SARDINIA

Sardinia is an ancient land, the most ancient in Italy.
Sardinia is 1800 km. of coastline which embraces the mountainous and wild heart of the island.
The landscape, untouched and of unique beauty, is symbolized by the delicate and scenty peony, turquoise sea, forests of holm-oaks and oaks, magnificient pink flamingoes.

The Sardinian vast region offers innumerable views and panoramas; it is world famous for its splendid seaside resorts, such as Santa Teresa di Gallura, Chia,Villasimius, Costa Smeralda (with its exclusive Porto Rotondo) and Porto Cervo. Sardinia is all this and much more.

It is an island distinguished by a strong local culture which expresses its own identity and keeps a unique heritage including archeology, history,museums, environment and folklore.
The wealth of folk traditions becomes manifest both in the countless village fairs and in the production of renowned crafts.

Bread is an essential element of Sardinian gastronomy. Bread has different shapes and meanings in different places of the island. The most popular kind of bread is “carasau”, typical of Barbagia.
Meat is excellent,too: lambs, kids and, “porchetti” (small pigs) barbecued and made tastier thanks to the white-hot lard dripping during the cooking on the fire.
Fish dishes can be tried in all the seaside resorts: Cabras is the capital of the mullet (“bottarga” is made of mullet dried eggs), Alghero is very popular for lobsters prepared in Catalonia style , Carloforte speciality is tunny fish in tomato sauce.

Carnival is an emblem. All over the island there is a succession of celebrations connected to ancient ceremonies:pagan and religious rites at the same time. The feast is celebrated with parades of masks and floats.
The typical Carnival sweets can be tasted in the squares, amid laughters, jokes and dances.
In Barbagia, Carnival has mysterious, unique features. Mamuthones and Issokadores from Mamoiada, Merdules and Boes from Ottana, Thurpos from Orotelli are gloomy masks dancing at the repetitive and disquietening sound of cow bells.