ALGHERO - POSADA - CAGLIARI - PORTO TORRES - OLBIA

If you are interested in attending an Italian language course in Sardinia, we would like to help you in your decision by giving you some useful information:

WHERE IS SARDINIA

Sardinia is an island situated in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea. It is one of the eighteen Italian regions as well as the second largest Italian island, after Sicily. Moreover, it is one of the five regions in the Italian territory with special autonomy.
The island overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea to the East and the Sardinian Sea to the West, while to the North it is separated from Corsica by an arm of sea, which is only 12 Km long and is called Bocche di Bonifacio.

WHAT IS THE TERRITORY LIKE ?

67%, of the territory of the island is hilly, 13% is mountainous (the mountains extend above all in the eastern part, the Gallura, while the mountainous territory in the western part is more heterogeneous) and 18% is flat (with the Campidano plain, situated between the Gulf of Cagliari and the Gulf of Oristano).
The proper mountain chains are those of the Gennargentu, situated in the eastern part of the island, of Mounts Limbara in the North and of Mounts Iglesiente and Sulcis in the South.
The Sardinian coast, from Punta Falcone to Capo Comino, is very indented and rich in inlets and small bays. The widest and most important gulf is the Gulf of Oristano.
Around Sardinia there are also some small but wonderful islands: Asinara, Maddalena, Caprera, Molara and Tavolara in the North, while in the South there are two other islands: San Pietro and Sant’Antioco, which is connected to the main island by a short stretch of land.

Sardinia is divided in four provinces: Sassari, Oristano, Nuoro and Cagliari that is the regional capital.

HOW CAN YOU REACH IT ?

The most direct and comfortable means to arrive in Sardinia is certainly the airplane.
Anyhow, we advice you to rent a car at your arrival at the airport, in order to travel freely in the island.
Sardinia is well connected both with the Italian and the European airports through national and international flights.
The airports in Sardinia are: Cagliari (at Elmas), Olbia, Alghero (at Fertilia) and Tortolì (near Arbatax).
It is possible to reach Sardinia by ferry-boat, as an alternative to the plane, with the possibility to drive your own car on the island during your holiday.
The connections from the mainland to the island are annual, but they are more frequent in summer. The shipping companies also use some fast boats, that allow you to reach Sardinia in about six hours.
You can reach Sardinia from all the most important ports of the Italian territory (Civitavecchia, La Spezia, Livorno, Napoli, Genova and others) with different ports of destination: Olbia, Porto Torres, Cagliari, Golfo Aranci (Olbia) and Arbatax.
We remind you that it is important to book the summer holiday in advance (beginning from March-April), since the summer period always attracts many tourists.

Concerning the possibility to travel by car, there are no motorways in Sardinia and the most important roads are: the SS 131 Carlo Felice, that connects Porto Torres to Sassari, Oristano and Cagliari, a deviation of the SS 131 at Abbasanta, that leads you to Cagliari and the SS 130 Cagliari-Iglesias.

The national railway connects only the distance Sassari-Oristano-Cagliari and the Sardinian railway covers the lines Alghero-Porto Torres-Palau-Macomer-Nuoro.

WHAT DOES IT OFFER?
 
Sardinia is a beautiful island, with really charming naturalistic landscapes and, in fact, it is famous in the whole Mediterranean area for its magnificent beaches and for the incredible colours of its crystal-clear water, as that of Stintino, or of Maddalena Island or of Cala Gonone (just to mention some names).
The Sardinian population is characterized by an ethnical homogeneity that is unique in Italy, even if the territory has been subject to different influences, that are today still recognizable, as the Aragonese one in Alghero, the Ligurian influence in Carloforte (San Pietro island) and the Neapolitan influences in the Maddalena island.
The climate in Sardinia is typically Mediterranean and the influences of the sea are present all around the island. It is characterized by long, warm summers and short, mild winters, accompanied by the blowing of the north-west wind (the popular maestrale).
If you want to visit Sardinia, we advice you enjoy both the wonderful seaside resorts and the beauty of the landscapes that are present inland, which are made of a unique and typical nature.
Do not forget to taste the excellent Sardinian cooking, composed by dishes of meat or fish and by delicious sweets, too. Then you can discover the local wines and liquors, that are full-bodied and strong, like the Sardinian people.