By Kirk Friis

The Catalan town of Alghero is located on the Northwest coast of Sardinia. Known throughout the world for its stunning beaches and characteristic old town centre it is fast becoming one of Europe’s holiday hotspots.
Alghero is an old fishing town that has embraced the tourist industry with two very large arms. Sprawling out along the coast line Alghero offers the tourist both the opportunity of a beach holiday or a small city break.

If you are looking to just relax and be somewhere that you can walk out the door and be on the beach you must stay in the Lido area. The Lido is Alghero’s own beach that runs all the way form Alghero to Fertilia, a small hamlet of Alghero. There are a number of hotels located in the area with sea views and private sun beds on the beach for residents. In the summer months the Lido comes to life with a number of bars, restaurants and pizzerias either on the beach or in the area and when the sun goes down you can find live music and parties on the beach.

For those who don’t want to be on the beach and want to experience a little more of the cultural side of Alghero there is the old town. Dating back to the 12th century the old town centre is truly something that must be seen to be fully appreciated. Have lunch along the battlements looking out to sea or take a stroll through the shops in the warren of cobble stone streets. There are a number of churches and historical places of interest to visit and many guided excursions to help make sure you do not miss anything.

The area of Alghero does of course spread beyond the boundaries of the city itself. There is Porto Conte with its natural wildlife reserve that spreads along the coast line in complete natural beauty. Reachable either by land or by boat excursion there is Capo Caccia and Neptune’s Grotto which is a must for any visitor to Alghero.

Away form the coast there is also much to see and do. Why not visit an Agriturismo, a working farm that has lodging and restaurant facilities serving up only produce from the farm.

As mentioned earlier Alghero is a Catalan town and although much of the cuisine available is Italian there are a few Catalan influences to be found. Why not try Paella Algherese or Catalan lobster (served cold with fresh tomato and onion). There are of course many Sardinian specialities to be tried such as roast suckling pig or Seadas, a pastry filled with Goats cheese and then dribbled with honey.

The climate in Alghero allows for a perfect vacation all year round. The summer months get up to about 35 degrees and throughout the day in the winter the temperature never drops much below 15 degrees.

A great place for children and adults alike, Alghero is definitely worth a visit.

For more Sardinian tourist information take a look at
Sardinia – tourist information

Born in London Kirk Friis moved to Sardinia where he now lives with his wife and son.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kirk_Friis

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By: Michele De Capitani

Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy.

Cagliari is renown for its open and friendly international people, art museums and Art Galleries, the sea, the movida and cheap lodgings, classic itineraries and a lot more to make a visit worth wise.

Cagliari’s Sardinian name Casteddu literally means the castle.

In general, Flashbooking guides have been written for giving the essential information about the most visited cities in the world and in particular for any traveller or first-time visitor.

It has about 160,000 inhabitants, or about 350,000 including the suburbs.

For a short visit, a week-end, a city break, these free pocket guides are useful printable and downloadable tools available online.

Cagliari has some peculiar gastronomic traditions. Many dishes are based on the wide variety of fish and sea food available, for example, burrida.

With the monthly newsletter, Flashbooking puts at travellers, students, volunteers free disposal some useful pocket travel guides of major European cities: the Amsterdam City guide, the London City guide, the Prague City guide, the Paris City guide, the Rome City guide, the Florence City guide, and the freshly issued Naples City guide!! For the Cagliari travel guide Flashbooking staff efforts concentrate on making it simple to read dividing the Cagliari centre in different districts with their relevant amenities.

Although it is possible to trace influences from Spanish gastronomy, Cagliaritanian food has a distintctive and unique character.

Flashbooking cheap lodging solutions are all available for online bookings and divided by Countries. Travellers have free access to the updated list of Europe hostels and budget hotels, North and South America hostels, Caribbean and Central America hostels as well as for Asia cheap accommodations, Oceania youth hostels and Africa hostels.

Very good wines are also part of Cagliaritanians’ dinners: excellent wines are in fact produced in the nearby vineyards of the Campidano plain.

In particular Flashbooking provides a large selection of cheap or low cost accommodation offers in Cagliari where there are plenty of low cost solutions for backpackers in budget youth hostels, Bed and Breakfast, family run guesthouses, cheap hotel deals.

See Flashbooking database of selected accommodations worldwide and help us enlarging the hostel offer by reporting the contacts of some accommodations, lodgings, BandB, youth hostels and budget small hotels where you personally stayed. In fact, Flashbooking policy tends to privilege small and family-run hotels in order to promote an alternative tourism respectful of cultures and different societies.

Flashbooking is becoming a recognized source of information and services for who loves creating a trip by him/herself and book bed nights securely online.

Flashbooking is a growing youth hostels and hotels directory specializing in budget accommodation for independent travellers, students, backpackers, families and all the ones that travel on a pocket. Article Source: http://freearticlesubmission.com

This article was written by Michele De Capitani with support from cheap hotel Cagliari. For any information, please visit add your bed and breakfast to download your free travel guides of Cagliari City (bed and breakfast Cagliari).

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by Kirsten Hawkins

The island of Sardinia perhaps most quickly conjures up the idea of sardines. A small island off of the western coast of Italy, it certainly incorporates seafood in to much of its regional cuisine. However, Sardinia has such a rich and various history that it bears little resemblance to the traditional idea of Italian cooking. Like many other Italian regional cuisines, Sardinia`s regional taste is often a surprise for a palette that is expecting red sauce and parmesan cheese to be the beginning and end of traditional Italian cooking. While it is a region of Italy, Sardinia`s history is shared with explorers of many European nations, such as Greece, France, and Spain. This diverse history of people shows in the traditions and culture of this isolated island destination.

While, being an island, seafood, especially shellfish, plays a large part in the regional cuisine of Sardinia, very few Sardinian meals do not incorporate lamb, a rich resource in the mountainous inland of the island of Sardinia. In addition to the lamb`s meat, a favorite of Sardinian chefs, very few meals are complete without the company of sheep`s milk and wild fennel. Stews and roasts are popular choices for the people of Sardinia. Looking at any Sardinian recipe, it is easy to see that the cuisine of this hilly island is a veritable stone soup of the many different cultures that have passed through the island over the years.

The seafood traditions of the Greek isles can be found in the mussel stews and roasted lobster dishes that keep the island`s fishermen busy. Malloreddus is a Sardinian pasta that can be found in many stews and pasta dishes accompanying chicken or rabbit basted in fennel or saffron. Malloreddus is a grooved pasta that very much resembles gnocchi in taste and texture, and is made of semolina flour and sometimes seasoned lightly with saffron, while most gnocchi is made with potato.

Stews are very popular in the regional cuisine of Sardinia, and even meat and poultry dishes are served in rich cooking sauces that could just as easily be served as soups. For this reason, accompanying a Sardinian entra with a hearty crusted bread or a side of potatoes makes for a very filling meal. Pasta, in the traditional sense is not as large a part of Sardinian cooking as in other regions of Italy. The pastas of Sardinia are more commonly associated with Middle Eastern cuisine. Hearty grains and fusilli more commonly accompany the dishes of Sardinian regional cuisine, as opposed the lasagna, spaghetti or linguine that Americans more commonly associate with Italian cooking.

Between the diverse history of Sardinia`s people, from France to the Middle East, and the various different landscapes and resources that can be found throughout the island, it is hard to put Sardinian cuisine into one category. One thing is for sure though, while you will find many different types of food on the island of Sardinia, it is unlikely that you will find anything like it anywhere else in the world.

About the Author: Kirsten Hawkins is a food and nutrition expert specializing the Mexican, Chinese, and Italian food. Visit http://www.food-and-nutrition.com/ for more information on cooking delicious and healthy meals.

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

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By Kornelia Wallon

Gastronomical

Among the best known Sardinian paste are malloreddus. They are made from semolina and warm lightly salted water, which in the best Sardinian gastronomy tradition are flavoured with saffron. They look like an empty shell and are characterised by small rises obtained by rolling small pieces of pasta in the bottom of a basket.
There is also fregula which are small hand made balls of pasta which are toasted in an oven. They are very good in soup or seasoned with fresh sausage and tomato.
Pillus is a semi-fresh pasta similar to “tagliolini” which is cooked in beef or sheep stock served on a bed of fresh sheep’s cheese.
Panadas are salted cakes which, depending on the area, are stuffed with meat or stewed eels, or with game (partridge, wild boar or hare).

Nature

Sardinian hard (wild) landscape is characterized by mountain chains, massifs, tablelands (plateau), Campidano plain and by rivers. Some artificial lakes and numerous ponds, soften Sardinian view. Sardinian coasts are full of beaches, mortises and cliffs which are lapped by the blue water of Sardinian sea. Many caves show their treasures of stalactites and stalagmites to the visitors. Mediterranean scrub, oleasters and ficodindia prevail in Sardinian landscape.

Festival

Name : Santa Maria de is Aquas

Month: September

Date: The last Monday but one

Province: Cagliari

Locality: Sardara

Duration: 4 days

- Religious procession

- Procession in traditional costumes

- Folk spectacles: dances in costume, tenor songs, songs accompanied by guitar, etc.

- Dance in the square accompanied by a band, an accordionist or a launeddas player

- Fireworks

- Poetry competition in the Sardinian language using the typical verses of the Island tradition. Two or more singers improvise verses about topics which they are told only at the beginning of the competition

- Sardinian traditional music (with accordions, barrel-organs, launeddas, etc)

- Parade of “traccas” (decorated carts which are hauled by oxen or by tractors which accompany the most solemn processions)

- Gosos or goccius (sacred ancient songs from Spain dating from seventeenth century in honour of the saint they are dedicate to and other sacred songs in the Sardinian language)

- Rural festival (sometimes it starts in the countryside and ends in the village)

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Owner of Bed & Breakfast ‘Il Tamericio’ http://www.tamericio.com/

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Althea Tan

Not long ago, when couples chose to get wed outside of their hometowns, it was because they wanted to run away from family issues. Now, it has become a trend for couples who yearn to make their wedding day unique, more memorable and one for the storybooks. With such high expectations, many couples find their hearts in Sardinia, Italy.

Why Sardinia

In general, Italy attracts thousands of couples interested in getting married abroad. The country’s rich and delightful culture, together with unmatched Italian cuisine and hospitality, make Italy the perfect romantic destination. Sardinia, a Mediterranean island in South Italy, is no exception.

Sardinia is a summer heaven. It is sunny and dry from May through October, when it can get very hot with almost zero chance of rainfall. That means you don’t have to worry about a sudden thunderstorm spoiling your big day.

The coastline is blanketed with North Sardinia’s world-famous beaches near Porto Cervo and San Pantaleo. Miles of white sandy shore merge flawlessly with crystal clear waters, thought to be the cleanest in Italy. If you want your wedding to be both elegant and exotic, the Sardinian beaches will not disappoint. You only have to find your perfect spot, which is hard to do because every spot looks perfect however you look at it.

Planning your wedding

To ease the task of planning a wedding in a foreign land, Sardinia offers a host of wedding planning experts. They have the experience and the passion to make sure everything falls into place, to make your wedding day as beautiful as you would want it to be. Most of them provide multi-lingual wedding organizers that will give you complete assistance from cake selections and flower arrangements to legal and religious paperwork.

Where you stay

The hotel where you stay in Nord Sardinia before and after your wedding is crucial to the success of the event. It is important that accommodations be part of your initial planning
and that you carefully study your options. Choose a hotel that offers amenities that would best suit your needs. Resorts and spas are desirable to keep you relaxed all throughout.

Think of your wedding reception. Do you intend to have it in the same hotel where you and your guests will stay? Chances are yes, to make it easier for everybody. More so, your hotel will most likely be willing to take care of the reception details.

Also consider the location of the wedding ceremony before you choose your hotel and reception venue. You would not want to be travel far, just to get to the reception.

Feast of love

Food is as important as the venue. Sardinia’s cuisine is abundant in seafood. The island is said to have the finest lobsters in the world. With tantalizing treats, traditional delicacies are often forgotten: wood-roast suckling pig, wild boar and traditional Sardinian sausage. Whichever your prefer, you and your guests will be regaled with a gastronomic feast.

Your love story is your fairy-tale and your wedding is your dream come true. Say I do in Sardinia, and for once, feel like King and Queen of the world.

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Franz Ritter

Cycling is a great way to get out of the gym and stay in shape. This cardiovascular activity strengthens your leg and abdominal muscles. However, if safety precautions are not heeded, a cyclist can find himself in danger.

You probably considered the opportunity to cycle in Italy. Sardinia is one of the best destinations. This type of activity is first of all healthy, competitive and nowadays even cheaper. Rennrad Sardinien means Sardinian racing cycle in German. Sardinia is an extraordinary Italian destination for tourists. Many cyclists are coming yearly to join the adventure in Sardinia. Sardinia is a very varied mountain bike area for beginners as also for progressing. Many trails on macadam and nature ways as well as numerous kilometers on single trails guarantee a varied and an exciting bike week.

Five led daily routes between thirty km and seventy km in Sardinia become strength classes offered, from comfy to sporty. Depending on strength classes the routes are differently long and technically difficult.

You can check the website and find more useful information about the weather in Sardinia, exact location and description. Extreme mountain biking is quite a new extreme sport; the sport has gained a vast amount of popularity over the last few years. Extreme mountain biking is the offspring of normal mountain biking with the added difference that you ride higher up the mountains or hills and on rough terrain. It can put your body under immense strain; you really need to be physically fit to take part in this sport. Interested in getting involved if you really want take part and have a go at extreme mountain biking, you’ll need a few basic pieces of kit that will get you started.

You can enjoy a nine days journey named Transardinia and the route length is 450 kilometers 50 kilometers per day.

Riding a mountain bike for exercise can improve your overall health by increasing your strength, balance, flexibility and providing a complete cardiovascular workout all while working your muscles. Having a proper mountain bike will make the ride much more enjoyable and by using the guidelines above, you can ensure you will choose a bike that will help make that so.

Mountain bike is especially designed to use for off-road biking that may include jumps, steep turn downs, dirt tracks, unpaved and logging roads etc. These are typically used to deal efficiently with the obstacles like rocks, stones or logs. Wheels that are inserted in these bikes have crooked tires that allow additional traction as well as absorb any shock that may result due to uneven roads or tracks. In mountain or hill climbing these bikes are commonly used.

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Althea Tan

Thanks to the Mediterranean’s picturesque coastlines and lush green terrains, Sardinia has become a paradise for golfers around the world. The bright blue skies and the stunning backdrop sceneries are sure to spoil tourist veteran and amateur golfers.

Il Golf Pevero is located in the posh Costa Esmeralda in the north of Sardinia, 32 kilometers north of Olbia. When Aga Khan first saw the space of the bay of Cala di Volpe, he said it would be a perfect spot for a great golf course. It was an understatement: today Il Golf Pevero is considered to be one of the world’s most magnificent golf courses.

This 18-hole, par 72 course was designed by Robert Trent Jones in 1972. Lying on the hilly peninsula, it boasts of its dense vegetation, bizarre rock formations, natural pools, and breathtaking sea views. There are shops, restaurants, electric carts, swimming pool, bar, clubhouse and upscale hotels built around the golf course for every discerning taste of tourist.

You are required to wear Bermuda shorts or golf trousers to access the practice range and the course of Pevero. Guys are asked to wear a polo shirt and girls are also encouraged to do so. Denims are prohibited.

Other developing golf courses in the island include the 18-hole club at Is Arenas in Oristano and the 9-hole course at Puntaldia in San Teodoro.

If you are a golf student, schools and driving ranges make North Sardinia a great place to pick up a club and swing it for the first time.

In Sardinia, golfing has grown tremendously over the last five years. One of the reasons is the need to extend the tourism season in Italy. Sardinia’s long summers and relatively short winters made it possible for the tourists to stay longer and explore new golf courses even in months of November through February.

Although golf originated in Scotland, where it rains more than it shines, and even if golfers are used to playing in any climate, Sardinia’s mild climate is too hard to resist.

Statistics on world tourism show that there is a constant increase of golf enthusiasts who travel from Northern Europe, Japan, and United States. For example, along the Mediterranean coastlines of Spain and Balearic Islands, their golfing facilities are not enough to satisfy the thousands of players that come by every year.

Sardinia offers these tourists not just alternatives but, extraordinary options that can even surpass their high standards in golfing. Apart from that, they can also discover Sardinian archaeology, food and wine, culture, history and natural beauty.

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ken jones

Campidano is a fertile plain in the southwestern part of the island. Livestock raising and the cultivation of grains, olives, grapes, and tobacco are significant. In addition fishing, the mining of lead, zinc, and copper, and processing industries are also important economic activities. More recently a significant tourist trade has been developed. The capital of Sardinia is Cagliari.

Sardinia was conquered by Rome in 238 BC, after the fall of the Roman Empire Sardinia was overrun by first the Vandals and then the Byzantines. From the 11th to the 14th century, the Genoese and Pisans battled each other for control of the island. The Spanish ruled Sardinia until the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, which ceded the island to Austria. In 1720 it became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia and came under the rule of the house of Savoy. When the Kingdom of Italy was created in 1861 the Kingdom of Sardinia came to an end.

There are airports at Alghero, Olbia and Cagliari making for easy access to your chartered yacht. Alghero is used by the budget airline Ryanair so low cost flights are available to and from the UK.

The yacht charter season in Sardinia generally runs from April to the end of October. High season is July and August, when the temperatures (around 35ºC) and prices are at their highest. May and June, September and October are well worth considering. Prices are lower, the temperature more comfortable and for those wanting to sail rather than motor round Sardinia the winds are likely to be more suitable.

This article will now take a look at individual locations likely to be of interest to those chartering a yacht on Sardinia. Starting at Algehero on the northwestern coast and moving round the island in a clockwise direction.

Alghero is an old fishing town that has recently seen significant tourist development. However the old town dates back to the 12th century and is well worth exploring. There are a number of churches and historical places of interest to visit. Consider a guided excursion to make sure you do not miss anything. Close to Alghero is Porto Conte with its natural wildlife reserve that spreads along the coast. It can be reached either by land or by boat excursion. Alghero is a Catalan town and although today most of the cuisine available is Italian there are still a few Catalan influences to be found. Paella Algherese or Catalan lobster, which is served cold with tomato and onion. Sardinian specialities include roast suckling pig or Seadas, a pastry filled with Goats cheese and then dribbled with honey. Yachts can berth in the marina that is situated in the main harbour. Extended information on the marina can be found here

Stintino is a charming old fishing village stretched over two inlets with two harbours, Minori and the more modern Mannu, Sardinian for small and large respectively. There is an interesting museum, located at the new harbour, telling the storey of tuna fishing through the ages. The local beaches are renowned and La Pelosa Beach is amongst the most beautiful beaches on Sardinia. La Pelosetta, Le Saline, and Ezzi Mannu are all worth a visit. Time your charter to coincide with one of Stintino’s festivals; the Rural Festival of Saint Isidoro in May, June sees the Tuna Festival, the village hosts the Latin Sail Regatta in late August and the Patron celebrations in honour of the Blessed Mary of Defence take place in September.

The island of Asinara lies of the of the NW coast of Sardinia. The western side is made up of steep rocky slopes with many landslides, ravines and crevices. In contrast on the eastern side you will find wide bays and many beaches. Asinara is known for its rich wildlife of which some species are both rare and endangered.

Marina di Porto Torres lies on the NW coast of Sardinia. The marina is the heart of the civic harbour in Porto Torres and overlooks the gulf of Asinara. More information on this marina can be found here.

Santa Teresa Gallura lies on the northern coast of Sardinia. There are lovely beaches nearby backed by the rounded rocks of the Gallura region. A ferry runs from the harbour to the French island of Corsica. Or take the yacht across the Straits of Bonifacio to Corsica and visits both the town of Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio a little further to the NE can easily be included in your charter.

The Straits of Bonifacio, the narrow stretch of water separating Sardinia and Corsica, has many smaller islands. These form the Archipelago of La Maddalena, made up of various forms of granite that over the years have taken on fantastic shapes. This is a stunning piece of nature. Those islands in the west include; Budelli, Barrettini, Barrettinelli, Corcelli, La Presa, Paduleddi, Razzoli, Santa Maria, Spargi, Spargiottello and Spargiotto. And further to the east; Cappuccini, Caprera Monaci, Chiesa, Delle Bisce, Della Paura, La Maddalena, Pecora, Porco, Santo Stefano and Sperduti di Caprera.

La Maddalena is the largest of the islands. The town La Maddalena lies on the south coast. Linked to it is the smaller island of Caprera. On the southern coast is the attractive Porto Palma. Caprera is best known as the home of Italian nationalist leader Giuseppe Garibaldi who lived on Caprera Island from 1856 until his death on the 2nd June 1882. His residence and tomb are often visited national monuments.

Cannigione lies on the west shore of the gulf of Arzachena and is a natural harbour. It was originally a fishing village and is today a popular holiday destination. In the port is a well equipped marina.

The island of Tavolara lies of the NE coast of Sardinia. On the south coast there is a small harbour at Spalmatore di Terra. Some of the island is inaccessible due to military restriction in place. Just south of Tavolara, lies another island Molara. Here you can see mouflons, rare wild goats, found only in Sardinia and large flocks of Cormorants. Both islands have good beaches and are popular diving locations.

Porto Cervo on the NE coast of Sardinia has a marina, see here for extended information. Yachts can also anchor in the bay. The town lies in the heart of the Emerald Coast, home to the rich and famous during the summer season. As you would expect there are numerous bars and restaurants and a busy nightlife. Inland you can visit the Giants Tombs of Coddu Vecchju at Capichera and La Prisciona, a typical Sardinian prehistoric construction of circular shape constructed with dry stonewalls. Other sites in the area include the Giants Tombs of Li Lolghi, the small temple of Malchittu and the funeral circles of Li.

There is a marina at Porto Rotondo with some 630 berths. It lies on the NE coast of Sardinia and is safe to enter in all winds. Extended information can be found here.

Olbia, situated on the east coast of Sardinia, has a marina. More information can be found here

Marina di Arbatax lies on the eastern coast of Sardinia. It has over 500 berths and is sae to enter in all winds. More detailed information can be found here. The harbour faces the 16m high Scogli Rossi or red rocks.

Slightly inland from Arbatax is Tortolì. Back in 1995 the streets and the piazzas of Tortolì started to exhibit works of contemporary art by Italian and foreign artists. Much of the town now feels an open air gallery. The area is well known for Bottarga, dried grey mullet eggs, and Cannonau, the local wine.

Just to the north of Arbatax is Baunei, set on the slopes of Mount Santo. The area is rich in prehistoric remains including the cave of Su Marinaiu where there is evidence of the first human presence in Sardinia. In the Golgo valley there are many nuragic monuments. Also in the area are the karst caves including the Su Meraculu Grotto and the Cave of the Fig, the latter is home to a flock of monk seals.

Villasimius, lies on the south coast of Sardinia, to the east of Cagliaria. A modern marina lies close to the town. The town is surrounded by mountains and is indeed very picturesque. Its lively nightlife makes the place popular with the young.

Cagliari, on the south coast of Sardinia, is the island’s capital. Following the founding of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 Cagliari saw rapid growth. Castello, the old part of the city, lies on top of a hill, with a wonderful view of the Gulf of Cagliari. Most of the original city walls are intact, and feature two 13th century white limestone towers, the Elephant tower and St. Pancras tower. The city walls and many buildings are also constructed from the locally quarried limestone. In Castello you can visit the Cathedral, repaired during the 1930’s. The palace of the Provincial Government is near the Cathedral. The Sardinian Archaeological Museum houses an important collection of artefacts from the prehistoric Nuragic civilisation of Sardinia. Marina, Stampace and Villanova are early districts of the town and retain much of their original charm. Evidence of Roman occupation can be seen at the Roman Amphitheatre. It is unique in as much that it was carved into the limestone on which Cagliari itself was built. Nearby are mountain parks, such as Maidopis or Monte Arcosu, heavily forested with abundant wildlife, Sardinian deers and wild boars. If you wish to obtain a feel for Cagliari prior to your yacht charter read one of the novels by Sergio Atzeni who has based many books on life in the city both modern and ancient. There is a marina at Cagliari. It is safe to enter in all winds and more detailed information can be found here.

On the south coast of Sardinia lies the deep Gulf of Teulada with its bays and coves. The wide bay is set between Capo Malfatano and Capo Teulada; these capes mark the most southern point of Sardinia. Although much of the area is under the restrictions of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) this has in part kept the area unspoilt and free from tourist development. Porto Zafferano for instance can only be accessed by boat and has some of the highest white sand dunes in Sardinia.

Teulada is a small village a few km inland. Today it is a tourist centre, there are shops selling locally hand made jewellery worn traditionally by the local women together with a wide brimmed felt hat with its clear Spanish influence. The village is also well known for its food; roast meats, suckling pig and suckling goat spit roasted on the fire and flavoured with the many local herbs that can be found. And don’t miss the tomato focaccia that is baked daily. It is a folded over focaccia filled with roasted cherry tomatoes, baked together it is one of never forgotten.

Buggerru lies on the western coast. It has a small harbour and good beach set between two impressive rocky promontories. The surrounding mountains are littered with historical ruins, relics of the mining of precious minerals such as the black obsidian that was exported all over Europe. The now defunct mines have left attractive caves and tunnels that have been turned into tourist attractions. The Henry Tunnel well worth a visit for the magnificent views of the bay.

Bosa lies to the south of Alghero on the west coast. It is a set on the Temo river valley, a short distance from the sea and is overlooked by the Serravalle Castle. The town is set on the slopes between the castle and river and is particularly charming. The river and sea have always played an important role in the life of Bosa and on August 15th every year there is a procession of boats honouring Our Lady the Protector of the Sea, with a carried on a boat statue of the Virgin accompanied by singing.

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GypsyNester

The Italian island of Sardinia (Sardegna) brought out the adventurer in us. Our first stop was Sassari, a city of about 120,000 with a rich history dating back to the early Middle Ages. A college town, home to the University of Sassari with about 18,000 students that opened in May of 1562.

Our host, Gianluca, a treasure trove of Sardinian lore, put us up at the Hotel Vitorio Emanuele in the center of the old city. As we walked around the meticulously persevered town centre, we found cobblestone roads, ancient buildings and streets so narrow we could touch the walls on each side at the same time (yet locals navigate cars, trucks and scooters with side mirrors-tucked-in ease). The dialect of the people around us, especially the children, sounded beautiful, like music.

Sassari can seem so foreign to modern, New World eyes, yet we soon discovered that behind the ancient veneer were 21st century conveniences. In our hotel, we found motion sensor lighting, video security, wireless access and a staff that spoke an amazing repertoire of languages, seamlessly moving from guest to guest. Just a passing glance, or in Veronica’s case an intentional snoop, into the open doors of the homes revealed all of the newest gadgets. State of the art kitchens with gleaming, compact appliances, LCD screens on widescreen TVs and computers and furniture to die for.

Over the first night’s dinner, conversation turned to local food and customs. Gianluca mentioned that horse and donkey were the “national foods” of Sardinia and that people who are not from the island can find them hard to eat. It wasn’t meant as a challenge, but to us, the gauntlet had been dropped. Since David had tried horse on a previous visit to Italy, it was obvious that we must eat the ass.

The next day we noticed an intriguing little local haunt called Trattoria da Peppina in a tiny piazza near our hotel. Turns out assenello (little donkey) was one of the least adventurous menu items. Spinal cord, small heads of lamb, three kinds of snails, various entrails, and goat feet were all available, as well as several things we couldn’t decipher even with our fairly complete dictionary. This was it–we’d found our place. The obvious jokes preceded our meal–”That’s some nice ass”, “There’s just nothing like a good piece of ass”, “How’d you like to bite my…. Well, you get the idea.

We were hoping a nice sauce might cover our ass, but as we were enjoying our pasta “first plate” we heard the distinct sound of meat on the grill. Sure enough, the ass was served straight up, all alone on a plate, grilled to perfection. They even went so far, perhaps by accident, perhaps not, to serve it in a shape that could be seen as a toilet seat or a human butt.

Lemon and salt were added as we summoned up our courage. The steak was cut, rather tentatively, and the first bite sniffed and inspected. Smelled good, looked OK…. Here we go. It’s good! No, really, it’s good. Fully expecting to only try a bite or two, we ate every bit. It’s really good. So now, best of all, at dinner we could truthfully say, “No thank you, I had ass for lunch.”

After lunch, it was time for more exploring. Sassari sleeps during this part of the day, so it felt as though we had the whole place to ourselves, but we did find the Museo Nazionale Sanna open. The museum has very convenient hours and houses some of the earliest Stone Age and Neolithic finds on the island. Phoenician and Carthaginian objects like pottery and gold jewelry, Roman finds with statuary, a sprinkling of coins, bronze belt buckles and a stash of heavy Roman boat anchors that pay homage to Sardinia‘s seafaring history share the space with the art collection of Giovanni Sanna, whose family built the museum.

Next we visited the famous fountain, Fontana di Rosello, crafted in 1606, which first supplied the aqueduct for the nearby seaport of Porto Torres. Later, the citizens of Sassari hauled the water away in buckets by hand and on donkey–we assume before dinner.

At one point during our walk we happened by a souvenir shop hocking tee shirts that read “No Mirto, No Party.” Intrigued, we stepped in to ask the proprietor about Mirto. With little language in common, we learned through hand signals and interpretive dance that Mirto is a traditional Sardinian liqueur that tastes harmless, but in a half an hour all hell breaks loose. Immediately upon arrival back at the hotel, we started our research. Mirto, we found, comes in two varieties, red and white, and is made from the myrtle plant–the red (rossa) is made from the berries, the white (bianca) from the leaves. Nothing about hallucinations. Since we were not sure who to trust–Wikipedia or the guy at the souvenir shop (could he have been exaggerating just to sell us a tee shirt?)–we felt that further, more personal research must be done.

We made our way to Piazza Italia, home of the only clock in Sassari that told the correct time. It resides on the provincial capital building, the Provincia di Sassari. After dark, Sassari really comes alive. The plaza was filled with outdoor cafes, strolling families, necking teenagers and, as always, the old guys sitting on benches, watching.

Situated at an outdoor table, we decided to start with the Mirto Rossa. Very sweet, 32 percent alcohol, with a back taste of herbs. We enjoyed some people watching, letting some time pass, hoping that the effects of the drink would not be too harsh. Still coherent, we decided to share a Mirto Bianca. The herbal taste of the Bianca is more obvious, as the sweetness of the berries has been eliminated. Again we wait for the hallucinations. Nothing.

Our study concluded that while Mirto will warm your spirit, it’s probably best not to expect a mind-expanding experience, but it may make you want to exclaim the local howl of “Aiooo!”

More about Sardinia:
Discover even more about Sardinia what your fellow travellers recommend to visit while in Sardinia and what to do:
http://www.italytravelnotes.com/category/sardinia/

Lakshmi

Palermo and Taormina are amongst the best cities of Sicily. Sicily happens to the largest Island in these parts of Europe, and it is a sure terminal for all tourists, hence Sicily is densely populated with tourists from different parts of the world.

Why have you come to Sicily or Sardinia or even any part of Italy? Is it for business or pleasure? Whatever the reason, here are some important steps to follow to actually maximize your time spent in these parts. Before traveling contact car hire Italy for the latest information on how to get a car at your arrival to enable all the process carried out in Italy or Sicily.

Since you got the ride set to move around Sicily through the car hire Sicily service, your first point of call should be Taormina. This is the treasure base of Sicily; all types of its treasures are here, both ancient and modern. On the eastern part of Sicily, you will find Mount Etna; it’s an enormous mountain, what a beautiful sight. Then you will also find Palermo is fruitful field of Sicily, in fact, it is the most fruitful land in all of Italy.

The valley of the Temples in Agrigento containing the tombs of all the great Grecian personalities is another good tourist attraction in Sicily. This site has become an archeological spot, a great point of reference for the Greeks. To be able to go from one site to another with ease, the rented car is really a much needed relieve since one would not need to hop from one bus or train to another.

One of the most alluring cities is Sardinia, located somewhere in the west, but encompassed by the sea. This city has remained to be a good tourist attraction over the years. Whether you are a tourist or just on an official assignment, a tour around this lovely city will be worth your while. There are many rocky high areas with many rivers in between, producing a vivid picture of the perfect ness of nature.

Once you get into Sardinia for the first time, you will be entrapped by its serenity and beautify. If you need a car, you can use the car hire Sardinia services. All that will be needed is a little deposit and you will have the car to yourself all through your stay in Sardinia. While you are in Sardinia, you will enjoy their good food, something that is very common to all the Italian cities. The rich cultural heritage of Sardinia is endearing. Flumendosa, Triso, and Coghinas are the main rivers flowing through all the parts of Sardinia – making it so enchanting. You can stay in any of the hotels or apartment, there are very good accommodation provided in this city. There are a lot to learn and enjoy here.

Sicily and Sardinia are cities that will attract and satisfy any visitors need for experiences and exploration. You will never be bored in either city for there is just too much for you to do.

More about Sardinia:
Discover even more about Sardinia what your fellow travellers recommend to visit while in Sardinia and what to do:
http://www.italytravelnotes.com/category/sardinia/