Other Must-See Spots
As you can tell by now, Sardinia is awash not just in beaches and natural beauty, but also in history. There are still more places for you to enjoy both, starting with the Costa Smeralda — the Emerald Coast.
Costa Smeralda
Costa Smeralda is on Sardinia's northeastern cost, comprising a stretch of land about thirty-five miles long and filled with beaches and modern towns. It is known as a getaway spot for the rich and famous; limousines and private helicopters are as regular a sight as the beautiful, white-sand beaches. Polo matches and sailing regattas are held seasonally, as is a vintage car show that lets collectors show off their antique roadsters and sportscars.
Porto Cervo is the place to go if you want to gawk at some of the world's largest and most impressive megayachts, which cruise these waters trying to outdo one another in size and grandeur throughout the months of July and August. The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda is in Porto Cervo, too, and is a regular challenger to the America's Cup.
Alert
Hotels and restaurants along the Costa Smeralda are breathtakingly designed to lure the wealthiest of travelers not just from Europe, but also from Russia and the Middle East. They are exceptional to see, but they're perhaps not ideal for your pocketbook as an overnight location.
Su Nuraxi di Barumini
Su Nuraxi di Barumini (“the nuraghi of Barumini,” in Sardinian) is the island's most important nuraghic archaeolocial site, recognized by its 1997 addition to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. As the committee noted in adding the site to its list, “The complex at Barumini, which was extended and reinforced in the first half of the first millennium under Carthaginian pressure, is the finest and most complete example of this remarkable form of prehistoric architecture.”
Alert
You can walk into and around Su Nuraxi di Barumini to explore, but only with a guide — and English-speaking guides are not always available on demand to help you understand what you are seeing. If you plan to tour this site, work with a travel agent in advance to hire a local guide who speaks English.
Cala Cartoe
Not known to as many vacationers as the more popular beaches on Sardinia's central eastern shore, Cala Cartoe is a gem of white sand and crystal-blue water. It's just north of the popular Cala Gonone, which sits atop a string of a half-dozen or so prime tourist-magnet beaches.
If you're looking for a place to kick back in the sand without a line of restaurants and bars in the background, then this is the beach for you. There is a kiosk that sells ice cream, sodas, and the like, but don't expect any major luncheons or dinners here.
