s grave.
Sailing from Caprera to the Bocche di Bonifacio, you will be struck by the beauty of Budelli Island, wild and uninhabited, with its enchanting Rosa beach, a natural masterpiece named for the pink hues of its special corals and shells.
In Cagliari, besides admiring the several colonies of flamingos of the lagoon, be sure to witness a few of the traditional festivals and fairs that take place all year-round, like the beautiful Festival of Sant'Efisio, one of the most important religious and folklore events in Sardinia.
Heading back to Oristano, top off your itinerary with a stop at the Roman archaeological site, Tharros, and enjoy its breathtaking view of the sea.
What to do
Stintino offers endless possibilities for a leisurely vacation: golfing, boat excursions and scuba diving, relaxing strolls, cycling and horseback riding, as well as exploring the hinterland to admire the typical Mediterranean vegetation or ancient archaeological finds, such as the Nuragic constructions near Porto Torres.
Staying in this area is even more interesting if you watch or take part in the “Regata della Vela Latina” (the Latin Sailboat Regatta), an important international event dedicated to the ancient sport of sailing. Hundreds of traditional sailing boats arrive from all over Italy to race in the crystal-clear sea near Stintino every August. The Vela Latina was the typical Mediterranean sail since the period of the Maritime Republics.
The Maddalena Archipelago, with its windy islands fullof natural inlets and picturesque landfalls, is the ideal destination for sailing, but also for horseback riding and mountain biking - they are alternative ways to enjoy sunset on the beach, as well as natural sceneries amidst thriving cistus and gorse bushes.
It is worth taking a trip to the National Park of Asinara on the homonymous Island, considered to be one of the most charming in the Mediterranean Sea, full of colonies of white donkeys that still live in the wild.
In Gennargentu, an enormous and particularly beautiful mountain range, it is possible to undertake a number of activities, including trekking and excursions to archaeological sites.
Nightlife Sardinia
Italians spend most of their evening socialising, dining and drinking wine, either on a terrace of a sidewalk café or in a restaurant. Alghero and Cagliari are much busier with lively places for late-night drinking and dancing. There is also a good quota of festivals to keep you out all night – among others, the Festa della Birra in San Pantaleo (beer festival) or the Festival Algher featuring jazz, musical concerts and plays in Alghero.
Bars and clubs Sardinia
• Sottovento Club, Località Golfo del Pevero
• Il Pescatore, Porto Cervo (Sassari)
• Pitosforo Art Music Bar, Carbonia
• Le Botticelle Di Bacco, Sassari
• La Terrazza Rosa, Porto Cervo
• Caffe' delle Rose, Capo Coda Cavallo
• Enoteca 24 by Sardinia Wine Service, Porto Cervo
• Upper Bar, Palau
• Sphera Locura, Cagliari
• La Tasca - Cocktail and Wine Bar, Olbia
• Caffe Nina, San Pantaleo
• La Grotta Dei Poeti, Nuoro
• Mali Relaxing Beach Bar, Palau
