- Ancient landmarks of Sardinia
- Religious buildings of the island
- Natural masterpieces of Sardinia
- Holidays and festivals
The region of Italy, not the most popular among the Russian tourists, Sardinia, nevertheless, is quite worthy of a trip. Its history, according to archaeologists, began in the Neolithic era, and since then, many monuments have survived on the island. Later, tribes came, leaving behind huge stone structures included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
If you are fond of history, look for the answer to the question of where to go in Sardinia, among the attractions of different eras: from the tombs of giants and amphitheatres of the Roman period to the Genoese fortresses and baroque temples.
Ancient landmarks of Sardinia
The tombs of the giants are the oldest Neolithic monuments of the island, which you can see during the excursion. They are organized by local agencies. In total, more than 300 structures were discovered, built of huge stone slabs with burial chambers and a central stele. Some of the tombs have a dolmen-like structure, others are a structure made of several slabs partially buried in the ground. The tombs of the giants are located throughout the island, but the best preserved and most impressive structures can be found in Trieia and Dorgali.
Another colossal stone structure dates back to the 4th millennium BC, which is worth going on an excursion to in Sardinia. The sanctuary at Monte d'Accoddi is often called a ziggurat - the building resembles similar places of worship found in Mesopotamia. The monument appeared in Sardinia in the Neolithic era and was built by representatives of the Ocieri culture. It is believed that they had a connection with Crete, and their technical knowledge corresponds to the capabilities of the builders of the Minoan palace. The monument is considered a unique structure for this region. The base of the ziggurat was a square with a side of 27 m, and the height of the truncated pyramid, erected several centuries later, reached 10 m.
The Nuraghe Towers of Sardinia are included today in the UNESCO lists and the reason for this is their special value and uniqueness. The most famous tower to visit is located near the commune of Barumini. Su Nuraxi di Barumini was built in the 15th century. BC NS. It is a complex of structures, consisting of a three-storey tower in the center and seven smaller towers that surrounded the main ring. The purpose of the nuraga today is very difficult to unravel, and scientists name among the probable reasons for the construction the need to defend, the desire to worship a religious cult or symbolize someone's power.
The list of ancient sights of Sardinia includes the Roman theater, the construction of which took place at the turn of the 1st and 2nd centuries. ad. The amphitheater is located in Cagliari. Its area is about 6 hectares, and the capacity of the stands is about 10 thousand spectators. The arena was used for gladiatorial fights and sports competitions, and today the ancient ruins often become a venue for concerts and performances of eminent musicians.
Religious buildings of the island
Sardinia has many religious monuments dating back to the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The most famous ones are often included in the program of sightseeing tours, which can be ordered from local tourist offices or organized independently:
- The Cathedral of Sardinia is located in Cagliari. It was consecrated in honor of St. Mary and was built in the 13th century. More precisely, it was reconstructed, because a small church already existing within the walls of the Cagliari fortress was taken as a basis. During the existence of the temple, it underwent many transformations and reconstructions, as a result of which it changed and again returned its original features. For pilgrims, the most important are the Christian relics kept in the temple. Here are the thorns from the crown worn on the Savior during the execution, and the relics of the martyrs.
- In ancient times, a pagan sanctuary was located on the site of the church of St. Paul in Olbia. The temple was built on its foundation in the middle of the 15th century, choosing the highest point in the historical part. The peculiarity of the decoration of the temple is striking from afar. Its roof is covered with multi-colored ceramic tiles. In the interior, it is worth paying attention to the pulpit made of natural wood, the monstrance and wall paintings.
- An even more ancient temple of Olbia is called San Simplicio. The basilica dates back to the 11th century. It was built on the site of former temples - early Christian and the former before him Roman. The church is built of large cut stone and looks quite austere. A valuable relic for the parishioners of the temple, kept behind the altar - the remains of St. Simplicus. The wall paintings preserved in the basilica depict scenes from the life of the saint.
- Another place in Sardinia where pilgrims often come is called Ortobene. The granite hill is famous for the statue at the top depicting the Savior. It was installed at the beginning of the last century as part of the celebration of the 1900th anniversary of Christianity. Throughout Italy, 19 sculptures depicting Jesus have been installed, one of which went to Sardinia.
Natural masterpieces of Sardinia
In addition to the beaches on the island, other natural attractions are also worthy of attention. Especially if you like hiking and excursions.
At 25 km from Alghero there are the Neptune Caves - the most beautiful grottoes with a length of 120 m, consisting of several halls with a salt lake in the center. There are legends on the island that treasures are hidden in the grottoes of Neptune, and therefore from the beginning of the 18th century. the caves served as an excavation site. For tourists, the entrance was equipped half a century ago and you can get into the grottoes by a staircase with several hundred steps.
In 1966, a national park was established on the La Maddalena archipelago off the coast of Sardinia. Its largest island is called Isola Maddalena, whose snow-white beaches are the object of desires of romantics and fans of a quiet secluded vacation. Caprera Island is famous for the museum of Father Garibaldi, who lived here for more than a quarter of a century. Spalmator has a very rich animal world and wild representatives of the Sardinian flora are almost not afraid of the presence of a person nearby.
Another great place off the coast of Sardinia is Budelli Island. Its uniqueness is that the sand on Budelli beach has a unique pink tint. However, you will hardly be able to soak up the pink sand, because the island is part of the national park. But you can take a boat trip and admire the play of shades of sand and water. Choose a time closer to sunset, when the sun creates an indescribable play of light reflections on the surface of the sea.
The botanical garden in Cagliari is a creation of human hands, but it can also be attributed to the list of natural attractions in Sardinia. It is worth going for a walk to the garden if you are fond of not only botany, but also history: ruins of ancient Roman structures have been discovered on its territory. The garden is planted with two thousand species of Mediterranean plants and representatives of the kingdom of flora, collected from all over the world. The Herbarium Museum in the Cagliari Botanical Garden contains specimens of plants that are no longer found on the planet.
Holidays and festivals
During the holiday season, the island hosts many exciting activities that are part of the historical and cultural heritage of Sardinia. If you are deciding when to arrive, check out the calendar of the most interesting events and choose where to go during your vacation:
- The first month of summer is the time when tourists who prefer to spend time on Mediterranean beaches begin to come to the island. On the 20th of June, on the beach of Cagliari, a taste feast is held with tasting of food and traditional drinks from Sardinia. In Lanusey these days you can go to the festival of cherries, and in Muraver - to the festival of white wine and fish.
- You will learn all about goats and dairy products in July at the Sagra della carne di capra in Baunei: tasting of the best goat cheeses from Sardinian farmers is included in the program. If you are crazy about cheese, you should also visit La Sagra del Formaggio in Mandas. It usually starts at the height of summer - July 15th. The end of the month is no less exciting for tourists: the carnival in Samugeo, the eggplant festival in Sorso and the festival of the Marine Madonna in a village near the town of Pula.
- In August, one of the most picturesque events in Sardinia is called the procession of candle bearers - La Farrada della Festha Manna in Sassari. No less exciting is the Ferragosto festival - the main holiday of the summer season on the island.
- The end of September is especially rich in gastronomic holidays. Cagliari hosts the traditional wine festival Vini sotto le Stelle and Le Luci di Cagliari - a noisy tasting of alcoholic and street food. Terralba hosts a floating lantern night on the last day of the month, while Samugeo hosts a festival of typical Sardinian bread. The last September days in Posada are devoted to jazz: there you can listen to your favorite music on Parte 'e sole. Fans of museum exhibits can visit the Nuoro and Barbagge galleries. In Sardinia, at the end of September, some of the collections are shown free of charge. There are beer festivals in Sassari and Porto Rotondo, and in Golfo Aranci there is a festival of fish soup.
Resting in Sardinia at other times of the year is no less exciting - one February carnival is worth it. Eyewitnesses of the festive procession before Great Lent claim that on the island it is not at all the same as on the mainland. Carnival in Sardinia is very atmospheric, somewhat pagan and even frightening, but it is he who allows you to get acquainted with the customs and rituals of the indigenous inhabitants of the Italian island.
