My Sardinia

What led you to go to Sardinia ?

Fifteen years ago, I went to Sardinia for the first time. My wife was born there in a small town called Monti near Olbia.

How different is Sardinia from Mainland Italy?

All Italians know that the culture, the temperature, and the people are different from every region. People from the North are very much different from the South. But I noticed immediately that Sardinia and its people have neither characteristics of the il continente . Sardinia is a big island that is far from the mainland (which is usually an eight hour travel by ferry). I thought that since Sardinia had been invaded by so many different invaders, their culture have changed and far removed from the mainland. The things I personally like about Sardinia is its climate, the friendly people and their adherence to tradition.

If you want to recommend Sardinia to a friend, what would you tell that person about Sardinia to make him go?

I would recommend anyone to visit Sardinia, not just friends. The beaches are amazing and the sea emerald green. I would also recommend going to the museums. They have such a unique culture that you can’t help but be fascinated by them. If you thought museums are dull, you might surprise yourself how engaging they are. The local festivals are also a must. They aren’t tourist trap places where locals do corny things to make tourists spend money, but Sardinians take their festivals seriously. They do these rituals since the early days and celebrate them religiously (pardon the pun), with tourist or none at all. If you enjoy hiking or scaling high places, the best places to visit are the a catena del Gennalgento in the middle of Sardinia and the mountain of Limbara up north. In fact, not a lot of people know that Sardinia offers as much beautiful beaches as breathtaking mountains views.

Would you ever live for the entire year in Sardinia?

I had already lived in Sardinia for almost ten months. I was twenty then and it was a great experience to be near Nature. So my answer is yes, I have no problems going back and living there.

Were you able to sample the food? How was it? Can you relate more experience about your dining there?

Of course I did. My mother-in-law is a good cook. But oftentimes, I, my wife and her family eat in an agriturismo nearby. I remember enjoying the unctuous maialino sardo (little pork) and the seadas — it’s a typical Sardinian dough cake made with honey and pecorino cheese.

What struck you about Sardinia? Please mention the good and the bad.

I have been coming to Sardinia for fifteen years now and though I have become familiar of the place, there is always something that surprises me. Sardinia is a place for people who would like to experience Nature. I enjoy the Mediterranean sun, the overall pleasant climate, the warm people, and their curious tradition. Realistically, however, Sardinia is still a diamond in the rough when it comes to attracting more tourists. The roads and railway are in disrepair. And the people are really great, but if you live there for a longer period of time, the locals can be a bit too conservative and narrow-minded. But like in all things, I get the bad with the good. And to me, the good far outweighs the bad.