Sardinia (Sardegna) island is a world away from mainland Italy but can be reached easily by short flight from many Italian cities. The mountainous interior where cool rivers rush through gorges will appeal to the adventurous, while the coastline with idyllic white sand beaches boasting turquoise blue waters is for sun lovers and families. Best known for the Aga Khan’s resort of Costa Smeralda on the north east coast, the island of Sardinia has so much more to offer. 

Island Hotspots:

• Cagliari – This is the island’s capital and largest city. It is a cosmopolitan enclave which is set apart from the rest of the island and is considered as the city. Experience the hilly maze of the sandy coloured medieval Castello district, the taverns and restaurants around the Marina district along with the several fine monuments and beaches around Cagliari.
• Sassari - Sardinia's second largest city is Sassari. This city boasts many beautiful beaches such as Platamona, Argentiera and Porto Ferro. It also has several important monumental buildings including St. Nicholas Church, Palazzo Ducale, Palazzo Giordano, Piazza Italia and the Rosello Fountain.
• Alghero – Situated in Northern Sardinia is the historic centre and Catalan town of Alghero. With its sea walls still intact, this town is one of the most charming of Sardinian towns due to its stunning beaches and characteristic old town centre. It is a great starting point for exploring the northwest.
• Costa Smeralda – This is considered to be the part of Sardinia which attracts the most tourists. It consists of thousands of indentations, rocky promontories and fantastic white sand beaches with clear water making it breathtakingly beautiful. Costa Smeralda also boasts the highest concentration of marinas in the world, one being in Porto Cervo.
• Oristano – Oristano is located on a plain not far from the west coast of Sardinia. The nearest beach is Torre Grande, a long stretch of fine white sand with many tourist facilities at hand. The lovers of historical places will enjoy visiting Oristano as it has many ancient buildings and churches in a mixture of styles, mainly Baroque.