sicily italy east coast

sicily italy east coast

by | November, 2017 | Allgemein, Beach | 0 comments

Sicily – East Coast! Dancing on the volcano with many beautiful beaches and Italy’s sheltered secret about a great island.

Our impression after two weeks was more than positive and we will surely fly there again for our holidays. Why Sicily? It should not be the typical “touristic vacation”! The largest island in the Mediterranean Sea was still a white spot on our map, which had to be discovered.
Our stay of fourteen days is divided into one week in the east of Catania and one week in the west of Palermo for a good overview – between both regions is a distance of 300 km . And so we flew with Easyjet from Hamburg to Catania and picked up the pre-booked rental car. With the many small alleyways in the Italian city centres, the selection of the rental car company with the small Opel Adam has turned out to be very good. The first destination was our apartment “Casa Carruba” north of Catania, half way to Taormina at the foot of Mount Etna. We had simply booked the apartment via FeWo-direkt. A first relaxing week should begin.

Carruba and Stazzo

The apartment is situated on an old farm with a beautiful garden and its own terraces in the countryside. From the apartment you can see Mount Etna. The house beach was very stony, but the refreshing sea compensated it. To the next bakery it was only two minutes by car.
The disposal of the waste was clearly negatively remembered and in need of getting used to. For Carruba there were various collection points with containers, to which the bags were transported. In the west near Palermo, you often only saw storage places on streets, which in principle were similar to small mountains of garbage. However, this should remain the only negative impression…

Sizilien, Italien
South of Carruba we visited the village of Stazzo on the first evening to try out the first pizza of the holiday in Sicily. Stazzo is really a small, peaceful place with its own harbour and some restaurants.

The location north of Catania at the foot of Mount Etna was ideal for excursions to the region. We started with Catania over Taormina with the Isola Bella, which was really pretty but also very crowded. The many small villages all have their special charm and on the coast there are a few sandy beaches, of which we liked best the beach south of Catania at Villaggio Gabbiano Azzurro.

Ätna Sizilien
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Etna in Sicily – lava eruptions and tourist attraction

Most important attraction in the east of Sicily is Etna, which we visited in best weather. When you go and visit the Etna you can drive to the lift station at an altitude of 1900 m. Once you arrive at the station, you can then book an additional lift at 2500 m above sea level with an all-terrain bus up to 2900 m. The ticket is not really cheap, but certainly much less strenuous than the walk to the crater, which would of course also be possible as an option. The difference in temperature should not be underestimated. Even in summer, a jacket makes sense, however nice the weather in Sicily is. The volcano is already a mystical place – rubble, sulphurous smell, smoke and steam show you very clearly which uncontrollable forces of nature are lying dormant in the earth.

Update march 2020: if you are interested in volcanos you will probably also enjoy our article about Lanzarote island, which has dozens of inactive volcanos. You may read the article as next one here.

And so we should actually witness a small eruption later in the evening, which we could follow from a safe distance from our terrace.
Near Carruba, the small village of Riposto with the very tasty Pizzaria Le Botti directly at the harbour was to be recommended.

Etnaland – a water park with many water slides

On the east coast, the programme also included a visit to the Etnaland aqua fun park. The park is large and very varied. In principle, all visitors will find the right pools, slides, etc. In addition to the water park there is also an adjacent amusement park, which we didn’t visit.

 

 

Taormina

If you want to jump in the tourist hustle and bustle, you should definitely visit Taormina on Sicily. The town has a beautiful city centre with many small shops and great cafés next to the small Isola Bella. The search for a parking place becomes like in many other places of the island a small gambling game. Parking garages are available – the costs per hour are sometimes incredible high.

And if you are on your way to Taormina, you should also take the chance to go up to the Chiesa Madonna della Rocca. From the small mountain chapel you have a wonderful view of the coast and town.

The city centre is part of the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site and the markets (especially the fish market) are also worth a visit. In addition, Catania has all the well-known local shopping chains for well-known shopping pleasure.

After a week on the east coast, we headed west…[Report follows]

Otherwise have a look at our tour from the Algarve to Andalusia.

Update: Because it fit so well, we flew to Sardinia in September 2017 and spent two great weeks there. Interested? Just look here for our post about Sardinias south west or here about Sardinias north!

 

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Gran Canaria in April swimming and sightseeing

Gran Canaria in April swimming and sightseeing

by | November, 2017 | Allgemein, Beach | 0 comments

Gran Canaria in April. One week full program. Off to the island!

In April we spent a week in Gran Canaria. We’ve both never been to the island before, although the “half world” feels like it’s already doddled through the dunes of Maspalomas. So the week before Easter was supposed to be Gran Canaria for the first time and the island didn’t disappoint us!

The following questions can be answered well after the week:

  • What will the weather be like in Gran Canaria in April?
  • What places of interest does Gran Canaria have to offer besides the dunes of Maspalomas?
  • Can you see the island in a week?
  • Which hotel can you recommend in Gran Canaria?
  • Where is Gran Canaria’s most beautiful place?

As the third largest of the Canary Islands, Gran Canaria is just over 4.5 hours flight time away from Hanover in the south. And so the airline brought us safely to the island. Luckily, we had enough food in our pockets as there were no snacks or drinks in the aircraft. After landing at the “Aeropuerto de Gran Canaria”, the transfer was relatively fast. The airport is located relatively centrally on the east coast, which means that travel times are relatively short.

Check in at the Lopesan Villa del Conde

Our hotel was the Lopesan Villa del Conde, which scored above average in the usual hotel rating portals for Gran Canaria. Coming from the highway we could already see the two towers of the entrance hall from a distance at the exit “Sonnenland” (it’s really the name of the settlement). What a sight compared to the broken hotels in the famous Playa del Ingles, which look like prefabricated buildings. A relaxing week on Gran Canaria could begin. The suitcases were unloaded and taken over directly at the bus, so that we could go directly into the large reception hall of the hotel and toasted with a champagne directly to our holiday. The entrance hall with the big chandelier makes a lot of impression. We were looking forward to the rest of the hotel after the many good reviews.

The torture of choice at the buffet

Due to our late arrival we brought our hand luggage into the room (you could also say small apartment) and went directly to one of the two buffet restaurants. After the sandwiches in the plane, the hunger was already great… After the first glance and the great hunger, we were spoilt for choice at the buffet and the cooking stations – steak or salmon, chicken or squid, pork or mussels, turkey or dorade? And how to combine all this after a Spanish starter with Serano ham, Spanish cheese & sausage and olives? Is there still room for dessert with the fresh fruits, refined on the chocolate fountain and a bowl of Crema Catalana? And how much hunger should one still be able to have for breakfast the next morning after such a meal? The only questions left to be answered are: Why candles are placed on the tables of such a chic hotel and why they are not lit because of the wind, and why the waiters want to carry the plates to the table with exaggerated eagerness. The choice of food was really overwhelming and so we went for a walk through the grounds after dinner.

The hotel complex of Villa del Conde

The entire hotel complex is “picobello” clean, very well-kept and well laid out. Villa del Conde is built in the style of a village, contrary to the old hotels (panel houses) and thus different sized, angular buildings alternate on the grounds. You can’t speak of a small village at the hotel either. The signs in the hotel are a bit confusing and do not necessarily help you to find your way around. Due to the direct location at the promenade of Meloneras you can also go for walks after the meal and have a drink in the (stylish) bars at the promenade for one or the other cocktail. In Meloneras there are a lot of chic hotels lined up like a pearl necklace up to the lighthouse behind which the famous dunes of Maspalomas start. In the opposite direction to the lighthouse you can also walk from the hotel to the nearby small sandy beach of Meloneras (5 minutes). The hotel itself has no beach. Those who want to stay in the hotel can refresh themselves at one of the four large pools (with a “half” Infinity Pool towards the promenade). We tested both the sea and the pools and were very enthusiastic about both. The Atlantic Ocean near Gran Canaria is already warm in mid-April. If you are on the move and don’t want to swim, you can use the hotel’s great fitness room (very well-maintained, new equipment) or take part in the courses of the animation team (pilates, yoga, water gymnastics). There is also a tennis court.

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The island – Gran Canaria – so many impressions

Even if it was not the stated goal of the vacation we have felt completely departed with the rental car the island. It’s nice to know that Gran Canaria is not very big. Unfortunately, we had missed renting the car in advance in Germany to spare us the transfer. We did this on site via a rental car portal and rented a car from Orlando Rental – what an experience. After the inspection, the car had almost no free marking left on the rental contract…. even the operator at Orlando was well trained and wanted to sell various insurances that were already covered by the portal.

Day 1 of the trip led us along the south coast in a westerly direction. The first stop was Puerto Rico de Gran Canaria with the small marina. It’s amazing how many hotels and apartments you can build on two mountain slopes, but the local construction industry has done its best. Fortunately, they at least stopped in front of the beach, which was “filled up” by the tourists. Afterwards we quickly continued on the coastal road GC-500 towards Taurito. Puerto Rico de Granaria is not a nice place, even though many boat trips start from the small harbour. On the small coastal roads with the many serpentines, careful driving was called for. The next town on the way was similar to Puerto Rico, so we ran over it directly. The goal on day one was the small “Venice” of Gran Canaria with Puerto de Mogán. The place is artificially constructed and was built between 1983 – 1988. In the village at the harbour, a few canals pass through the houses, which gave the town the name of the Venice of Gran Canaria. The center is really beautiful. So I had imagined more Gran Canaria, after the first two places were rather a disaster. Strengthened with a pizza on the beach of the village we drove towards Mogán into the mountains, which was the final destination on that day. From Mogán we continue on two exciting roads to the north and the centre of the island.

Gran Canaria Center

After we had already been to Mogán and enjoyed the view of the mountains of Gran Canaria in Ursula Goebel’s wine cellar over a cup of coffee, we were drawn in the same direction on the second day. Ursula Goebel’s husband gave us some good tips in the most friendly Bavarian language for a tour in the mountain region. Our destination was the Presa De Las Niñas reservoir, which can be reached via the GC-605. The GC-605 is one of the most demanding roads in the world, as our guide says, and has been shown in endless serpentines. It was a great route due to the view over the southwest of the island. Unfortunately, the GC-605 was closed after a few kilometers, so that we could not drive the full distance. Here, the path is literally the goal. At the reservoir you can have a picnic and enjoy the landscape, which is completely different from the barren and almost desert-like south. For us we went then because of the blockage over the GC-505 (also interesting to drive) back to the hotel.

The North of Gran Canaria

The north of the island should be our destination for the third day. I had already watched some great pictures of natural pools via Pinterest, which I wanted to test. From Meloneras it is relatively easy to reach the island via the island highway. Before the test of the Atlantic Ocean, the visit to Las Palmas was scheduled. Las Palmas is the largest city on the island – we visited it quickly. The centre can be easily explored on foot. We parked our car in the centre of Aparcamientos Triana, from where you can walk directly into the pedestrian zone.  You will not find any shops that you have not seen in the local pedestrian precincts. The surprise is very limited. More interesting in Las Palmas is the market hall (Mercado de Vegueta) with the old town, the Casa de Colón, in which Columbus has probably already been, and the cathedral “Santa Ana”.

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Along the coast of Gran Canaria

After the visit, we drove by car along the coast in the north. As a change to the supposed shopping we had chosen the high ropes course GrancAventura, which unfortunately was closed that day. So we drove a few kilometres further on the coast highway until we reached one of the most northwestern points of Gran Canaria with the village of Agaete or Puerto des Las Nieves. The ferries also go from the village to Tenerife, which could be seen on the horizon. In the whole north of the island you can already see that the Atlantic is much rougher than in the south. It was therefore great that the “Agaete Piscina Natural” was a limited, safe natural pool on site. The pool is filled with fresh seawater due to the surf. It was a great opportunity to swim, even if the comfortable sunbathing places on the stone field are very limited.  If you are more on a sandy beach, Playa El Puertillo in the north is recommended, where you can swim directly in the sea.

GrancAventura – Zipline parc with a view of the Atlantic Ocean

On our list we still had the zipline parc. Where can you climb through the opposite side of the Atlantic at an airy height? The way on day four was clear and the GC1 was as fast as on the days before. Arrived at the park GrancAventura we started with the first parkour after an instruction in English and climbed up to the top floor. After almost three hours we were on the safe ground again. The park was beautifully laid out and not crowded. A local female climbing companion was very surprised that we as tourists were hanging in the ropes there. The climbing park seems to be used mainly by the islanders only, which is also confirmed by the limited opening hours. We can highly recommend the park. With 22, – Euro / person for the complete park the price is normal / reasonable compared to parks in our vicinity.

Teror – an idyllic market place

After our little climbing trip we took the chance to visit the village of near Teror he climbing park. Somehow we had a lot of luck with the visit, because only very few other tourists have made it to the place. The city centre and the market square are said to be among the most beautiful places in Gran Canaria. With its small alleys and old houses, the village already had a special charm.

The west of the island

On our last day with our rental car we went west again. The destination should be the much-described “Mirador del Balcón”, from which you can look down almost 400 metres. On the way we went over the GC-200 towards La Aldea de San Nicolas de Tolentino. The drive was very similar to the GC-605 because of the serpentines and we arrived in San Nicolas but decided spontaneously to take the beach with us. Playa de la Aldea is a pebbled beach, unlike the other beaches we’ve tried before. Friendly enough, many other visitors of the beach had already created small sheltered places, from which we used and extended a place. After our break at the beach, we had the “Mirador del Balcón” on the agenda, which is only about 10 minutes away from the beach. The vantage point is also the final stop on the GC-200 in a northerly direction. The evaluation of a vantage point is literally in the eye of the beholder, so that we drove back to the hotel with two different views. If you happen to be in the area, I would recommend a visit. The steep cliffs, which fall almost vertically into the sea, already give a great photo and reminds me of the great landscapes from the “Lord of the Rings” movies (and the visit to the Cabo de São Vicente in Portugal). Combined with a visit to the beach, it was an ideal trip to the region. Keep in mind that the driving (apart from the motorway GC-1) is not comparable to driving times in Germany. Even if it is only a few kilometres away, you can spend a good time in the car.

Our conclusion about Gran Canaria

We will surely go to Gran Canaria again. April is already so pleasantly warm that you cango swimming in the sea and sunbathe. Next time we would rent a rental car for the whole time and pick it up directly at the airport. In addition to the described destinations, the Playa de Guigui or the Roque Noblu as the highest mountain and landmark of the island would be on the list and also diving in the Atlantic Ocean. One week was indeed too short to see everything.

The beaches on the island were beautiful but not as good as in the Algarve or Sicily. You will find the most exciting beaches within Europe on the island of Sardinia, which we also visited in the southern and northern part.

Sardinias Southwest beaches at Chia and Pula

Sardinias Southwest beaches at Chia and Pula

by | November, 2017 | Beach | 9 comments

Sardinias southwest – great beaches near Chia and Pula

Right after our holiday in Sicily it was already clear that the Italian islands fascinated us. And so it was obvious to spend another holiday in Italy with Sardinia. The safety on a lot of sunshine and great beaches in combination with delicious food were decisive for our choice. The decision was exactly right! Like Sicily, Sardinia is a relatively large island – the second largest in the Mediterranean to be exact. You should definitely allow plenty of time when driving across the island.

For this reason we decided to spend a week in the southwest and another week in the northeast of the island to experience a lot of nature and culture. You are thinking about going to Sardinia and you are not sure where to go? No problem, we had no choice. On all coasts you will find amazing beaches and bays! A little bit more exciting was the question of how to get to the island without having to change trains several times. And that brings us to the first question:

Which airports can be reached on Sardinia?

When planning your trip to Sardinia, you should keep in mind the following airports as your destination on the island:

Olbia in the Northeast – IATA Code OLB Aeroporto Costa Smeralda 
Alghero in the northwest – IATA Code AHO Aeroporto di Alghero-Fertilia “Riviera del Corallo” .
Cagliari in the south of the island – IATA Code CAG Aeroporto di Cagilari-Elmas “Mario Mameli”

We chose Olbia in the north, as this airport is directly approached from Hamburg. Other direct connections from e. g. Hanover to Cagliari in the south were cancelled due to flight times or several stopovers. Fortunately, the flight time from Northern Germany is only just over two hours. So you are relatively fast in Sardinia. Once there, the next question arises: how do I get around the island?

Interested in Italian music?

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Rent A Car Hire in Sardinia

You love to travel flexibly and don’t feel like using public transport, which may not stop at every bay for you? Then you’ll feel just like us. We have booked a rental car in advance on the Internet via well-known car rental portals. The costs for a mid-sized car were just under EUR 18 per day. The costs included all essential insurances, so that we could leave without any worries after our arrival. We recommend that you always take out a fully comprehensive insurance policy. The difference in insurance prices is usually very small. In the worst case scenario, you would really save money in the wrong place. After a thorough check of the car we had 2 big scratches included in the contract and then we went from Olbia from direction Chia on the runway.

How fast can I drive in Italy?

In front of us have been just about 300 km of driving distance on the highway-like SS131, which is also easy to drive. After a little more than three hours driving time we arrived in the southwest very happy. The last few kilometres we drove sporty and sporty in a Sardinian style over the country road towards Pula. Driving in Sardinia is not different than in other countries – but sometimes a bit more sporty. However, it is better to keep to the prescribed speeds of 50 km/h in towns and 90 km/h outside the city, as there are relatively many police controls. Often the locals drive at an “optimized” speed – don’t let it infect you. Some of the fines are also levied in Germany. It is important that you also drive with light during the day! The police are also happy to check out the parking areas on beaches. You should park your car on the paid parking lots. This is sometimes annoying and reminiscent of highway robbery, but it is still cheaper than a ticket for wrong parking. If you park your car incorrectly, you will be able to pay at least 28 euros, which you can transfer directly to the police at the post office. If you exceed a 5-day period, the fine increases again. Why can we be so specific? Because we tested it for you: -) The employee at the post office knew the procedure and carried out the transfer kindly. And that brings us directly to the activities we did in the south of Sardinia in one week!

Southwestern Sardinia – Chia and Pula

Our first week’s destination was the region around Pula and Chia with the Costa del Sud. If you are looking for a quiet region on the island, you are in the southwest of Sardinia really well looked after. There are hardly any bigger hotel complexes, but there are more beautiful beaches. This corner of the island is relatively sparsely populated. We have booked our accommodation via AirBnB. (Here you can get a voucher for your first AirBnB booking – Affiliatelink – does not cost you anything and helps me to cover the costs for the blog. With a fantastic view over the pine forests at Santa Margherita di Pula to the sea, we had an ideal starting point for the activities in the first week. In this corner of Sardinia we were very happy that we had a rental car.

What to do in the southwest of Sardinia?

The big goal in our summer vacation was clearly in the recreation and in the beach vacation! And Sardinia has fulfilled these points perfectly. The beaches are really fine sandy like the pictures we have seen before. The water is really as clear and turquoise as you can see in travel catalogues. In September it is particularly nice that it is pleasantly (bearably) warm and that the sea also has a refreshing temperature. Most of the beaches are shallow and are also controlled by lifeguards.

Beautiful beaches in Sardinia’s southwest

In the Chia area we can recommend the following beaches:

  • Spiaggia di Cala Cipola (parking at the car park Spiaggia Su Giudeu, cost 5, – / day), then 5 minutes walk over the hill to the beach in the protected bay.
  • Spiaggia Su Giudeu, same parking as the previous beach
  • The beach at Torre di Chia – in the evening the restaurant at the campsite is also very recommendable. It is kept very simple but served the most delicious pizzas in the region.
  • Spiaggia di Tuerredda (early arrival ensures good places. Parking 7, – / day, from the afternoon then staggered somewhat cheaper)
    The beach behind the port of Marina di Teulada. In the off-season, police also check whether parking is prohibited. 😉
  • Our “house beach”, hidden behind the pine forest, and really one of the more empty beaches: Spiaggia Riva dei Pini.

All beaches were easy to reach by car. What we recommend is to rent a parasol on site or buy it directly at the supermarket. The prices in the business were relatively low, so that few “daily rents” would have been significantly more expensive.

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Horse riding on the coast of Sardinia

Fortunately, on the way to Su Giudeu beach, we passed the riding arena of Giancarlo, which offers various tours and excursions with its horses. We decided to go on the evening tour along the coast of Chias to the lighthouse of the island at Capo Spartivento, which has now been converted into a luxury hotel.  The ride was a great experience – feel Lucky Luke or Winnetou / Old Shatterhand. Honestly, the horses are so good-natured and used to carry even less talented riders safely over rough and smooth. It was exciting to ride on the cliffs of the cape over the rocks at sunset. Giancarlo lived in Germany for a few years. He also gave us some tips about Sardinia. We would definitely do a tour again!

Zipline parc in the pine forest

You’re looking for something other than riding? On our last day in the south we tried out the only high ropes course in Sardinia, the Pula Adventure Park. The park is located in a pine forest between Pula and Chia. Please check the website to see if the park is open. In the low season, the opening hours are only on weekends at selected times and days. The park itself is divided into several difficulty levels. After a short briefing, it started right away. Once engaged in the system, the safety device could only be released again at the exit on the ground. It was a little unusual that the safety rope was routed at hip/shoulder level. In other parks, the safety device was placed above the head, so that in case of a fall, one hangs more or less directly in the safety rope. Irrespective of this, the park was also interestingly constructed. Especially the last lap was a lot of fun due to the many cable car tracks. The biggest challenge for the cable car sections was to grab the holding rope in time to stay directly on the platforms.

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Cagliari – Capital of Sardinia – Shopping and culture

Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, is located quite centrally on the south coast. From Pula you can reach Cagliari in about 40 minutes. If you are in the south, you should definitely have a look at the city centre with its many small alleys. Our start in Cagliari began with a visit to the old town near the palace. You can also see the Cathedral of Santa Maria directly at the palace. From there, you can take a lift or walk through the steps of the Bastion San Remy and walk to the pedestrian zone in Via Giuseppe Garibaldi. In the pedestrian precinct you will find many great shops. For Cagliari you should allow at least one day. If you like market halls, we recommend the market in the large Cagliari market hall in the San Benedetto district of Via Cocco Ortu 50, where you will find fruit and vegetables in the market hall on the upper floor. Butchers, bakers and cheese merchants also have their stalls in the market hall. When you go into the lower hall, it becomes much more lively. That’s where the fish merchants have the say and sell their goods. Take enough time to sit down in one of the many cafés in the city centre and enjoy the atmosphere with a delicious espresso or cappuccino. If you want to know more about Cagliari, you can also ask at the tourist office in the city centre.

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Pula and Nora

In the southwest of Sardinia it is a bit calmer. The next bigger place for us was Pula, which has a bigger supermarket and a small city centre. The Nora archaeological site in Pula is much more interesting, and it is said to be one of the oldest cities in Sardinia. The city was founded in the 9th century BC. Many cultures have left their mark on the city and some areas such as the Roman theatre and mosaics are surprisingly well preserved. In summer you can even see performances in the theatre. Entrance to the excavation site costs 7,50 Euro with a guided tour (you can only participate in guided tours).

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At the end of the tour, you will reach the Torre del Coltellazzo watch tower, from where you will have a great view over the sea and the bay. The tower was part of a series of signal towers on the coast of Sardinia, which were to alert the pirate attackers accordingly. If you like excavation sites I can recommend Nora to you. If you don’t find excavation sites so attractive, the beach in the bay directly in front of Nora is also a wonderful place for a stay!

Off to the west of Sardinia

Unfortunately, in September we do not have 100% certainty in Sardinia on sunshine. So we used one day and went to the west of the island. The first major stop was in Iglesias. The town had its great times with mining in the 15th century. with the mining of silver. In the last century, large quantities of lead and zinc were still produced. Today, mining in the city, is history. If you are going to Iglesias, you should definitely visit the old town with its many small streets, bars and shops. Ideally, you should visit cities in Sardinia in the morning or from late afternoon. Most shops are closed at midday (this also applies to some petrol stations!).

Lost Places near Nebida – abandoned mines

From Iglesias we drove towards the coast. If you are interested in Lost Places, the ruins at Nebida might be interesting for you. Okay, it’s not lost places in the real sense of the word. The buildings of the old mining companies and mines are nevertheless exciting. The way via the coastal road SP83 is worth the trip alone. In Nebida there is also a panoramic path with a great view of the cliffs of the coastline (directly at the entrance of the village, coming from Fontanamare).

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Sant’ Antioco – the small island in the southwest of Sardinia

Via a dam in the southwest of Sardinia you can also reach the small island of Sant’ Antioco. We visited the island for a short time on the way back to our apartment. The city centre of Sant’ Antioco is, like many of the other small towns, very charming.

NATO base in paradise

On the next drive to our apartment in Santa Margarita du Pula we passed one of the largest military training areas in Italy. The entire Capo Teulada is closed except for one beach “Le Dune”. Did you know that Sardinia is (unfortunately) a popular destination for the military as well? Many larger bases are in Sardinia. The beach “Le Dune” can also be closed by the Italian Ministry of Defence during manoeuvres. It is best to inquire first. Generally speaking, the places on Sardinia are not far apart by our standards. The location between the mountains with its serpentines increases the driving time considerably.

Highlights in the South of Sardinia

Our highlights in the southwest were the great beaches and the horseback riding trip along the coast. After a week we went to the northeast, where we also had a lot of great experiences! Here you can read more about the north of Sardinia. You may also check our post about Gran Canaria or the island of Tenerife, which we recently visited in January.