SARDINIA
Sardinia is a place where you can still have an idyllic vacation and discover wonderful places that lie off the beaten track. The island, which is elongated in shape, extends from north to south. The vegetation of Sardinia's northern and southern regions varies quite a bit as do the island's cultural traditions, and Sardinians have adapted to these differences in their natural environment. The best known area in Sardinia is Costa Smeralda with its unique small sandy beaches nestled among many different types of cliffs that border the coast's numerous bays. Portobello, a cluster of lovely villas containing rental apartments, is typical of the accommodations available in the north of sardinia. Located on Sardinia's east coast a half hour south of Olbia, San Teodoro has reinvented itself. Once a simple fishing village, it is now a popular resort town. This is mainly attributable to the nearby beaches, particularly La Cinta with its superlative three kilometer-long stretch of white sand. Not far to the south on the SS125 you come upon Nuoro, the capital city of the eponymous province that extends across the center of Sardinia from the east to the west coasts. This is the region people head directly to when they're interested in discovering Sardinia at its most genuine. Perdasdefogu is another place where visitors can discover the real Sardinia. Surrounded by ancient holm-oak trees, this village is nestled in the Sardinian mountains between the historic Oligastra and Salto de Quirra regions. The island's topography changes considerably as you travel south. Muravera is set in a hilly landscape and is bordered by large lagoons where pink flamingos and many other avian species can often be seen. Torresalinas, 7 km away, consists of a group of sea-front villas located on a stretch of Sardinia's southern coast that lies off the beaten path. In contrast to Torresalinas, Costa Rei, which is located further to the south, has become a magnet for tourism but has lost none of its charm. Located about 50 km south of the island's capital city of Cagliari, Costa Rei (King's coast) offers visitors crystal clear waters that are almost surrealistically aquamarine in color, and long white sandy beaches. Villagio Rocca Sant' Elmo, which is nestled in an unspoiled natural area at the tip of Costa Rei, was built in the 1990s. Here, Vito Sonzogni's ingenious and prize winning architecture enables the buildings to blend in seamlessly with their natural surroundings. Villasimius is a picturesque former fishing village. Geremeas is also every vacationer's dream of the perfect place to be. A mere 30 km to the east of the hubbub of Sardinia's capital city of Caligari, this resort is located on a section of coastline that is not visible from the coastal road and offers the loveliest long white sandy beaches imaginable.Is Molas is set in an exquisite landscape consisting of intensely green maquis, pine forests and lush flowering vegetation including palms and cacti. The view of the sea, the Pula flatland and the mountains is magnificent. |
Sardinian Beaches - Beaches
Geremeas:
For those of you who enjoy a well-groomed living environment combined with ocean proximity, Geremeas is spot on. These are two exquisite and extensive beaches and is just half an hour's drive from Cagliari. |
Villasimius
Some of Sardinia's most sensational beaches are to be found in the vicinity of the traditional coastal village of Villasimius. Fantastic views over the coastline can be seen from the light tower. |
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Chia:
Baia Chia resembles the dreamy beaches of the Caribbean. Towering white sand dunes and crystal clear waters make this coastal stretch one of Sardinia's highlights |
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Pula:
One of the most magical as well as diversified stretches of coastline in Sardinia is to be found in Pula. Balmy beaches and coves, Roman excavations and blindingly white sand dunes endow the area with its richness. |
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Poetto Cagliaris Beaches:
Only a few kilometres away from Sardinia's capital are endless beaches to be found, where you can relax, stroll around or just sunbathe. A place where the stresses and strains of city life are easily forgotten. |
San Teodoro:
The shooting star of Sardinia's beach resorts! The one time fishing village of San Teodoro now lures sun worshippers, active holiday-makers and night lovers from all around the world to its snow-white beaches. |
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Smeralda Coast ( Costa
Smeralda ):
The "Emerald Coast" is not only widely celebrated as a playground for the rich and famous, but also for its unrivalled beaches and secluded coves. |
Portobello: Portobello is situated on Sardinia's wildly romantic northern Coast. With a beautiful beach right outside the front door, as well as many others in the adjacent vicinity, this is an ocean swimmer's delight. |
Costa Rei's Beaches
The "Coast of Kings" è in south-east Sardinia is famed for its translucent, turquoise waters and never-ending, white sandy beaches |
Sant'Elmo
Sant Elmo is located in the southerly part of Costa Rei. Here you will discover picturesque coves of sand and rock as well as numerous secret and deserted spots, even in high season. The turquoise blue waters and bizarre rock formations are an eyecatcher. |
Torresalinas:
Torresalinas, con le relative vaste spiagge colorate ocracee, fornisce più di abbastanza respiro per resto e rilassamento, anche nell'alta stagione. Ideale per i bambini con le relative acque poco profonde |
Thought was populated since prehistory
(the first human settlements date back to 6.000 - 5.000 B.C.), Sardinia
never elaborated a unitary association form. The trace
of the settlement is therefore extremelyfragmentary, as lots of little
villages throughout the island witness.Villages, which are expression
of a civil-social order, organized in communities and tribal groups
of modest entity.The age of the nuragic civilization was a period
of independence, but also of relative isolation from the big cultural
movements in the Mediterranean area. The Nuraghe with its peculiar
architectural structure is the most representative sign of that past.
A typical character of Sardinian archaeology is the disposition of
the monuments and architectural works, spread all over the countryside,
making up a harmonious whole with the natural environment. |
Gastronomia Sarda
The Sardinian Cuisine: is a celebration of
natural products from the land and surrounding sea. It unites dishes
from the ancient pastoral and farming traditions with those based
on fish and seafood, and the flavours of the natural ingredients
are exalted by the unmistakable aromas of the island's Mediterranean
essences. Even today Sardinian cuisine is strictly linked to the
seasons and its secret lies in the quality of the ingredients and
the simplicity of its dishes. It offers visitors a triumph of unique
flavours, with each area boasting a vast selection of local specialities,
all prepared according to ancient traditions and customs. The fine
products provided by both the land and sea mean that the choice of
delicious main courses is particularly rich. Among the many celebrated
meat dishes, the most well-known is unquestionably "porceddu", suckling
pig cooked on a spit or "a carraxiu", that is to say cooked in a
hole dug in the ground, using the aromatic wood of the Mediterranean
scrub land. However, there are numerous other mouth-watering dishes,
such as rabbit "a succhittu", served in a sauce made from the rabbit's
liver, wine, capers and tomatoes; wild boar in Cannonau wine; stewed
thrushes and quail wrapped in myrtle leaves. |
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However, it is perhaps the production and elaboration
of bread which best illustrates the quality of Sardinian flour and
the island age-old tradition. Each region boasts its own speciality
bread, made with special techniques and according to ancient recipes.
Sanluri is famous for "civraxiu", Ozieri for "spianata", Ogliastra
for "pistoccu". |
Sardinian WineIn the suggestive Italian island, keeper of millenary traditions and cultures, wine has always represented an important resource, an ancient history which is capable of surprising even today |
Sardinia certainly is one of the most charming places of Italy, not only for the natural wonders found in this island, but also for its very ancient and rich traditions; an indissoluble heritage from culture, from places and from people who live here. Rich traditions and cultures which are also found in the ancient heritage of cooking, made of the many traditions which are found in the many areas and places of Sardinia, including wine, which in this land represents an important element of identity and history. From white wines to reds, an enological path also passing in the other styles and, among them, authentic rarities, extraordinary representatives of the island's wine making, such as Malvasia di Bosa and Vernaccia di Oristano. Two wonderful examples of wines with an extraordinary ancient taste, which give their best with very long times of aging. Sardinia has worth representatives in other wines as well - or better to say - in other grapes too. Vermentino is the most renowned white berried grape of the island and from which are being produced - in the whole territory of the region - excellent wines. Cannonau is still the most famous red berried grape of the island, even though since many years other red grapes are getting more and more famous thanks to the excellent results they produced in wine making: Carignan and Bovale. The richness of grapes in Sardinia goes beyond the ones already mentioned and which represent the most famous ones outside the region. In fact, Sardinia has a pretty interesting heritage of autochthonous grapes and, despite many of them have been introduced by Spaniards, after centuries of adaptation in the territory, today are being considered among the typical grapes of the region. Of course, here are also found the so called international grapes which are usually added to local varieties, as well as typical grapes from other Italian regions, such as Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Montepulciano and Barbera. According to archaeological studies and researches, vine and wine are present in Sardinia since about 5,000 years. In fact, are dated back to this era the first findings of amphoras and cups in the area occupied by Nuraghi, the ancient people who lived in the island. Despite the age of these archaeological findings, it is believed vine was introduced in Sardinia by Phoenicians, during the period in which they occupied the island. In fact, it is believed the introduction of the vitis vinifera occurred in the seventeenth century b.C., in particular in the colonies of Tharros, Othoca, Cornus, Bithia, Karalis and Noca, all being situated in the western coast. Another important archaeological discovery - dated back to the fourth century b.C., in Roman times - witnesses the historical importance of the wine in the island. In 1984, near the Nuraghe Arrubiu di Orrioli - in the province of Nuoro - has been found a "wine making laboratory" with vessels and tanks for the fermentation and aging of wine. In the course of the diggings were also found some grape pips belonging to unidentifiable varieties. Because of the strategic geographical position of the island in the Mediterranean, Sardinia has been - in the course of the centuries - subject to conquests by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Aragonese, Genovese, Pisans and - finally - by Sabaudi. Because of the influence of the people who dominated the island, viticulture and wine making has been strongly affected by the traditions and cultures of the many people, while living alternates periods of decay and of truly splendor. Among the people who mainly contributed to the development of enology in the island, are remembered the ones coming from the Aegean sea and from the Iberian peninsula. In fact, these people introduced new and fundamental viticultural and enological techniques, as well as the introduction of new grape varieties, still today found in Sardinia where they play an important role. Many of the famous grapes of Sardinia - such as Cannonau and Carignan - have been introduced by Spaniards, however the quantity of autochthonous grapes is pretty interesting and capable of making very good wines. A fundamental event for the viticulture of Sardinia - as well as for its agriculture - was represented by the promulgation of Carta De Logu. It was in 1392 Eleonora di Arborea - by continuing the job done by her father Mariano IV - promulgated this important document which regulated the viticulture and agriculture until 1827. Carta De Logu had in its goals, the purpose of increasing, safeguarding and incentivizing the cultivation of the vine and the production of wine. Moreover, there were also emanated heavy fines and corporal penalties to anyone not obeying to Carta De Logu's laws, which also provided the cut of the hand to anyone who fired vineyards or furtively uprooted vineyards. To the ones who did not plant vineyards in their lands, they were confiscated and given to others capable of working them. At the end of feudal times, rural property was abolished and many lands were therefore destined to pastures, then, in 1736 - thanks to marquis of Rivarolo - Carta De Logu was reintroduced again, therefore contributing to the development of viticulture in Sardinia. It was in this period wines of Sardinia began to become popular outside the borders of the region, in particular Cannonau produced in the areas near Nuoro, Vermentino di Gallura, Vernaccia di Oristano, Malvasia di Bosa, Monica passito (sweet), Girò, Moscato and Nasco. The development of wine making in Sardinia - here as it was everywhere else - was stopped with the arrive of phylloxera: only the vineyards planted in sandy soils could be saved. It was just in the beginning of the 1950's viticulture in Sardinia could resume its development thanks to the establishment of countless cooperative wineries. In this period the production was mainly attracted by quantity instead of quality, in particular for colored and concentrated red wines, with high alcohol volume, frequently used for strengthening other wines. With the introduction of quality production - which requires low yields in vineyards - many of cooperative and private wineries of Sardinia ended their business. This event - here as well as in other Italian regions - has allowed wines of Sardinia to reach the current remarkable quality levels, including the historical and typical wines of the island produced with autochthonous grapes. |
Classification of Sardinia: Wines of Sardinia are classified according to the quality system in force in Italy. In Sardinia are currently defined 19 DOC areas (Denominazione d'Origine Controllata, Denomination of Controlled Origin) and one DOCG (Denominazione d'Origine Controllata e Garantita, Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin), recognized to Vermentino di Gallura. The production of Sardinia is pretty vast and interesting: besides white and red wines, in the island are also produced excellent sweet wines as well as a wine with an ancient and complex taste: Vernaccia di Oristano, which would certainly deserve a better attention. The 19 DOC ares of Sardinia are: Alghero, Arborea, Campidano di Terralba, Cannonau di Sardegna, Carignano del Sulcis, Girò di Cagliari, Malvasia di Bosa, Malvasia di Cagliari, Mandrolisai, Monica di Cagliari, Monica di Sardegna, Moscato di Cagliari, Moscato di Sardegna, Moscato di Sorso-Sennori, Nasco di Cagliari, Nuragus di Cagliari, Semidano di Sardegna, Vermentino di Sardegna and Vernaccia di Oristano. In Sardinia - just like in other regions of Italy - the production of IGT wines (Indicazione Geografica Tipica, Typical Geographical Indication), is very rich and interesting, in which autochthonous grapes are frequently used with the so called international varieties. |
Production Areas: In Sardinia the vine is cultivated in the whole territory of the region and many DOC wines are being produced in the entire territory of the island. Sardinia has a pretty rich heritage of autochthonous grapes and the ones introduced in the past centuries by the people who controlled its dominion, are now considered as local grapes. In the island is also recorded a presence of international grapes generally used in the production of wines and added to the local varieties. Despite in the whole region are being produced different wine styles, in Sardinia is found a sort of territorial division in the preference of production for specific styles. Whereas in the central and northern parts there is a higher production of white wines, the production of red wines is mainly concentrated in the southern part of the island. The main white berried grapes of Sardinia are: Malvasia Bianca, Malvasia di Sardegna, Nasco, Nuragus, Semidano, Torbato, Vermentino and Vernaccia di Oristano. As for red grapes, here are mentioned the main ones: Bovale, Caddiu, Cagnulari, Cannonau, Carignano, Girò, Monica and Nieddera. |
Vermentino di Gallura: The white berried grape with which are produced the most famous wines of Sardinia certainly is Vermentino. Despite this grape makes very good wines in the whole territory of the island, Gallura - the territory found in the northern part of the region - is the most classic and representative area. Vermentino di Gallura - the only DOCG wine of Sardinia - is extremely interesting, in particular the superior style, which, according to the disciplinary, it must have at least 13,5% of alcohol by volume. The main characteristic of this wine, of average structure, is represented by its evident aromas and flavors of almond. According to historical facts, Vermentino arrived in Gallura after 1850, probably coming from France after having passed Corse, the island where it is still cultivated. In Gallura Vermentino is the most cultivated grape and represents about 80% of total production, whereas the rest is represented by Muscat Blanc, Bovale, Caricagiola and Nebbiolo, the renowned grape from Langhe, Piedmont, here used for the production of interesting IGT wines. |
Cannonau di Sardegna: The most famous red berried grape of Sardinia - as well as the most cultivated one in the region - is Cannonau. Despite historians agree on the fact Cannonau was introduced in Sardinia during the dominion of Spaniards, it is not clear what is the original variety to which it belongs to. In fact, it is believed Cannonau is pretty similar to Canonazo - common in the area of Seville - as well as to Granaxo of Aragon and, finally - being the most common hypothesis - similar to Grenache Noir. Cannonau is cultivated in the whole region, however the most typical area is in the province of Nuoro, where are found three of the four Cannonau di Sardegna sub areas: Oliena, Nepente di Oliena and Jerzu. The fourth sub area - Capo Ferrato - is located in the southern part of the island in the province of Cagliari. Cannonau makes wines - in particular the ones of the Oliena area - with high alcohol volumes and robust structures, however the introduction of modern technologies allows today the production of excellent and very balanced Cannonau wines. Because of its low acidity, Cannonau is also vinified together with other grapes, usually autochthonous, in order to improve the gustatory balance. |
Vernaccia di Oristano: Vernaccia di Oristano is one of the most suggestive wines of Sardinia and which would certainly deserve a better attention and consideration by consumers. Vernaccia di Oristano is also one of the most ancient wines of Sardinia - the first historical information are dated back to the 1300's - and it is also the first wine of the region to which was recognized the DOC status, in 1972. The wine is produced with the homonymous white grape, which is probably autochthonous of Sardinia. Despite Vernaccia di Oristano is legitimately considered a white wine, its production is pretty different from the wine making techniques used for these wines. Vinification and aging are still done according to ancient traditional methods, a process which frequently makes Vernaccia di Oristano to be considered similar to Spanish Jerez (Sherry), indeed it has its own and precise identity. The aging of Vernaccia di Oristano is done in partially filled chestnut cask, in which develop a colony of yeast (flor) which will give the wine - after tens of years - complex and unique organoleptic qualities. Time represents the main secret for this wine, as it improves as years passes by and with proper aging it can express extraordinary aromas of almond, hazelnut and its typical rancho aroma. |
Other Areas: Besides the grapes and wines already mentioned, there must also be cited other typical varieties of Sardinia and from which are being produced interesting wines. One of the most interesting is the famous Malvasia di Bosa, produced in limited quantities, with a sweet taste and that with time improves by increasing its complexity and charm. As for sweet wines, there should be mentioned Moscato di Cagliari, Moscato di Sardegna and Moscato di Sorso-Sennori. Among white berried grapes should be mentioned Nuragus which, after having been the main grape of the island in terms of quantity, today - thanks to the modern wine making techniques - it is capable of producing good quality wines, different from the ones of the past, considered "rustic" and modest. For the Alghero area are mentioned the wines produced with Torbato grape - of Spanish origin - both whites and sparkling. Among red berried grapes, are mentioned the excellent results obtained in the last years with Carignan grape: elegant full bodied wines which reached the top of Sardinia's enology. Other interesting red grapes of Sardinia used for the production of wines include Monica, Cagnulari, Nieddera and Bovale, frequently used together with Cannonau and Carignan. |
List of city in Sardinia
Gemini immobiliare - Porto S. Paolo - Costa Smeralda - Gallura - Sardegna