Sardinia – Nuraghi, nature parks and coasts

With Su Nuraxi di Barumini, Sardinia possesses its best-known example of a Bronze Age defensive complex of the Nuraghe type. The site was inhabited from the construction of its Nuraghe in the 2nd millennium BC until the 3rd century AD.

The subregions of Sardinia include Cagliari, Carbonia-Iglesias, Medio Campidano, Nuoro, Ogliastra, Olbia-Tempio, Oristano and Sassari.

Culture and history

The National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari displays more than 4,000 objects from a period spanning almost 7,000 years, from prehistory to the Early Middle Ages. The Cittadella dei Musei is the largest museum complex in Cagliari and throughout Sardinia. Its exhibition rooms incorporate Roman cisterns, Spanish fortifications and Piedmontese prisons. An aristocratic residence with a palace, garden, large courtyard and agricultural outbuildings houses a museum complex of the same name with archaeological, historical-archival and ethnographic departments.

Nuraghe Nolza is one of the largest and best-preserved prehistoric monuments in central Sardinia. Its central tower is now approximately 13 metres high and rises above a surrounding settlement of huts covering two and a half hectares.

Porto Flavia consists of shafts dug into the mountain, one above the other. Minerals were transported through them from the shafts to the ships anchored off the Pan di Zucchero roadstead; today, Porto Flavia is a visitor route through the history of mining technology. Open Mar – Miniera Argentiera is an open-air mining museum on Sardinia’s northwest coast, between disused facilities, an uninhabited village and the sea.

Samugheo in Mandrolisai in the province of Oristano is a Sardinian centre for the production of carpets, tapestries and traditional clothing. It is based on a weaving tradition handed down over centuries. Murats is a regional museum of textile art displaying textile works from throughout Sardinia. Tessingiu renews this textile tradition every year with a specialist exhibition and trade fair. Samugheo is also known for pecorino, good wine and breadmaking; in October, a folk festival is dedicated to bread.

Nature and trails

The Tepilora Regional Nature Park encompasses almost 8,000 hectares of forests, paths and waterways extending from the mountains of Barbagia to the coastal wetlands. The Rio Posada has a meander pattern unique to Sardinia and is used by canoeists and birdwatchers. In Tepilora Nature Park, canoes or SUPs can be rented with a FICK instructor.

The updated Rete Escursionistica della Sardegna connects the trail network with the Cammini di Sardegna and improves the usability of the routes for residents and visitors. Through the RES, the island can be explored on trails suitable for everyone from beginners to experienced hikers. The Torpè–Monte Nurres route ends with a path accessible only on foot and equipped for wildlife observation, offering a 360-degree view of Monte Tepilora, the Rio Posada valley, the Siniscola plain and the sea. The trail near Punta Giglio uses nine multilingual information panels and a Braille panel to explain vegetation, history, wildlife and geomorphology.

The National Park of the Gulf of Orosei and Gennargentu combines peaks, pastures, plateaus, gorges, ancient forests, sea cliffs, caves and beaches. The park offers trails for trekking and mountain-bike excursions. In 1999, conservation measures were established in the Molentargius-Saline Regional Park for one of Europe’s most important resting and breeding areas for waterfowl. The Porto Conte Regional Park is home to 35 recorded mammal species and 150 bird species.

Coast and sea

The La Maddalena Archipelago National Park covers more than 20,000 hectares on land and at sea, 180 kilometres of coastline and more than 60 islands. Its seabed offers opportunities for diving. The Capo Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area covers 15,000 hectares with clear waters, bays, white beaches, islands and lagoons. Diving centres accompany visitors to dive sites in this marine protected area.

Cala Brandinchi has very shallow water extending for several dozen metres, rocky areas with marine fauna and opportunities for snorkelling. Behind La Pelosa are gentle dunes covered with juniper.

Asinara Island can be reached via a public sea connection operated by Compagnia di Navigazione Delcomar on the Porto Torres–Cala Reale route. Visitors arriving by ferry in Cala Reale receive information from the guides and visitor centres there about possible activities and visits in Asinara National Park. In Zone B of the Asinara Marine Protected Area, diving, swimming, sailing or rowing, authorised commercial fishing, snorkelling and pesca tourism are permitted.

Getting around

The Trenino Verde is currently considered a system of four routes with a total length of 163 kilometres. The routes connect Sardinia’s coast and hinterland and are linked with boat trips as well as excursions on foot, by bicycle and on horseback.

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