Sardinia

Sardinia, lying in the Western Mediterranean sea, just 12 km from Corsica, is surrounded by shallow seas, and its coastline measures 1,849 Km in total.

The Sardinian coasts are generally high and rocky, and in many sections run more or less straight; the coast is however varied with promontories and wide and deep bays surrounded by islets. The climate is generally mild and is influenced by the masses of air coming from the Atlantic, from Africa and from the Arctic. In addition, this exciting island really does offer the best, in a great variety of ways. Sardinia's is one of the most beautiful and unspoilt seas in the Mediterranean.

The inland is equally unspoilt and is unexpectedly vast and fascinating.
Compared to other nearby regions, human intervention in the territory appears almost imperceptible besides, the social and human characteristics of the Sardinians offer just as many interesting reasons to come here for an out of the bathing season visit, away from the summer crowds (that, however, are never excessive): for the island boasts genuine traditions, particular handcrafts and delicious food. It's possible fully to appreciate the flavour of Sardinia during the festivals which take place all year.

The Emerald Coast

The realm of granite rocks afloat in the green thickets, juniper and wild olive, with pristine beaches lapped by a sea of brilliant colours, embracing headlands and rocky islets. This is the Emerald Coast - The Costa Smeralda, and with this name, it is presented by a caption written on a rock, placed on its borders. It is the beginning of the territory belonging to the Consortium of the Costa Smeralda, founded in 1962 by the Aga Khan Karim IV, who, during a cruise in the Mediterranean, fell in love with this then solitary corner of the island. The trip begins with the "capital" Porto Cervo, the best known centre in the Emerald Coast so called because of the many branches in the bay, like the horns of a deer.

The most famous tourist resort near Olbia is Porto Rotondo, whose northern confines border the Emerald Coast, Very interesting is the architecture of its centre, mostly belonging to the 20th century: the church of San Lorenzo, and the magnificent theatre, very fascinating is Ira Beach and also very charming are the shores to the south of the city.

Arbatax

The tourist locality of Arbatax is now almost joined to Tortolì whose northern edge nestles at the base of the picturesque marquis-covered Capo Bellavista. To protect the coast from pirate attack the Spanish built a tower in the 1500 s. it is the fourteenth tower starting from Cagliari. Very notable are the red granite porphyry rocks that are found near the port. One should not miss seeing Cala Moresca, on the eastern side of the headland, where there is a tourist village: thanks to the traditional style of the architecture, it is one of the most beautiful in the island. The beaches to the south of Capo Bellavista are those of Porto Frailis and Orrì, near the S. Salvatore nuraghe and farther on, the biggest beach Scoglius Arrubius or Cea: here the sea is dominated by two red rock towers.

Southern Coast

The most important resort area in this coast is Santa Margherita di Pula, whose flourishing specialised agriculture like flowers and vegetable, and large tourist centres set in thick coastal pinewoods render it particularly interesting. The Sulcitana road can easily be left to follow a lovely provincial road: the panorama of the Costa del sud. Through this, one can discover a series of notable sites on the coast where the fascination of Sardinia is expressed with all its characteristic power: enchanting beaches and rocks lapped by a warm transparent sea and equally enchanting vegetation.
Such natural beauty is here accompanied by the cultural considerations that the Costa del sud suggest.
Nestling between its protective headlands and ruffled by the Mediterranean, the magnificent ruins of the Roman city of Nora are the stuff of dreams. For these reasons the Costa del Sud is one of those places to be put on the must list when visiting Sardinia.

Villasimius

Once a small farming and fishing town, since 1960 it has been transformed, when the people from Cagliari discovered for the first time its apparently endless series of enchanting and sunny beaches and inlets. The elevated temperature of the water allows long bathes and the numerous reefs are rich in marine animal life.