Sardinia, Italy

Sardinia ( /sɑrˈdɪniə/, Italian: Sardegna [sarˈdeɲɲa], Sardinian: Sardigna [sarˈdinja]) is the second-largest isle inwards the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily together with earlier Cyprus). It is an autonomous percentage of Italy, together with the nearest province masses are (clockwise from north) the French isle of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia together with the Castilian Balearic Islands.

The advert Sardinia is from the pre-Roman substantive *sard[], romanised every bit sardus (feminine sarda); that the advert had a religious connotation is suggested from its exercise also every bit the describing word for the ancient Sardinian mythological hero-god Sardus Pater "Sardinian Father" (misunderstood yesteryear many modern Sardinians/Italians every bit existence "Father Sardus"), every bit good every bit existence the stalk of the describing word "sardonic". Sardinia was called Ichnusa (the Latinised shape of the Greek Hyknousa), Sandalion, Sardinia together with Sardo yesteryear the ancient Greeks together with the Romans.

Transport

Airports

Sardinia has iii international airports (Alghero Airport, Olbia - Costa Smeralda Airport, together with Cagliari-Elmas Airport) connected alongside the principal Italian cities together with many European destinations, mainly inwards the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Spain, together with Germany, together with 2 regional airports (Oristano-Fenosu Airport together with Tortolì Airport). Internal air connections betwixt Sardinian airports are express to a daily Cagliari-Olbia flight, together with Tortolì-Olbia flight.[23] Sardinian citizens practise goodness from particular sales on bird tickets, together with several low-cost air companies operate on the island. Meridiana Fly is an airline based inwards the aerodrome of Olbia; it was founded every bit Alisarda inwards 1963 yesteryear the Aga Khan, Prince Karim al-Hussayni. The evolution of the Meridiana airlines followed the evolution of the resort hamlet of Porto Cervo inwards the northward due east purpose of the island, a good known opor-garai spot amid billionaires together with film stars worldwide.

Quartu Sant'Elena 71,254 inhab.

Ship carry

The ferry companies operating on the isle are Tirrenia di Navigazione, Moby Lines, Corsica Ferries, Grandi Navi Veloci, Snav, SNCM, together with CMN; they link the Sardinian harbors of Porto Torres, Olbia, Golfo Aranci, Arbatax, Santa Teresa Gallura, Palau together with Cagliari alongside Civitavecchia, Genoa, Livorno, Naples, Palermo, Trapani, Piombino inwards Italy, Marseille, Toulon, Bonifacio, Propriano together with Ajaccio inwards France, together with Barcelona inwards Spain. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 regional ferry company, the Saremar, links the principal isle to the islands of La Maddalena together with San Pietro, together with from 2014, also the port of Olbia alongside Civitavecchia.

Alstom Minuetto inwards Cagliari railway station

Roads

Sardinia is the exclusively Italian percentage without motorways, but the route network is good developed, alongside a organization of "superstrade" (dual railroad vehicle freeways), that connect the principal towns together with the carry infrastructures; the speed boundary is xc km/h. The principal route is the SS131 "Carlo Felice", linking the northward alongside the S of the island, crossing the nigh populated regions of Sassari together with Cagliari; it is purpose of European route E25. The SS 131 d.c.n links Oristano alongside Olbia, crossing the hinterland Nuoro region. Other roads designed for high-capacity traffic link Sassari alongside Alghero, Sassari alongside Tempio Pausania, Sassari - Olbia, Cagliari - Tortolì, Cagliari - Iglesias, Nuoro - Villagrande Strisaili. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 operate inwards progress is converting the principal routes to highways standards, alongside the elimination of all intersections. The secondary inland together with mount roads are to a greater extent than oftentimes than non narrow alongside many hairpin turns, together with thus the speed limits are really low. Public carry buses accomplish every town together with hamlet at to the lowest degree i time a day; however, due to the depression density of population, the smallest territories are reachable exclusively yesteryear car. The Azienda Regionale Sarda Trasporti (Arst) is the populace regional motorcoach carry agency.

The body of body of water at Stintino

Railways

The Sardinian railway organization was developed inwards the 19th century, yesteryear the English linguistic communication engineer Lord Benjamin Piercy. Trains connect the whole island, together with at that topographic point are 2 dissimilar railway operators. Trenitalia is the largest, connecting the largest towns, the principal ports, together with also the Italian peninsula through the exercise of prepare ferries. This network is the nigh modern on the island, running primarily diesel fuel locomotives such every bit the Alstom "Minuetto" and, from 2013, speed tilting trains such every bit the Castilian CAF Class 598 or the Talgo XXI. The 2nd operator is ARST Gestione FdS, best known every bit Ferrovie della Sardegna (Sardinian Railways), running on narrow-gauge track, together with they are to a greater extent than oftentimes than non really slow, except the electrified tram-trains, operating inwards the metropolitan areas of Sassari together with Cagliari. Many tourists choose care of the trenino verde, which runs through the wildest parts of the island. It is irksome but allows the traveller to direct keep scenic views impossible to meet from the principal road.

Porto Giunco inwards Villasimius

On the trail inwards Sardinia

Locals volition tell you lot that the exclusively way to meet Sardinia’s startlingly beautiful coastlines together with rugged hinterland is to go out together with hike.

And at that topographic point is no improve identify to hitting the trails than inwards the island’s wild east, where mountains collide spectacularly alongside the Mediterranean inwards the Golfo di Orosei together with Gennargentu National Park. Here are iii of our favourite half-day hikes.

The Campidano Plain close Las Plassas

Gola Su Gorropu

Often billed every bit “Europe’s Grand Canyon”, the Gola Su Gorropu is an isolated together with dramatic gorge, best reached on human foot from the Genna ‘e Silana go yesteryear on route SS125. Allow 4 to 5 hours for the round-trip trek.

The 10.5 km trail threads yesteryear starkly eroded limestone slopes, stone pinnacles together with cliffs pockmarked alongside caves. Gnarled holm oaks offering cool recess on hot days, but otherwise the landscape is raw together with uncompromising. As you lot descend, the sentiment cracks opened upwards to unwrap the entrance to the gorge.

Gennargentu Ranges inwards winter

The ravine has 400m-high walls of sheer limestone, which block out the Sun together with quiet the footing outside. Follow the cairns for some piece of cake hopping across the boulders that surroundings the gorge. Near the narrowest point, which is only 4 metres wide, intrepid climbers tackle the notoriously tough Hotel Supramonte, a near-vertical limestone cliff which towers 400m higher upwards the Gola Su Gorropu together with is i of the hardest climbs on the island. Pine martens, golden eagles together with mouflon tin give the axe last spotted hither at quieter times of the day.

Granitic landscape inwards Gallura

Cala Goloritzè

Doable fifty-fifty alongside kids inwards tow, this gentle two-and-a-half hour, 7.5 km round-trip hike takes you lot to the lovely bay of Cala Goloritzè, nestled inwards the southern crook of the Golfo di Orosei. The trailhead is the otherworldly Golgo plateau, where wild goats, pigs together with donkeys graze.

Cala Goloritzé inwards Ogliastra Baunei

Following old mule trails, the path picks its way through centuries-old woods together with Mediterranean scrub that is fragrant alongside wild rosemary. As you lot approach the bay, you lot volition larn arresting views of the glittering body of body of water together with of sheer limestone cliffs pitted alongside caves. Steps Pb downwards to Cala Goloritzè, a perfect half-moon bay alongside frost-white pebbles thrashed yesteryear a body of body of water that goes through the entire spectrum of blues, from aquamarine to cobalt. Bizarre limestone formations soar away from the cliffs, including Monte Caroddi or Aguglia, a 148m-high finger of stone that is a beacon to climbers.

A typical limestone tacco inwards Ogliastra

Tiscali

This half-day, 10.5 km hike takes you lot through a soundless karst wilderness to the enigmatic Bronze Age village of Tiscali, accessible exclusively yesteryear foot. Beginning at the Sa Barva bridge, the scenery is similar a shot spectacular, alongside walls of limestone rising similar an Fe mantle higher upwards the Flumineddu River. The boulder-dotted trail makes a steady ascent earlier passing through shady holm-oak together with turpentine woods, flecked alongside pinkish cyclamens inwards spring. Lizards together with the occasional bird of prey are probable to last your exclusively companions.

A small concluding climb brings you lot to the eerie magnificence of the archaeological site of Tiscali, where skeletal ruins huddle inwards the twilight of a collapsed limestone cave. Survey the verdant Lainattu Valley below together with appreciate the overwhelming feel of calm.

Giants' grave inwards Dorgali

How to

Spring together with tumble are the best times for hiking inwards Sardinia, alongside mild temperatures together with enough of seasonal colour. Invest inwards a skilful map every bit non all trails are signposted, though some are way-marked alongside handy cairns together with pigment splashes. If you lot would rather bring together a group, Cooperativa Gorropu together with Cooperativa Goloritzè adapt guided walks for only about xl euro per person. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 cracking base of operations for hikers together with climbers is the Lemon House inwards Lotzorai.