The Italian Island of Sardinia offers visitors some of Europe’s most beautiful and unspoiled beaches. Located 120 miles west of mainland Italy and 120 miles north of Africa, this beautiful island provides adventures along it’s coastal trails and across its lush interior.
After being proclaimed King of Italy in 1861, Victor Emmanuel II united the often-forgotten island of Sardinia with the Italian state. The island’s geographic isolation from mainland Italy allowed Sardinia to develop its own distaincy language and customs that remain today. Sardinia celebrates its unique heritage throughout the year with eccentric festivals such as the carnival parade in Barbagia and the S’Ardia horse races of Sedilo.
Costa Verde. Arbus. Sardinia. Italy. Photo: Enrico Spanu/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group
Church of Torre dei Corsari. Arbus. Sardinia. Italy. Photo: Enrico Spanu/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group
Aymerich Park. Major waterfall. Laconi. Sardinia. Italy. Photo: Enrico Spanu/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group
Aerial view of Sa Colonia beach, Chia, Domus de Maria, Sardinia, Italy. Photo: Fabiano Caddeo/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group
Torre dei Corsari tower erected in the 16th century for the purpose of sighting any ships of Barbary corsairs. Arbus. Sardinia. Italy. Photo: Enrico Spanu/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group
Aerial view of Isola dei Cavoli, Villasimius, Sardinia, Italy. Photo: Fabiano Caddeo/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group
Monte San Giovanni. Orgosolo. Sardinia. Italy. Photo: Enrico Spanu/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group
Cagliari. The Castle. View from lagoon of Quartu Sant Elena. Sardinia. Italy. Photo: Enrico Spanu/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group
Aerial view of Porto Giunco beach and tower, Villasimius, Sardinia, Italy. Photo: Fabiano Caddeo/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group
Pond of Cabras, Sardinia, Italy. Photo: Enrico Spanu/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group
Overview of Cala Domestica beach with crystal clear water and Mediterranean vegetation, Sardinia, Italy. Photo: Fabiano Caddeo/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group
Aerial view of Cala Caterina beach, Villasimius, Sardinia, Italy. Photo: Fabiano Caddeo/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group
Aerial view of harbor Villasimius, Sardinia, Italy. Photo: Fabiano Caddeo/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group
Porto Giunco beach, Villasilius, Sardinia, Italy. Photo: Fabiano Caddeo/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group
Aerial view of harbor Villasimius, Sardinia, Italy. Photo: Fabiano Caddeo/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group
Aerial view of Laveria di Nebida, Sardinia, Italy. Photo: Fabiano Caddeo/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group
Red rocks and junipers at Su Sirboni beach, Marina di Gairo, Ogliastra, Sardinia, Italy
The beaches, however, are what attracts the nearly 4 million annual visitors to Sardinia. The seas around the island are perhaps the bluest of blue you’ll ever see, from Costa Smeralda to Golfo di Orosei and from Costa Verde to the bay at Cala Luna.