Sardinia is all beautiful from north to south. Where you go depends on what you are looking for, but if you are looking for the unusual and the most authentic side of Sardinia, then you have to aim for its rocky heart.
From the villages of Oliena and Orgosolo with those beautiful and controversial murales (graffiti) to Mamoiada and its mysterious carnival masks; from the spectacular views of the supramonte of Oliena down to the woods of Gavoi, Tonara, Fonni.
And, if you still miss Sardinia’s blue waters among all this green, head for Tortoli and visit its golden beaches, or go all the way up to the Gulf of Orosei stopping every now and then to enjoy its paradise bays.
There is so much you can do and see in this area of Sardinia, trekking, hiking, visiting some incredible archaeological sites such as Tiscali - yes, this was a Sardinian site long before being a Sardinian web company!
Our last excursion included a visit to Orgosolo and an outdoor lunch with the shepherds - delicious! If you like strong cheese, fresh bread and suckling pig that is.
We also took a guided tour of the mountains (Supramonte of Orgosolo) in an off-road vehicle. It was great, the shape of the rocks, the vegetation and the animals that you can view are unbelievable.
We finally allowed ourselves some time to view the Museum of the Masks in Mamoiada and to discover more about the ancient rite of carnival here. Nothing like you can imagine. Forget about the lovely, elegant masks of the Venice carnival. Here it is a totally different story!
Plan your itinerary very well. Roads are not always very good and because of the mountains you might need to drive much longer than what you expected to cover such small distances.
Orosei is a good place to reach both stunning beaches (e.g. Cala Gonone, Cala Liberotto) and the mountains (Oliena, Orgosolo, Mamoiada and Dorgali) for day excursions.
If you are staying for at least a week, it is worth spending a few nights in a agriturismo (farm house) around here.
From Arbatax you can easily reach the beautiful costs of Tortoli, Barisardo, Santa Maria Navarrese, Baunei and head for the mountains around Tonara, Aritzo, Sorgono where, again, you should spend a few nights.
In both cases you should hire a car, although some places can be reached in the summer season with the Trenino Verde, a tourist train.
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Agriturismo are farms which provide accommodation and traditional meals, made with locally grown, seasonal produce. The majority are family run and you're sure of a warm welcome when you arrive. Visiting an agriturismo is a great way to immerse your self in local culture and tradition and experience Italian food at its simplest and best.
The type of accommodation in Sardinia on offer can range from basic and rustic to luxurious depending on the type of agriturismo you choose, most offer a room with a private bathroom.
It is not necessary to stay at the agriturismo, it is also possible to visit for a meal. The food served in agriturismo will be typical to the area and the majority of it cultivated and bred at the agriturismo you are visiting. Dishes will vary depending on the seasonal produce available, which guarantees that you are eating the freshest of produce. In Sardinia you are sure to have a selection of fresh pastas, suckling pig, strong pecorino cheeses, rounded off by the famous Sardinian Dolci
Agriturismo are generally located in the heart of the countryside and many of them have nature trails and activities such as assisting with farm tasks, picking fruit, riding horses, wine tasting. Some even have gift shops in which you can buy local handcrafts and produce. Of course if this sounds like too much hard work you can always just choose to relax in the countryside while enjoying some wonderful home cooking
With many agriturismo it's not necessary to book, but this will very much depend on the season, so its advisable to contact the agriturismo in advance to make sure of availability.
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