The Emerald Coast of Sardinia By Kemi Akande
If you are looking for opulence, quiet pastoral vistas or stunning tourist attractions then this Italian island of Sardina is for you.
The laidback island of Sardinia is a charming cosmos of sandy beaches and coastal resorts. The crème de la crème of Italian luxury coupled with picturesque mountain peaks and embedded in historic delights. If you are looking for opulence, quiet pastoral vistas or stunning tourist attractions then this Italian island is for you.
There is so much to discover from this Italian jewel which is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea after Sicily and before Cyprus. Most people don’t know that it is located closer to Africa than Italy. Sardinia’s turquoise sea and white sandy beaches rival any of the tropics. You most likely will need to hire a car for this trip but be aware of the way locals drive: racing along the narrow and bendy roads through the mountains like Michael Schumacher. Italians are well known for their ferocious driving.
Bosa
Bosa is approximately 1hr away from Alghero. Unspoiled and unique you can take a drive along its mountain roads and hilly regions and marvel at the blanket of forested mountains and the olive and citrus groves. With its narrow roads, piazzas, gracious palazzos tourists are often stared at but the locals are friendly and may invite you to enjoy home made wine or a meal. Wine is readily available everywhere as there are fields and fields of vineyards.
Its beach resort is called Bosa Marina but there is a choice of different types of beaches from small rocky cove beaches perfect for snorkeling with incredible rock formations and natural swimming pools to long sandy beaches near cliffs and plenty of beach bars and cafés to choose from.
There is only one club but a few scattered beach bars and nice eateries from pizzerias to ice cream parlors. Sardinians are very proud of their history and food, so you will only find Italian restaurants here and most sell similar cuisine.
The small cobbled streets lead to rivers where you can hire a boat; there are enough activities to keep you busy such as fishing, cycling, gol, and windsurfing. There is a huge choice of villas to rent in this area if you want to get the true experience of the wild countryside.
Unlike other places in Sardinia this town is interesting all year round and doesn’t shut down in the winter months. As it is a catholic town you may be lucky to catch one of its many festivals. Every evening people gather at Bosa Marina to watch the colours of the sky and sea change as the sun goes down.
Alghero
Alghero is situated in Northern Sardinia. Apart from Olbia it is the most popular tourist destination in Sardinia. It has a fascinating Catalan history but is also very cosmopolitan.
It has a long idyllic beach that stretches down the coast and hotels usually have their own private beach. For an amazing 5 star encounter try the Villa Las Tronas Hotel and Spa. In Alghero you will find lots to do as everything here is catered for tourists. The town centre is full of narrow, cobbled streets with a medieval citadel, packed with boutiques, bars and restaurants that slope towards the thriving marina.
You can sample fine Italian dining from pastas to lobster to smoked ricotta and remember they have an excellent reputation for seafood so indulge in mussels, calamari and crab. Alghero has an International airport and for history lovers near the airport you can find a necropolis consisting of around forty burial chambers.
Stintino
Stintino is a coastal commune in the Province of Sassari. Stintino has the most stunning beach in the whole of Sardinia. Words cannot describe the beauty of this beach. Picture miles and miles of crystal clear waters that only come up to your ankles, which is why it is considered a bathing resort.
In the peak periods, you should get there very early as it gets very busy, with tourists partaking of an array of watersports. There are also beachfront hotels available if you want it to be more than a day trip. It was about a two hour drive from Bosa and one hour from Alghero.
The unspoiled National Park of Asinara can be reached from the Porto Nuovo. La Pelosa beach is by far the most popular beach with its dazzling white sands and close by is the Tower of Piana Island. You can get a bus from Alghero during the summer season June-September.
Olbia
Olbia has its own international airport so you can fly in or get a cruise ship from Rome. If you want to rub shoulders with the upper echelons of Sardinia then visit Olbia. Walk down millionaire’s row and rub shoulders with the likes of Naomi Campbell, P Diddy and George Clooney who regularly frequent the dazzling vistas of Olbia. Experience the pearly white beaches and the famous glittering Costa Smeralda tourist area. Olbia is full of designer shops and luxury yachts. If you still want a bit of the history that Sardinia provides then you can visit the Romanesque former cathedral of San Simplicio (11th-12th century), the Church of St. Paul Apostle (medieval period) or the National Archaeology Museum. Ristorante Gallura is certainly one of the best restaurants in Italy and Obia is a buzzing Italian city with a great choice of exclusive clubs like the swanky Caprocorno Club, upmarket bars like Enoteca Cosimino and for live music and steak try Ajoabi.
How to get there
Getting a Schengen Visa to Italy may be difficult so you may want to go through France or London. From London, Ryan Air is a budget airline that offers cheap flights as low as N50,000 and it is only a two hour flight to Alghero.
Direct flights to Rome are available from Lagos via Alitalia and Iberia from 1000 euros, British Airways also flies there.
Connecting flights from Rome to Sardinia can be found via Meridiana or ferries to Olbia may be cheaper. For further information contact a travel agent.
…….culled fom tw April 2013 Edition.
