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Sardinia Special

If an ideal planet existed, its name would certainly be SARDINIA.

SARDINIA A SEA OF HOLIDAYS

Situated in the middle of the Mediterranean, Sardinia is an island's island. It is the island of the sun, sea and lush vegetation. It is the island of still-uncontaminated nature, with immense open spaces and awe-inspiring silences. Its flora and fauna are unique. A centuries-old tradition has instilled in its people an authentic pleasure in offering their hospitality. Its culture will not fail to amaze you. Its cuisine offers a multitude of different flavours. You will be able to turn your holiday into a true and mythical adventure, by going in search of the island's most secluded and fascinating itineraries: a trip by boat to its most famous places; a solitary swim in its coves of emerald sea; a ride on horseback through woods of secular cork oak and juniper, among granite boulders the wind has sculpted into a multitude of fantastic shapes. Lunch in a sheepfold, in a serch of the most ancient aromas of a civilisation based on farming and animal husbandry; a wild night in the most renowned discos; a round of golf in the midst of scenery to be found nowhere else; underwater fishing in the magic realm of a crystal clear sea; the trill of the wind on your back while windsurfing. This is Sardinia, the island of holidays the likes of wich you will not find elsewhere.

SARDINIA THE ISLAND OF COLOURS

There is an island in the middle of the Tyrhennian Sea where the sun shines all year round. Spring, with all the thousands of indescribable colours in intense bursts of flowers; summer which turns into a warm and welcoming autumn. It is an earthly paradise, with a wealth of secluded places and open spaces to take your brath away. It is not just by chance that some rare and fantastic species of animals have chosen to make their home here. The monk seal, so-called because of its black mantle and white breast. The moufflons, wild goats with a shy glance and robust, curved horns. And in the wetlands dotting the coasts, flocks of flamingoes, which spend the winters here.

SARDINIA THE ISLAND OF FRAGRANCE

The Mediterranean maquis dominates Sardinia's coastal areas. On the mountains of the interior we find thick, shady woodlands. Wherever you go, you are greeted by the fragrance of an uncontaminated and special nature. Myrtles, mastic trees, broom, cork oaks, junipers and oleasters are the precious ornaments of a many-coloured landscape. The wind gathers up and then spreads the fragrance of this ancient land, where the landscape has been modelled by the wearher, as by a sculptor, into the age-old shapes of granite boulders, forming an astonishing open-air museum.

SARDINIA THE ISLAND OF GIANTS

Sardinia also means a plunge into thousands of years of history. The "domus de janas" (fairies dwellings) and the nuraghes keep alive the memory of the fairies and giants who even today enliven the legends of the people. This is the land of some of the most ancient and indomitable tribes, who were capable of forcing bronze into artistic objects and utensils of extraordinary elegance. It is the land of Eleonora, the Queen of Arborea who governed her people with the most modern of laws. But it is also the land that has been capable of understanding and blending together into a unique whole the cultures of the hundred peoples who over the centuries have possessed and inhabited it.

SARDINIA THE ISLAND OF TREASURES

The workers of bronze of three thousand years ago have left us statuettes and other objects in an incredibly modern style. Along the coasts, you can see the theatres and roads of the Punic and Roman settlements. In the solitary valleys, the severe architecture of the Romanesque and Pisan period. But everyday art here is know as craftsmanship: skilful and creative hands work miracles with the raw materials offered by a poor and hard-to-work soil. Tapestries, carpets, basketry, ceramics, filigree and fine jewelery made of gold and coral: these are the treasures of the folk culture.

SARDINIA THE ISLAND OF MYSTERIES

The Carnival of Mamoiada is characterised by the eerie procession of the ox-men, the "mamuthones", who chase away devils and the evil eye with the terrifyng noise of their cow-bells. In Oristano, the horsemen of the Sartiglia gallop widly down the street and try to run their swords through a silver star, wich is their way of asking the heavens to send abundant harvests. And in July there is the Ardia in Sedilo, a breakneck horse race to venerate Constantine, the saint and emperor. There are also the feast of Sant'Efisio in Cagliari, the Cavalcata and the Candelieri in Sassari, the Redentore in Nuoro: in every season Sardinia is one living museum.

SARDINIA THE ISLAND OF FLAVOURS

In Sardinia, every town and village has its own speciality. "Malloreddus" and "culurzones", roast lamb and suckling pig, spiny lobster and the thousand other seafood dishes, not to mention "bottarga", the press-dried roe of mullet or tuna, are musts for gourmets. Sheep cheesesare becoming know all over the world. Sweets represent a vast selection of shapes, flavours and names. If you have the chance of eating in a sheepfold together with shepherds, you will carry with you for the rest of your days the flavours of an unrivalled experience.

SARDINIA THE ISLAND OF PLEASURES

If you love really complete holidays, Sardinia is surely the place for you. Here you will find not only the sun, sea, nature, scenery, environments, civilisations and traditions that only Sardinia can offer, but also up-to-date accomodation, recreation and sports facilities to add the pleasant taste of entetainment, relaxation and physical wellbeing to your holidays. Hotels are numerous, from the deluxe class to the inn, thus providing the means for satisfying the needs of all tourists, when addend to the possibility of choosing farm holidays or the camping ground. The same can be said for culinary opportunities. If you love sports, you will find whatever your heart desires: sailing, windsurfing, scuba diving, tennis and horseback riding, not to mention golf courses surrounded by magnificent natural scenery. And if you are an entertainment lover, you have only to choose from among aquaparks and organised entertainment and, at night, dancing and discos catering to the most exacting and unrestrained pleasure seekers. If an ideal planet existed, its name would certainly be SARDINIA. What immediately hits the eye on this island is its distinctive harmony: nature, climate, rhythms and ways of life, all of which are harmoniously amalgamated into a perfect balance. So many worlds in one. This island is in fact one of great variety: from the harsh, primitive countryside to the soft slopes of the sand dunes, from the desert to the steppes, from the woods to the typical Mediterranean vegetation of the "macchia", to finally reach the forest. From the brilliant blue of the sea to the pink and white of the "ghiacciola" grass. But Sardinia is also history. Domus de Janas (so called Fairies' houses) symbols of an important cult of the dead, the "Nuraghi" (megalithic stone towers, built presumably for strategic and defence purposes) and the Giants' Tombs. And also from in the splendid ruins of cities which go back to the Phoenicians: Nora, Tharros and Sulcis. Echoes of the various civilizations which dominated the island, such as those of Rome, Byzantium, Pisa, Spain, France and Austria are spread over the whole of Sardinia and they surprise and fascinate the visitor, underlining its harsh, wild character.

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THE ISLAND OF SARDINIA: GENERAL INFORMATION

THE POPULATION IN SARDINIA: The Sardinian are very attached to their environment and to their traditions. Because of the very numerous invasions, Sardinians are a proud and shy people and are a bit mistrusting towards other . Being particularly sensitive to their familiy affairs, there have been through the centuries many cases of revenge between rival families. Banditism originated centuries ago, and begun because of the differences between rich and poor shepherds and because of the differences between rich and poor villages. Banditism is still rife in some remote villages in the centre of the island. Some Sardinian settlements can be traced back to more than 140.000 years. The oldest settlements are the Nuraghe. The Nuraghe are constuctions of the Megalithic, they are in stone and have the form of towers, it seems they were built with the purpose of defending strategic areas. The people of the Nuraghe period lived in Sardinia from the year 2.000 to about 500 years B.C. In 800 B.C. the Phoenicians settled in Karalis, Tharros, Nora and in Sulcis, on the Sant' Antioco Island. After the Phoenicians came the Romans which destoyed all the Nuraghe villages. At Nora and Tharros the Nuraghe villages are still intact and deserve a visit.

THE LANDSCAPE IN SARDINIA: Sardinia is one of the eldest lands in Europe. It emerged about 600 million years ago from vulcan activity. There is a possibilty that Sardinia together with Corsica and part of South France, East Spain and Tunis were part of the Tyrrhenis continent. Nowadays the island has mountains in the north, west and south and is circled by beaches. In the centre, the highest point of the "Gennargentu mountains", reaches a height of 1.834 meters. In the "Limbara mountains", in the North, the highest mountain top reaches a height of 1.362 meters while the Monte Linas in the South West reaches the height of 1.235 meters. Sardinia has a coastline of 1800 kilometers, and the most beautifull beaches are in the North, East, and South. The north coast is famous for the vulcan rocks which have been created during the centuries by weather and wind.

THE CLIMATE IN SARDINIA: The climate is: from May to October mostly dry and hot, both on the coasts and the centre of the island. The "Mistral wind" refreshes the temperatures and the southly wind "Scirocco" brings heat and humid air. The winter months at the coasts are mild, with the possibility of heavy rainshowers. Ice and snow might be found only in the mountains, but not always. However when this occurs we are prepared and skiing is possible in the small village of Fonni. February and March can be quite stormy while April is cool and mild. On the north-east coast the climate is pleasant for tourists from July till October while on the south and west coasts it's pleasant April until October.

VEGETATION IN SARDINIA: A big part of the hills and mountains in Sardinia is covered with “Macchia Mediterranea”, a widelyspread undergrowth forest of holm-oak with aromatic plants and herbs like laurel, myrtle, juniper, euphorbia, dwarf-palm and date-palm which are protected species. The flowering period for different wild plants and flower-types, of which only 250 are identified, begins in January/February. This means that in spring, Sardinia is completely covered by strong scented flowers, which unfortunately dry up completely because of the summer heat. The “Macchia Mediterranea” however remains always green. In the “Gentargentu mountains” the vegetation consists of forests, with chestnut trees and corktrees. If we go to higher levels we can find the firtrees, while by the coasts there is a subtropical vegatation with cactus, citrus-and nut trees.

FAUNA IN SARDINIA: The woods in the higher mountains are populated by deer, rabbits, weasels and follow-deer, there are even a few muflons but in little amounts. The remote aereas of some internal regions are the perfect home and broodinground for the stilt-birds and hawks. The coasts are rich with waterbirds such as the pink flamingos near Cagliari. On the East coast and near Dorgali there is a small colony of seals while on the South coast dolphins can be sighted.

AGRICULTURE AND FARMING IN SARDINIA: Most of the Sardinian population belongs to the farming industry. The sheep industry is particulary common and generated a lot of jobs. A quarter of the Italian production of sheep products is effected in Sardinia. There are about 2,5 million sheep and 1 million goats. The pork industry is limited only to self consumption. The sea around Sardinia is very rich in fish, however the fishery industry isn´t very developed. The fish, wich is offered at the local markets, has a very good quality. The most important types of fish which are consumed are ; spigole, orate, calamary, shrimps, lobster and thunafish. Because of the modern irrigation systems there has been in recent years an increment of land destined to agriculture. Products like rice, grapes, citrus fruits, nuts and olives are the most important argricultural products of Sardinian agriculture. Even though it's still neccessary to import many products from the Italian mainland.

INDUSTRY AND MINES IN SARDINIA: The Sardinian mines were discovered early. Mineral mines can be found all over the island. In many areas like Iglesias, the mines are the biggest part of the landscape. Products such as silver can be found, together with iron, antraciet, copper, baryt, fluorit, talk, koalin and other less important minerals. The mines of Carbonia used to be very important for the island. A very old industry is the production of cork. Cork is for idustrial and personal use, and can be used for example for shoesoles and corkstoppers for bottles.

LANGUAGE IN SARDINIA: “Donzi populi senet su derittu de faeddare sa limba sua” that means; “Each population has the right to speak their one language”. In Sardinia, the Sardinian language is spoken besides the official language, Italian. It has itself different dialects. Sardinian is also a latin lunguage and after years of pressure by the Italian goverment is slowly being recognized. The Spanish colonization can be traced in the Sardinian language which has many Spanish words. It is strange that in Sardinian “x” is pronounced as "sch”.

FESTIVITIES AND FESTIVALS IN SARDINIA: A lot of festivities are celebrated in the villages and towns of Sardinia. The most famous festivities are; oCagliari is the capital of the Cagliari Region, besides being the capital of Sardinia and was built by the Phoenicians. It´s a very important harbour city and the economical “centre” of the island. Cagliari is one of the prettiest harbour-cities in the Mediterranean Sea. The city lies on the Southern coast and is situated in the “Golfo Degli Angeli” which from the Cape of Pula reaches Cape Carbonara. Because of its magnificent location and thanks to its marvellous climate, Cagliari is today a famous tourist attraction. Cagliari has been indicated as being the eldest (even elder than Rome) still populated town of Europe. If you should decide to go for a sightseeing tour of Cagliari, you shouldn´t miss these sites: Town hall, Elephant Tower, University, Terrazzo Umberto, Cathedral, Archaeological Museum, Tower of San Pancrazio, Roman Amphitheatre, Church of San Michele, Church of San Efisio, Bonaria Cathedral, San Saturnino Cathedral.n the 1st of May, S. Efisio is celebrated in Cagliari. In the same month there is also "La cavalcata" in Sassari. Other pleasant processions are; "Su Incontru" in Oliena on the last Sunday of March and the procession of the "Candelieri" on the 14th of August at Sassari. At these processions groups in their colourful and traditional costumes, take part.

SARDINIAN COOKING: Sardinian cooking can be considered as the richest Italian cooking. The local dishes together with traditional continental cooking is a guarantee of culinary specialities. Typical specialities are obviously dishes of fresh fish, sheepmeat and muflon. The different types of bread, which change from region to region, are famous for their quality and taste.

TYPICAL DISHES IN SARDINIA: Porceddu: Suckling pig with local aromatic herbs. Carne a Carragiu: roast lamb or muflon meat. Taccola: roast birds with mirtle herbs. Cassola: Delicious fishsoup. Favata: Broad beans with bacon, sausages and herbs. Carta musica: Thin, crocant baked bread. Maloreddus: Sardinian "gnocchi" (a type of pasta). Sebadas: Thin pasta filled with fresh cheese, fried and served with honey.

CHEESES IN SARDINIA: Fiore Sardo: Fresh cheese. Dolce Sardo: Fresh cow cheese. Casu Becciu: Strong old cheese. Gioddu: Sardinian Yoghurt.

WINES IN SARDINIA: The wines produced in this sunny island are some of the best wines of Italy. Vernaccia : Gold brown, scented like almond flowers. Malvasia : Yellow, similar to Vernaccia. Anghelu Ruja : Deep red, like liquer. Cannonau : Deep red, sweet. Mandrolisai : Fresh red tablewine. Perda Rubia : Simple red or white tablewine. Torralba : Simple red or white tablewine. There are many wines which have no denomination but are equally good. In fact in many restaurants it is possible to order the local wines by simply asking for red or white wine. For the List read the below list under the: "Wines".

A to Z:

A:
Archaeological sites : Nora, Tharros, Barumini, Sulcis, Nuraghe of S. Antine, Temple at Antas, S. Igia Cornus, Necropolis of Monte Sirai, S. Vittoria of Serri, Fordongianus, Nuraghe Losa, Nuraghe Madrone (Silanus), la "Tana di lu Mazzoni", Nuraghe Seneghe, the Nuraddeo, Necropolis di S. Andrea Priu.
Alghero : Situated in the North , where you can find the famous Grotto of Neptune.

B:
Banks : The banks are open from Mon. to Fri. 08.20 until 13.20 and from 15.00 until 16.00.
Bread : There are a lot of types like; Carasau, Guttiau, Cocoi and Civraxiu and is served during all meals .
Beaches : Some of the most beautiful beaches are; Chia, Cape Teulada, Tuerredda, Spiaggia del Riso - Villasmius, Costa Rei, Piscinas, Budelli, Spargi, Cala Luna, Cala Goloritze, Le Bombarde, La Pelosa, Capriccioli, Cala Sisine, Cala Regina, Geremeas and Poetto.

C:
Cagliari : Region and at the same time capital of Sardinia.
Capital: Cagliari. Provincial Capital Cities: Sassari - Nuoro - Oristano - Carbonia/Iglesias - Medio Campidano - Ogliastra - Olbia/Tempio.
Climate and average temperatures: Sardinia has mild winters and hot summers. Spring and Autumn are pleasant and sunny but not to hot. Autumn: 20,7° - Winter 11.8° - Spring 15,6° - Summer 25.4°

D:
Drinking water : We advice you not to drink from the taps.
Dialects : In Sardinia, Sardinian is spoken together with other dialects such as: Logudorese, Campidanese, Barbaricino, Gallurese, Maddalenino, Carlofortino, Algherese.

E:
Excursions : We offer a few excursions which you can find in this web-site.
Electricity : 220 Volt.

F:
Fauna : Marten, deer, muflon, wild boar, Mediterranean seal, fallow-deer, weasel, fox, vulture, eagle, griffon-volture, buzzard, purple gallinule, heron, pink flamingo, stilt-bird, kingfisher, marsh turtle, dolphin, white donkey, wild horses of the Giara.
Flora : Typically Mediterranean flora, widely-spread undergrowth, forests of holm-oak, myrtle, juniper, cistus, oak, olive, lentisk, euphorbia, laurel, date-palm, dwarf-palm, arbutus, eucalipt, hawthorn, carob, purple digitalis and "centaurea horrida": the only example in the world.

G:
Grottos : Grottos of Neptune, Is Zuddas, Bue Marino, Ispingoli, San Giovanni, Grotto of Neptune, Bue Marino, Su Murmuri, the Green Grotto, Grottos of "Conca'e Craba" and "De lu Maccioni".

H:
Handicrafts: Woollen and cotton rugs, terracotta, jewellery in gold an silver filigree (the Sardinian wedding ring is famous), coral-work, garnet jewellery, amethyst and semi-precious stones, cork, copper and wrought-iron handicrafts, basket-work in raffia, rushes and asphodel, embroidered shawls, saddles and harnesses for horses.

I:
Inhabitants : Sardinia counts at the moment 1,6 milion inhabitants.

L:
Liquers : Red and white Mirto, Limoncello and Filu 'e Ferru which is a type of grappa.
Lakes Lakes : Upper and Lower Flumendosa, Coghinas, Omodeo, Taloro, Gusana, Mulargia, Baratz.

M:
Mountains : Gennargentu, Lamarmora peak, Seven Brothers (Sette fratelli), Range, Mountain Ferru, Mount Spada, Supramonte, Limbara, Arcosu, Marganai.
Main Museums: National Archaeological Museum and National Gallery, Cagliari. Sardinian Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, Cagliari. Museums Citadel, "Cardu" Oriental Arts Museum, Cagliari. Archaeological Museum, Villanovaforru (CA), Museum of Sardinian Life and Popular Tradition, Nuoro. "Cervus Elaphus Corsicanus" Museum (SS 125). Permanent Exhibition of Goldwork and Filet Lacework, Bosa (NU). Museum of the Mediterranean Weaveing, Castelsardo (SS).

N:
Newspapers : Are sold in the so called "edicola" which you can find in almost every corner of the streets.
Nuraghi : Megalithic stone towers (Over 7000 spread all over the Island).

O:
Oristano : Museum of the traditions of the Sardinan people.
Olbia : City sitauted in the north west famous for the Costa Smeralda region.

R:
Religion : Catholic.
Rivers : Tirso, Flumendosa, Temo, Taloro, Coghinas, Lixia, Flumini Mannu.

S:
Stamps : postcards in Europe & brief letters 0,45 Euro/Cent.
Sassari : Second important and biggest city after Cagliari.
Supermarket : Most of them close during lunch time (13.30 till 16.00).
Souvenirs : woolen and cotton rugs, terracotta, coral, basket-work in raffia.
Shops : The big shoppingmarkets are open from 9.00 till 20.30. During the summer months on Monday shops are open but on Saturday afternoon they are closed.
Sweets : Dolci Sardi (cookies), Sebadas (pasta filled with cheese and covered by honey),Torrone Sardo (nougat).

T:
Travel agency : Il Planisfero Viaggi S.r.l. - Viale Bonaria 118, Cagliari. Tel. +39 / 070 / 670743. Fax. +39 / 070 / 662223 or +39 / 070 / 670520; E-mail: incoming@planisfero.com
Typical dishes: "Casciu Furriatu", Massa Fritta, "Zuppa Cuata", Fregola Sanlurese, "Malloreddus", "Culurgionis", Suckling Pig, Boiled Sheep, "Panada", "Pani Guttiau", "Sebadas", "Pani Frattau", "Papassinos", "Gueffus", "Candelaus", "Piricchittus".

W:
Wines : Torbato, Vermentino (Gallura), Vernaccia (Oristano), Malvasia (Bosa), Nuragus (Cagliari), Moscato (Sorso-Sennori), Nasco (Cagliari), Cannonau di Sardegna, Monica di Sardegna, Carignano del Sulcis, Mandrolisai, Giogantinu (Berchidda), Nepente (Oliena), La Cala (Alghero), Turriga, Capichera, Terre Bianche and Torbato (Sella & Mosca), Inu 2001 (Contini), Terre Brune 1994 (Cantina Soc. Santadi).