Italian Travel and Tourism

Life In Italy is not a comprehensive travel and tourism site. We offer two general categories of Italian travel information. First we provide useful general information for foreigners traveling to Italy, including many helpful points not always offered by the normal tourism web site. For example, we have pointers to help you use you American telephone in Italy as well as how to drive here. We include information about summer festivals put on by many Italian cities such as the Estate Romana that includes free concerts and other festivity held in historic locations and parks in the warm summer evening.

The second category is a collection of articles about specific Italian locations. This section is growing and we are continually adding articles but recognize that our task of covering Italian tourist locations can never be completed. If you have visited an out-of-the-way location and wish to contribute with an article, please use the contact us form and inform us.

DISCOVERING SARDINIA

Sardinia is one of the most popular destinations for tourism in Italy. Best known for the sea and the strong and thriving nature, the region has long been synonymous with luxury tourism and exclusive locations. But the truth is that Sardinia has many wonderful spots accessible to everyone. Let's go discover them.

In the 1960s the Indian Prince Aga Khan, conquered by the beauty of the Gallura coast, then empty, purchased it with the intent to build a refuge for elite tourism. The result is the Costa Smeralda, famous for its beautiful beaches, clear blue sea, and lush islands. The builders kept in mind that this was the poorest areas of Sardinia, and the architecture took much of its inspiration from the typical local styles, creating a modern and elegant enclave inserted harmoniously into the landscape.

Porto Cervo is the center of the Costa Smeralda. The port is modern and efficient, and summer home to the yachts of celebrities from entertainment, politics, and industry. The Piazzetta is the meeting point for those who want to see and be seen, and for those who want to show off. Inside and on the waterfront are nightclubs and restaurants that have made a fortune of this stretch of coast.

Although not part of the Costa Smeralda, Porto Rotondo is commonly associated with it. It tends to be a tourist destination for young people, and it is one of the areas in which it is easy to spot VIPs.

The archipelago of islands of La Maddalena is also famous for its breathtaking beaches. Among all, the Pink Beach.

Alghero, in addition to the beauty of the surrounding sea, is distinguished by the important monuments and archaeological sites found inland.

Cagliari, the capital of the region and seat of the university, is the richest city of the island and was the epicentre of the Island's power, especially during the rule of Savoy. The cathedral, the affluent suburb Castle, and the Roman amphitheater are some of its most famous monuments. Worth a visit also are the charming alleys and quaint streets of this elegant seaside town.

All the beaches of Sardinia are beautiful, but we must not forget the interior. The island has been inhabited by proud people since prehistoric times, as testified by the remains of dolmens and the nuraghe, the main type of ancient megalith found in Sardinia.

Nature is harsh and there are areas a few kilometers from the main tourist centers that are still completely unexplored. The local variety of elements that characterizes the island makes it feel like a real miniature continent. The fauna is diverse and many protected species inhabit the coasts and the interior.

Sardinia is also an island of strong traditions. Religious festivals, linked to agriculture or related to pagan legacies, follow one another in every season of the year. The cuisine is rich and powerful, made of the simple and natural ingredients derived from the sea and from the interior. After the meal you need to drink the myrtle, a typical product of these lands.

The entire region is a wonderful area, and should be on everyone's list.