North Sardinia 21 days tour with Sardinia villa rental

Do you feel like it’s about time to disconnect from work and everyday life to get a vitality recharge? In this case, follow our advice for an itinerary in the north of the island with villas for rent in Sardinia, to fill up on positive energy and enjoy a unique sensorial experience. Given the vastness of the island and the many attractions, we have drawn several itineraries, to include as many points of interest as possible and to avoid turning your holiday into a hectic rush. Keywords: relax and discovery.

If you do not yet know Sardinia, it’s the right time to plan your sweet escape. If you have already been on the island, you surely appreciated how it looks like a mini continent, which fascinates and enchants in an ancient way. Countless visitors say they have established a special bond with the island and its proud inhabitants, feeling the need to return to explore it more in depth. Sardinia has a territory of about 24,000 km² (9,270 square miles) and 1,900 km (1,180 miles) of coastline, bathed by crystal clear water with incredible colors, that have nothing to envy the atolls of the Pacific! Wild coasts and pristine strips alternate with long white sandy beaches, hidden coves and rocky ravines, sometimes giving way to imposing cliffs overlooking the sea. In the most inaccessible and secluded stretches, the landscape is dominated by imposing walls of rock, patiently sculpted by wind and water.

The Sardinian countryside also constitutes a world to be discovered, where flat areas of crops and pasture follow gentle hill slopes and native vineyards, as well as rugged mountain areas, appreciated by hikers and climbers. Vegetation and fauna also change abruptly, seconding the alternation of mountain and coastal areas. It is possible to travel kilometers without ever meeting anyone, nor seeing inhabited centers. Those are peculiar landscapes, where the aromatic scents of the Mediterranean scrub dominate. Along the way, the view is interrupted only by the iconic shapes of mighty stone buildings dating back to the Bronze Age: the mysterious “nuraghe”.

Let's start discovering the mini continent of Sardinia.

Our itinerary begins in the northeast, in Olbia, an important port and airport hub in Sardinia. You could visit the town once you land on the island. Olbia is an ancient city, already inhabited in the pre-Nuraghic period. Subsequently, the natural inlet on which it stands was known to Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians. The remains of these settlements, and especially the subsequent ones from the Roman era, are recognizable in various areas. Further remains are visible in the Archaeological Museum on the Brin pier, opposite the pedestrian area of ​​Corso Umberto. This street comes to life in the evening, thanks to the numerous stalls set up by artists and craftsmen.

From the pedestrian area, you can easily reach two churches of great historical and architectural interest: San Paolo, with its beautiful majolica dome, and the ancient Romanesque basilica of San Simplicio. The latter is dedicated to the patron saint of the city, celebrated in mid-May for several days in a row. The pedestrian area offers various opportunities to taste the best dishes of the Sardinian culinary tradition in typical restaurants. Or you could have a refreshing drink in the numerous trendy bars and clubs in the Corso Umberto and side alleys.

The time has come to reach the first of your stops, from which you can easily visit the surroundings: you can book one of our Sardinia villas by the sea. During the first week of the tour, we suggest staying a few kilometres south of Olbia, in San Teodoro. The town is known for its beaches with unreal transparencies and colours ranging from turquoise to the most intense blue, and shallow waters suitable for families with children; also for the lagoon ecosystem, where you can spot colonies of flamingos, the ideal location for "birdwatching"; as well as for the rich offer in evening entertainment. Our advice is to spend a week in the surrounding area so that you can explore the northeast at your leisure.
Once settled, having enjoyed the swimming pool and sunbathed on paradisiacal beaches, like Cala Brandinchi, Lu Impostu and La Cinta, set off for Porto Cervo and the Costa Smeralda - the Emerald Coast.

A must for visitors to the northeast, the Costa Smeralda needs no introduction: its aura of exclusivity is known all over the world. Walk inside the maze of alleys in Porto Cervo. Fall in love with the typical Smeraldina architecture. Enjoy a coffee or ice cream in the little squares and spend the day relaxing like a star and the jet set who visits the exclusive village. If you would like to take part in an elegant tasting of local products and wines, you can visit the Vigne Surrau winery by Arzachena, the administrative capital of Costa Smeralda.

The next stop takes us to Alghero, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities on the island. Make yourself comfortable here by booking a beautiful villa with private swimming pool, or a villa with direct access to the Sardinian Sea, for seven days. Now you are ready to dive into this Catalan experience.

Alghero is one of the three cities of Sardinia having an international airport, located in the hamlet of Fertilia. The coast of Alghero bears the name "Riviera del Corallo" - Coral Coast, a name due to the highly prized coral colony, which in Alghero is worked by skilled goldsmiths. Among the most popular and well-known beaches, just a few kilometres from the city centre, you can enjoy Il Lazzareto, Mugoni and Le Bombarde, highly appreciated for their transparency and sandy seabeds, where you can sunbathe in complete relaxation. Alghero also has a city beach: the so-called Lido di San Giovanni.

A rare pearl in the territory of Alghero is the marine area of ​​Capo Caccia - Isola Piana, with the majestic limestone promontory, where you can admire natural masterpieces such as Neptune's cave, reachable by land and by sea, and the suggestive island of Foradada. Archaeology enthusiasts can visit various pre-Nuragic and Nuragic sites in the surroundings, we highlight the necropolis of Anghelu Ruju and the Nuragic complex of Palmavera.

Visiting the amazing old town of Alghero is a must. It is the most fascinating part of the town, consisting of a network of alleys that lead to squares and mostly end waterfront. The mighty white walls, nowadays part of the promenade path, the massive fortifications and defensive towers, as well as the ancient buildings and the ecclesiastic constructions, all evoke the Catalan origins of the city. Among other churches, we point out the cathedral of Santa Maria, and the churches of Carmelo and San Michele, with the colourful majolica dome, for their historical, artistic and architectural value. If you happen to be in the city during Easter, you will be able to appreciate the religious rites of the traditional Spanish Holy Week, deeply felt by the proud inhabitants.

As an alternative to Alghero, a few kilometres further north, you can consider a villa in Stintino for rent. Please consider that both Alghero and Stintino deserve to be visited. Stintino is the name of the most northwestern peninsula of Sardinia, as well as the name of the small fisher village located on the peninsula. The fame of Stintino is linked to real "assets" of inestimable value, to use a popular financial term; the Asinara Island and the Pelosa beach. They are iconic! Stintino can be considered a real "brand". La Pelosa is one of the most known and photographed beaches in the world: an ultra-low seabed made of very fine white sand, that marries a sea with ​​crazy shades, flanked by the so-called Pelosetta, another white beach embellished by the presence of the iconic Aragonese tower. In the background brown cliffs of sparkling local stone of Capo Falcone. A unique and globally recognizable ecosystem.

The Stintinese territory consists of a strip of land that crosses two seas: the deepest 'mare di fuori' to the west, and the 'mare di Dentro'', which also includes the Pelosa area, within the Asinara Gulf, to the east. The village of Stintino was originally a fishing village and is nowadays a very popular tourist destination. Relax by walking between the 'Old' and 'New' ports, where the characteristic wooden boats with Latin sail are moored. The village, which has about 1,600 residents, is visited by tens of thousands of tourists during the summer. The history of the town is linked to tuna fishing, the stages of which are summarized in the small museum of the Tonnare. Fishing is the basis of the ancient culinary tradition, which we recommend you discover in the typical restaurants of the Stintino alleys.

Asinara island deserves a separate mention. It is the second in order of magnitude among smaller Sardinian islands: you will be overwhelmed by its poignant beauty, especially the pristine inlets with a thousand shades of the sea. It is also known for its characteristic fauna, including the island's mascot: the white donkey.
Today the island is part of the national park and marine protected area, therefore it is not possible to freely visit it, but exclusively through guided excursions led by qualified and authorized personnel. The island boasts a very interesting historical-anthropological past, as it housed a high security prison, established in 1975, where Sardinian bandits and bosses of the underworld were imprisoned. The presence of the prison helped preserve the naturalistic integrity of the island, as it was a long time off-limits for safety reasons. The commanders of the penal colony and the families of the guards resided in the small village of Cala d'Oliva. In addition, the magistrates Falcone and Borsellino, Italian heroes, stayed there during the instruction of the maxi trial at "Cosa Nostra".

While you spend the week in the northwest, take the opportunity to visit another village of undoubted historical and naturalistic interest: Castelsardo, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. The town is located on the north coast of Sardinia, perched on a promontory. It recalls Ligurian towns in architecture and layout, with some of which it shares its origins. The original nucleus developed around the Doria castle, dating back, according to some historians to A.D. 1102, but more likely at the end of the thirteenth century. Today the castle is home to the Museum of the Mediterranean Weaving, in fact, the skilled "Castellanese" women still pass this centuries-old art to the next generations. The old town occupies the upper part of the city and is a veritable labyrinth of alleys where it is easy to get lost, which can also result in a pleasant walk. Get ready for a path of ups and downs that can be tiring for the less trained.

While discovering this medieval setting, don't forget to take a break at the suggestive cathedral of Sant'Antonio Abate, with an imposing bell tower built with local red rocks and a colourful dome, and with an amazing position overlooking the sea. The crypts below, which house the 'Maestro di Castelsardo' museum, are also worth visiting. As in Alghero, if you are in Castelsardo during Holy Week, do not miss the rituals linked to "Il Lunissanti". On Monday following Palm Sunday, a long pilgrimage is made towards the Basilica of Nostra Signora di Tergu. At night, while the sacred choirs of tradition are sung, the historic centre is light up by torches.

At a short distance from Castelsardo, you can discover one of the most photogenic rocks in the area: the "Domus de Janas" of the "Elephant rock". The Domus de Janas are nothing more than ancient prehistoric tombs, in Sardinian called "houses of the fairies" (the Janas).

Are you a foodie? Very good: Castelsardo is the right place to taste particular seafood dishes. Both in the historic city and in the more modern districts, close to the central and modern Piazza Pianedda, you can find several restaurants where you can try recipes based on local sea delights.