Sassari

Sassari is situated in the north western part of Sardinia. Overlooking the Sardinian Sea on the north and on the west, it is attached by the Provinces of Oristano and Nuoro on the south, and by the Province of Olbia-Tempio on the east.

It spreads out for 4.281 square kilometres (17,8% of Sardinian territory) and comprises 66 communes, included some of the most beautiful touristic resorts as: Castelsardo, Alghero e Stintino, besides the island of Asinara. In the province there is the only natural lake in Sardinia, the lake of Baratz, apart from the western part of the Coghinas artificial lake.

There is also one of the largest plains of Sardinia, the Nurra, a former malarial region drained during the Fascist era; and numerous beaches, which are distinguished in rocky and sandy.

In the inner part of the Province, however, is very important the territory of the Logudoro, characterized by a hilly and mountainous landscape, in which there is the third Sardinian centre most high on the sea level, Pattada, known for the production of craftmade knifes, sa Resolza. From 1600 to 1500 A. C. it has been developed in this area the civilization of Nuraghi, as in other parts of the island, and of which there are numerous remainings.

What to taste:

• The traditional dishes are la cavolata (cabbage soup with pork) and favata (beans cooked with bacon, sausage and spices).
• Other traditional dishes are the lamb cordula (juniper-flavoured lamb offal), fried squid, and cuttlefish cooked with tomatoes.
• The desserts include papassini (with nuts and raisins) and the sospiri di Ozieri (praline almond paste with honey, wrapped in a sugar and chocolate).
• Local wines are the Moscato Sorso-Sennari, as well as a great production of white, rosé and red wines in the area of Alghero, exported worldwide.

Cities & Towns:

Coming soon

What to do:

• If you planning a holiday by the sea you have chosen the right place. There are the beaches of the Gulf of Asinara, like the Platamona beach or the beach of the Pelosa in Stintino, with very transparent waters, sheltered by the Isola Piana. Moreover, the beaches of Lido San Giovanni and of the Bombarde, in Alghero, the Balai beach in Porto Torres and that of Lu Bagnu, next to Castelsardo.
• Also in the area of the Asinara National Park it is possible to organize different types of excursions to discover the beauty of local flora and fauna, marine and terrestrial, including the characteristic albino donkey, symbol of the island. Guided tours are available in the park by foot (trekking), by bus, by train, by jeep, bicycle and horseback. And more, diving, boating and sailing, and fishing.

Places to visit: Churches, Museums, Ruins, Piazzas, Fountains,

• Fontana del Rosello (Rosello's Fountain), built in Late Renaissance style and characterized by statues representing the seasons plus a statue of San Gavino riding.
• To northwest of Porto Torres, almost on the end of the small peninsula that reaches the island of Asinara, there is the picturesque village of Stintino, a former fishing village and now popular seaside resort with golden beaches and crystalline sea.
• By continuing along the coast, we reach the beautiful town of Alghero, full of monuments. These include the ancient towers, that once surrounded the entire village and today are just seven (among which Torre de Sant Joan, the Torre de l'Esperò Reial, the Torre de Sant Jaume, the Torre de la Polvorera) the bastions, the ancient fortification of the city, the Plàia Civica, which is the medieval square of the city, the Cathedral of Santa Maria, built in 1500 in Gothic-Catalan style and the Plàia of Bisbe, a neoclassical place with the Teatro Civico, the Palazzo Vescovile and the Casa Doria.

Events:

• There are many festivals and folklore events in the Province of Sassari. Among these, the Cavalcata sarda, which is held on the third Sunday of May in Sassari, and that opens the season on the island. For the occasion, women, men, young people, elderly and children parade through the city in traditional costumes, some by foot some riding their horses.
• In Alghero there is the procession of Lunissanti, which takes place on Holy Monday, with the final torchlight procession along the streets of the town in the evening.  

Tours avaiable in the region:

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Nuoro

Nuoro is situated in the central eastern part of Sardinia. Facing the Tyrrhenian Sea on the East, it is bounded by the Provinces of Sassari and Olbia-Tempio on the north, by the Province of Oristano on the west and with the Province of Cagliari and Ogliastra on the south. It spreads out for 3.934 square kilometres (16,3% of Sardinian territory) and is the second Province in the island, for dimensions, after Sassari.

The Province comprises 52 communes, including Nuoro and Siniscola, but only the 1% of the territory is occupied by urban areas: the rich and diverse natural heritage which goes from coast to mountains, dominate the province.

In the Province of Nuoro there is the most largest part of the island, the Gennargentu, whose highest top, Punta La Marmora, reaches 1.834 metres. Other important reliefs are the big calcareous rise of Monte Albo and of Monte Ortobene.

At the foot of the mountains there is an outline of coastal system of exceptional beauty, which includes the coastal areas of Dorgali, Orosei and Siniscola.

Behind the coast line, the most part of the territory is delineated as a hill type area with forests of oak woods and cork wods, dominated by the Maquis. Included in this landscape there are countless archaeological sites. The main rivers are the Cedrino, the Posada and Tirso, while near the City of Gavoi you find the artificial lake of Gusana, which contains 60 million cubic metres of water.

The Province of Nuoro has been concerned for long by the phenomenon of karst, a chemical process by which the rains that have become slightly acid operate the dissolution of calcareous rocks. The intense karstic activity which affected the rocks over millennia has resulted in caves of extraordinary beauty, among which we remember those of Sa Oche and Su Bentu, in the valley of Lanaittu, the chasm of Ispinigoli, in the territory of Dorgali, and the cave of Bue Marino in Calagonone, the most famous of Sardinia, which was populated until a few decades ago by the last surviving monk seal exemplars, which today is presumed extinct.

What to taste:

• The main food of Nuoro has always been the carasau bread (they call it "music paper" because of its very thin crispy pastry); as well as being eaten fresh, is used in the form of pane frattau that is steeped in water or broth and seasoned with tomato sauce, pecorino cheese and poached eggs, or as pane guttiau where the bread is made warm and then seasoned with drops of oil and a bit of salt.
• The appetizers are made from wild boar or mountain ham, various sausages and salamis. Among the pasta dishes we mention culurgiones, large ravioli stuffed with cheese, potatoes and mint, maharrones de busa and maharrones hurriaos, which are dressed with sauce and fresh pecorino.
• Among the second courses, there is porcetto (pork), boiled sheep and roast lamb as well as entrails, such as trattalia, or blood. The typical seadas is a large circular-shaped sweet ravioli stuffed with cheese, fried and flavoured with honey or sugar. Then there is the aranzada, a dessert made of thin strands of orange cooked in honey and covered with almond sticks.
• A very particular rare taste is sa pompia, hybrid of orange and grapefruit, which grows only in the eastern coastal area of Nuoro, boiled and caramelled in arbutus honey. Characteristic of the area is also the turròn.
• The local wines ar the Mandrolisai, the Monica and the Malvasia. The typical liquor is the Mirto made from myrtle berries.  

Cities & Towns:

Coming soon

What to do:

• A nature lovers dream come true from sea, lanscape to the mountains it is the ideal place for relaxation and nature excursions.
• The lush flora and the rich fauna and birds (mouflon, Sardinian foxes, weasels, wild boars, but also hawks, peregrine falcons, griffon vultures, eagles) make this area a paradise for lovers of photography and birdwatching.
• There are numerous caves of enchanting beauty.
• Nuoro is also ideal for beach lovers, with its beautiful beaches and inlets, like those of Cape Comino, Cala Liberotto and Santa Lucia.

Places to visit: Churches, Museums, Ruins, Piazzas, Fountains,

• Nuoro is rich in art and history and filled with monuments. Among these, the Duomo (Cathedral), built in the middle of the 19th century, which preserves paintings by local artists; the Church of San Simplicio, built between the 11th and the 12th centuries in roman style; the Sanctuary and the Chiesa delle Grazie; the MAN, Museo dell'Arte di Nuoro, distributed over four floors, two of which house temporary exhibitions and the other two house works by Sardinian artists from the early twentieth century until today; the National Archaeological Museum, where you can admire numerous exhibits on the history of Nuoro and its area from the Neolithic to Medieval times.
• To the west of Nuoro there is the territory of the Baronie, characterized by fertile plains and beautiful hills. The main towns are Orosei and Siniscola. In Orosei it is worth visiting, besides the old town, the Museum Giovanni Guiso, the Parish Church of San Giacomo Maggiore built in Arabic style and the Church of San Antonio Abate (St. Anthony the Great), dated back to the 14th century, which houses a wooden statue of the saint who is celebrated every year with a big bonfire on 17th January. Among the monuments of Siniscola there are the eighteenth century parish church of San Giovanni Battista.

Events:

• There are also many celebrations and folkloristic ceremonies in the province. Particular attention should be given to a feast of fireworks in honour of Saint Anthony the Great, scheduled on January 16 and 17 and the Carnival of Mamoiada, characterized by the presence of mamuthones, figures with mysterious origins who parade through the streets of the village dressed in leather, their face covered with tragic wooden masks and heavy bunches of bells on the shoulders.  

Tours avaiable in the region:

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Oristano

Oristano is located on the eastern part of Sardegna. It borders on the Sassari province to the north, the Nuoro province to the east and the provinces of Medio Campidano and Cagliari to the south. The total surface is 3.040 square kilometers & includes 88 towns & cities.

The territory varies: from the vast Campidano Plain (shared in part with the Medio Campidano, Carbonia-Iglesias and Cagliari provinces) to the Monte Ferru range, whose highest peak (Monte Urtigu) reaches 1000 meters above sea level. The Sinis Peninsula is included in the province.

There are over 90 km of coast ranging from sandy beaches to calcareous cliffs, to rocky bluffs. Two rivers cross the province: the Tirso, which opens to the Gulf of Oristano, and the Temo, the only waterway of the island, although not entirely navigable.

The province comprises many protected areas such as the Monte Arci Regional Park, the Sinis Peninsula – Mal di Ventre Island Marine Protected Area and the S’Archittu a S. Caterina Natural Monument near Cuglieri, the latter being a 15-meter natural arch created by the erosion of the calcareous walls of what once was a sea cave.

Around Oristano there are over 6.000 hectares worth of wetlands. The most famous is the stagno di Cabras, considered one of the best-preserved wetlands of Europe. Connected to the sea, it is home to several rare aquatic bird species (red-crested pochard, purple heron, purple swamphen and Eurasian coot) and fish such as seabass, eel and mullet (whose eggs are used to make the ‘bottarga’).

Remarkable is also the stagno di Mistras, where gulls and flamingos breed, the stagno di Sale Porcus, now a protected area and Is Benas, with its exquisite caniottu (a small seabream).

Lastly, the Omodeo Lake, an artificial basin named after the engineer from Milano who designed it in 1918-1924 for purposes of irrigation, production of electricity and mitigation of the floods of the Tirso River.

What to taste:

• Fish figures predominantly in Oristano including the Cabras fish (seabrim, seabass and eel), prepared in several ways, to the merca, mullet boiled in salted water and wrapped in leaves. There is a great request for the bottarga (salted, pressed and dried mullet eggs), tasted either sliced or grated on a plate of spaghetti.
• Other traditional foods are the bocconi (murex boiled in salted water), malloreddus all'oristanese (durum gnocchi served with spinach, beet, eggs and whip cream), myrtle hen (hen boiled with aromatic herbs and myrtle branches), su ghisau (a stew prepared with different types of meat), lamb and piglet.
• The desserts are the mustazzolus, biscuits made with concentrated must, flour, yeast and sugar: the shape is rhomboidal and they are glazed on the top; the zippole, a long, brandy-flavoured fritter typical of the Carnival period that can be found throughout the island.
• The local wines are the Arborea, Vernaccia di Oristano (a world-famous wine), Nuragus, Vermentin, Sangiovese, Semidano, Moscato and Bovale.

Cities & Towns:

Coming soon

What to do:

• The Monte Arci Regional Park offers unforgettable landscapes ideal for trekking, mountain biking and horseback riding to discover the diverse flora and fauna of the area: large Holm oak woods and vast expanses of maquis are inhabited by wild boars, foxes, wild cats, pine martens and weasels.
• The Oristano province comprises over 6.000 hectares of wetlands, a perfect place for birdwatching enthusiasts where flamingos, purple herons, egrets, mallard ducks, purple swamphens and many other rare species breed.
• The island of Mal di Ventre is located 4.5 miles offshore and hosts rabbits, tortoises and reptiles: the island is included in the Sinis Peninsula – Mal di Ventre Island Marine Protected Area.

Places to visit: Churches, Museums, Ruins, Piazzas, Fountains,

• Oristano has many monuments; among the most important, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, erected in the 13th century and remodeled in baroque style in the 18th century, the Church of S. Francesco, which houses a magnificent 15th century wooden sculpture of the crucified Jesus Christ, Piazza Eleonora, with the marble monument built in 1881 and dedicated to Eleonora of Arborea, who lead Oristano and wrote the Carta de Logu, considered one of the first constitutions of the world. Other examples are the Mariano II Tower and the Antiquarium Arborense Museum.
• One of the most interesting buildings is the tophet, a characteristic sanctuary of the Phoenician-Punic civilization, the thermal baths, the temple foundations and a section with houses and workshops. Not far from Tharros there is S. Salvatore, with the Hypogeum inside the Church of S. Salvatore, a pagan temple of nuragic origin linked to the cult of the water. Also noteworthy are the marvellous beaches of Is Autas, mainly made of small quartz grains, Mari Ermi and the spectacular cliffs of Su Tingiosu.
• In the north-western part of the province, about 25 km from Oristano, there is Fordongianus, famous for the many prehistoric remains, as well as those from the Roman era (the aqueduct, the amphitheatre, a bridge and some buildings) such as the thermal baths.

Events:

• The area hosts a series of folkloric events and festivals throughout the year. The most popular is the Sartiglia, a horse race of medieval origin held in Oristano on the last Sunday and Tuesday before Lent.
• Sedilo, on July 6-7 hosts the Ardia, a horse race to commemorate Constantine I, the Roman emperor who defeated Massenzio in 312 who had seized Rome, in the battle of Ponte Milvio.
• In S. Salvatore there is the traditional Corsa degli Scalzi, the Barefoot Race that gathers hundreds of people on the first Saturday of September dressed only with a white frock to take a wooden statue of Jesus Christ from the village of Cabras to the church of Cristo Salvatore.
• On the first Sunday of September in Marrubiu there is the honey, cheese, sausage and wine festival, a great way to learn about and sample the local products.

Tours avaiable in the region:

Accomodations in close proximity: Hotels, Restorts, Holiday Houses, Condo Rentals, Farm Holidays (Agritourismo),

Flights - Car Rentals - Cruises:

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