The 13 most beautiful places to visit in Sardinia

Desirous of discovering Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean? It falls well: enjoy our list of the 13 treasures to be admired in this extraordinary territory and yet so mysterious. It’s up to you to choose!

Sardinia is a splendid Italian island, with nearly 2000 km of a coastline with steep cliffs and huge beaches of white sand bathed with turquoise water. The interior of the land, which has remained quite wild and mysterious, has as its little Corsican sister an accidental relief formed of hills and mountains sprinkled with stone ruins dating from the age of bronze.

Ready to give you a getaway on this preserved space, and to discover the most incredible places when you come to visit Sardinia? Here we go, follow the guide!

1. Cala Goloritzé

Located in the southern part of the Gulf of Orosei , near the pretty town of Baunei, this pretty creek classified as a natural monument is characterized by its natural arch. Here, the mountain seems to sink into the sea! Known for seasoned climbers for its cliffs offering multiple climbing paths, the place offers a source of fresh water pouring into the sea and a lovely small white sand beach constellated with small round pebbles.

This place, rather preserved and wild, is one of the most emblematic of the island, to be discovered absolutely when visiting Sardinia.

2. Cala Luna

Nearby, still a marvel of nature nestled in the Gulf of Orosei and offering itself to the lucky come to visit Sardinia: in fact, Cala Luna probably the best known and popular beach of this part of the Sardinian coast. It must be said that it has nothing to envy to the typical white sand areas of the Caribbean: from an immaculate colour, the beach is lined with turquoise and clear water, and remains preserved from mass tourism thanks to the constant efforts of the Italian environmental authorities.

3. Neptune Caves

These karst formations are located on the northwest side of the peninsula cap Caccia , close to the picturesque town of Alghero. They are part of the largest caves in Italy, and are arpented by many people who come to visit Sardinia: this true natural treasure is accessible by taking steep paths and at the price of several hours of walking, but really worth a look.

4. The tombs of the Giants

In fact, these are famous funeral monuments throughout the island: typical of the nuragic culture, a civilization proper to the Sardinia and appeared during the course of the.. XVIIIth century BC, they are made up of collective forming a funeral room of more than three meters and stretching over thirty meters in length!

If you are told, it is that this ancient site is accessible free of charge and is inserted into a privileged natural environment. If you are an archaeology ferus, we strongly recommend you go for a tour.

5. The caves of the Bue Marino

Definitely, the caves are not missing in Sardinia! It is on the east of the island, in the Province of Nuoro and on the coast of Dorgali that we find those of Bue Marino: in sarde, this name means "monk seal", a species that has become very rare and that has splintered the coasts of the island until the 1980s. The cave, which is several hundred meters long, consists of galleries with superb stalactites and stalagmites (do you know the difference? The stalacTites fall, and the stalagMites rise up) reflected in the crystalline waters of an underground lake almost a square kilometre of area, and which end up by the beach of seals, where they were once reproducing.

The amateurs of speleology who come to visit Sardinia will be conquered!

6. The village of Tiscali

It is in the centre of Mount Tiscali part of the massif of Supramonte, in the province of Nuoro, which the village of Tiscali offers to the curious: this nuragic city, built inside a large doline, is constituted by archaeological ruins allowing to imagine the stone huts, a total of 60, divided into two distinct groups.

Little is known about this historical point of interest, but it is believed that this ancient residential complex, aged over 15,000, served as a refuge for the natives when the Romans arrived. If you have decided to visit Sardinia and want to organize an original tour with a guide, the place is ideal.

7. The massif of Supramonte

Did the village of Tiscali seduce you? Why, in this case, do not stay in the mountain chain constituting the natural frame sheltering it, the majestic Massif de Supramonte : located in the center-east of the island, in the north-east of the no less splendid massif of the Gennargentu, and delimited by the Cedrino and Rio Olai rivers, it is willing to go on hiking to discover landscapes sometimes lunar and desolate, sometimes green.

If you would like to take a big bowl of air by visiting Sardinia, no doubt that you will enjoy this wild and preserved area!

8. The Cathedral of Saint Mary

Certainly one of the most beautiful in Italy, with a flamboyant interior, this church nestled at the bottom of the piazza Palazzo of the city of Cagliari - the capital of Sardinia - was built in the thirteenth century in the purest Romano-pisan style.

This cultural point of interest attracts many tourists every year, and it must be said that the visit is worth it: the crypt is magnificent and the Cambodian of Guglielmo, two sculpted chairs dating from the 12th century, is a work of art to be discovered absolutely if you come to visit the Sardinia and enjoy the buildings richly decorated typical of the places of Italian worship.

9. The nuragic complex of Palmavera

Located in the town of Alghero, north of Sardinia in the heart of the province of Sassari, the nuragic complex of Palmavera consists of several towers connected between them, the oldest dating from almost 3500 years! It can be accessed freely and it is probably one of the most interesting archaeological sites on the island, having been searched many times.

The most interesting pieces and vestiges are preserved in the archaeological museums of Cagliari and Sassari.

10. The National Park of the Gulf of Orosei and Gennargentu

Simply one of the most beautiful in Italy, not to miss under any pretext when you come to visit Sardinia! Located between the provinces of Nuoro and the Ogliastra, it is in the heart of this protected natural space that we find Punta La Marmora , the highest mountain of Sardinia with its 1834 meters of altitude.

Previously, some monk seals could be seen on the Gulf of Orosei, but they are unfortunately missing from the site since the 1980s; However, it is possible to comfort you by discovering sheep, foxes, forest cats, wild vultures, royal eagles and sinks: the fauna is compact in this area with strict protection from the authorities.

11. Su Nuraxi

This archaeological site is located south of Sardinia, west of Barumini . Inscribed to the World Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, it is the remnants of prehistoric fortifications erected at an altitude of 238 metres; This megalithic complex is the best preserved in Europe! This type of cyclopean nuraghe construction is defined by a megalithes assembly forming a conical tower, developed between the 8th and 11th century BC.

If you come to visit the Sardinia, it would be a shame to pass next to this splendid historic site capable of making dreams small and big!

12. Cape Carbonara

This rocky peninsula connected to the land by a sandy isthmus is located southeast of Sardinia, close to Villasimius, just a few kilometres from the city centre.

Long of 3.5 kilometers on 1.8 kilometers, it delimits to the east of the Gulf of Cagliari and acts as a mooring area for boaters who come to visit the Sardinia and who, once landed on the beaches of white sands, can enjoy the local points of interest, such as the island of Cavoli, the beaches surrounding the small port of Villasimius, the vestiges of an ancient fortress or the cove Santa Caterina , the scales of Cava Usai.. this protected area is full of natural treasures that, of course, will leave you unforgettable memories.

13. The rock of the elephant

When you visit the Sardinia on the north side of the island, in Castelsardo near the village of Multeddu, one of the most unusual and mysterious places awaits us: rock of the elephant , large rocky block whose shape actually resembles this mammal placide. But that is not wrong: in addition to this exceptional geological specificity, the rock of the elephant also serves as an archaeological site, as it houses two prehistoric tombs, the famous domus of Janas, aged over 4,000.

All around this rocky formation, the coastline of the Gulf of Asinara is full of beautiful views and hiking trails on which it is good to organize a trip!