Sardinia, Island of the Stars

Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean, is off the west coast of Italy and has a short term history of being the playground of the very rich.  The Aga Khan latterly created a glittering playground on the Emerald Coast near Olbia on the north east coast of the island. Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon and many great stars were frequent visitors in the early days, but now you are liable to see jet-setting Claudia Schiffer, Leonardo Di Caprio and many others who have caught the Sardinia bug. 

Apart from this celebrity attraction the island is a wonderful place to visit with some 1600 kilometres of uncontaminated coastline. Wide deserted white sand beaches and crystal clear seas are home to wild islets, small bays, grottos and towering craggy rocks which characterise the island.  Another common feature is the omnipresent of the nuraghe, pre-historic towers built of massive roughly hewn stones. The origins of these constructions is one of Sardinia’s continuing mysteries, but they are dated around 1500 – 500 BC. It is an island of festivals and it is worth consulting an events itinerary to ensure you are able to witness the best. Holy week is excellent for island wide celebrations, and the boat processions during the carnival period at Candelieri are wonderful, as are the various magnificent Saint’s Day feasts.  

Travel around the island is rewarded by differing gastronomic experiences. I can assure you that the food both from the sea and land is truly wonderful, and you should sample everything. Each province has its own specialities and you will find several languages are spoken on the island, a legacy of many past invaders.  Try the Cannonau wine, a rich ruby red and the most typical of Sardinian wines, especially suited to many of the robust meat dishes. Do not miss the mirto, the best known Sardinian liquer made from myrtle berries. 

Also, be prepared to be offered the local grappa at any time of day or night. A word of caution, it is known as fire-water in Sardinia and it really is! There is so much to see and experience on this magical island that the best action is for you to travel to enchanting Sardinia and move around the various provinces. There is something for everyone here and life seems to unfold in a different way. D H Laurence visited in 1921 and left us his book “Sea and Sardinia” which is a tremendous description of the place despite being dated. 

Time has passed Sardinia by, although there are some development plans including the use of concrete, but this will depend on the politicians relaxing the stringent island planning restrictions.  Come and explore one of the most exclusive and unspoilt resorts in the Mediterranean, just avoid the Casino in Porto Cervo! There are regular ferries from a wide range of Italian mainland ports and put in at Cagliari, Olbia and Porto Torres, alternatively there are three airports.