The Sea and South Sardinia

Sardinia coastline and the Mediterranean Sea

Situated west of Italy, Sardinia boasts remarkable coastlines, picturesque beaches and a strong, yet varied, culture. When DH Lawrence travelled to the island, he wrote: “Sardinia, which has no history, no date, no race, no offering…Sure enough it is Italian now, but there is an uncaptured Sardinia still.”

We started our trip in the capital city, Cagliari. Our bus dropped us at the base of the Via Roma – the hub of the city. Essentially a wide a road that runs adjacent to the city’s port, the Via Roma is littered with upmarket roadside bars and shops, hidden by swooping arches.

Stop off the side of the road to see amazing views of the Mediterranean Sea

Cagliari is built around a large hill, so as you head inland the narrow streets meander up the incline. About half way up the slope is a large, flat strip of land called the bastions. From here, you can place the city in the context of its surroundings. To the south, the Mediterranean Sea sprawls out – uninterrupted until Africa.

Head to Il Bastione for fresh seafood, pizza & pasta

We headed west, to the botanical gardens. These display a beautiful array of flowers and shrubbery, while providing the foreground for the island’s amphitheatre. Carved out of the Cagliari hillside, the amphitheatre is an impressive reminder that Sardinia was once owned by the Romans. Built largely out of a complicated mainframe of wooden bars, the amphitheatre is a testament to the ingenuity of the Roman Empire.

As you snake up the hill you come across more designer shops, but it’s in the dark, residential side-streets that you encounter the true identity of the city – in the small restaurants and bars. Our favourite was the Il Bastione, where they make your food from scratch in front of you. Expect excellent seafood, as well as fresh pizza and pasta.

We hired a scooter for the rest of our trip and drove down the south coast. The drive from Cagliari to Villasimius should be compulsory for anyone travelling to Sardinia. The winding road weaves through the hills, showcasing picturesque countryside to the north and the twinkling Mediterranean Sea to the south.

Every cove that you encounter defies expectations to be more beautiful than the last, with sloping green hills, pale yellow rocky beaches and the clear turquoise sea gently lapping against the shore. Scattered around the island, you may notice a series of small stone huts, which are burial sites and are thought to be unique to Sardinia. These sites often boast some of the best views on the island, so its well-worth pulling over to take a better look.

With so much to offer – views, history, cuisine and weather – it’s no surprise that Sardinia has grown to become such a popular Mediterranean destination.