Lonely Planet recommends travelling to Sardinia, Italy, either in spring, when wildflowers are in bloom, or in fall, when the weather is still favorable and the tourist count is low. July and August are crowded and sweltering, and little is available for the prospective visitor in the sleepy winter months.
Sardinia is accessible via ferry or air. Ferries depart from many Italian cities, as well as Bonifacio and Porto Vecchio in Corsica, and Marseille and Toulon in France. Sardinian destinations include Olbia, Golfa Aranci, Palau, Santa Teresa di Gallura, Porto Torres, Arbatax, and Cagliari. Cagliari, Alghero, and Olbia all have airports with flights to and from major Italian and European cities. Travel around Sardinia is best done by car. Rental agencies are available at Cagliari and other large towns.
At the northernmost point of Sardinia, Lonely Planet recommends two towns that are less than overwhelmed with the tourist flow: Santa Teresa di Gallura, which boasts a view of the Corsican city of Bonifacio, and Palau, whose appeal lies in its access to the seven-island national park known as the Parco Nazionale dell'Arcipelago di La Maddalena.
The west coast of Sardinia preserves its Medieval Catalan influence. Alghero best exemplifies this history - Catalan is still spoken there - but the city can be crowded at the height of tourist season. For a more laid-back experience, explore Bosa, with its ruined castle and cobble-stone streets, which complement the nearby facilities for visitors.
In the southwest, Iglesias' ancient lead and silver mines exert a haunting influence over the bustling Spanish-inspired city, while the islands of San Pietro and Sant'Antioco offer both natural beauty and small-town charm.
Holy Week, commemorating the Passion and resurrection of Jesus, is a time of deep cultural significance in Sardinia, with many major towns, including Alghero, Iglesias, Cagliari, Sassari and Castelsardo, holding a variety of religious events, including processions of sacred effigies through the streets by members of religious orders.
At the end of March, Muravera holds a festival to celebrate its prized orange crop. Events include a parade of Sardinians in various native folk attire, art shows and music performances. Every year on June 1 is the start of a four-day fete in Carloforte to the tuna fish, in which chefs from around the globe compete to create the most succulent tuna dish, while connoisseurs of the fish may participate in workshops led by professionals.
July 6 and 7 marks the Ardia, a horse race held in several towns, including Sedilo, Pozzomaggiore and Samugheo. The event, which includes several races by local riders, honors a historical battle between the troops of the honorary Saint, Emperor Constantine, and Massenzio, who had seized Rome.
Sardinia's official tourist website, Sardegna Turismo, catalogs hundreds of museums all over the island, including historical monuments, castles, cathedrals, ethnographical museums, botanical gardens, contemporary and classical art galleries and archaeological museums.
Sardegna Turismo also provides some 36 travel itineraries showcasing different facets of Sardinian culture, history and ecology. Some of the routes tourists can follow specialize in regional art, archeology, food and wine, natural beauty and more, and take between a few minutes by foot to several hours by car to complete.
Sardinia's varied topography makes for a huge repertoire of potential outdoor adventure. Sardinia's eight regional and national parks are flush with strong water and mountain features for hikers. Sardegna Turismo testifies that the Ogliastra route is the most difficult trek in Italy. To enjoy the scenery in a less exhausting fashion, Lonely Planet suggests a ride on one of the scenic routes still taken by older trains, particularly Arbatax-Mandas.
Sardegna Turismo documents dozens of natural attractions, including lakes and lagoons, caves and islands all for the exploring. The more than 1,200 miles of beach are savored by divers. In fact, Lonely Planet's number one "Top Pick" for activities in Sardinia is the diving center of Capo Galera, near Alghero.
