Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and before Cyprus) and an autonomous region of Italy. Tourism in Sardinia is one of the fastest growing sectors of the regional economy. The island attracts more than a million tourists from both Italy (particularly from Lombardy, Piedmont and Lazio), from the rest of Europe (especially from Germany and France), and, to a lesser degree, from the rest of the world. According to statistics, tourist arrivals in 2016 were 2.9 million people.
American travel magazine Travel + Leisure include Sardinia and Costa Smeralda in 50 Best Places to Travel in 2022.
History
Modern tourism in Sardinia began in 1948, when the first investments and development plans were started in conjunction with the acquisition of autonomous region status and the definitive defeat of malaria along the coast. The first promotions and infrastructural achievements were implemented through the Sardinian Tourism Industries Organization (ESIT), which promoted and financed the construction of hotels, including the Miramar Hotel in Alghero (1953).
The growth of the tourism industry began in the early 1960s, when Porto Cervo was founded by the Aga Khan in Costa Smeralda at the municipality of Arzachena, which became the symbol of tourism development for the island. Architects such as Luigi Vietti, Michele Busiri Vici and Jacques Couelle contributed to the realization of the various developments. Porto Cervo was soon followed by Porto Rotondo, Romazzino, Cala di Volpe and Porto Raphael. As Costa Smeralda became more established among the international jet set, the race for the construction of tourist resorts began in many coastal towns on the island.
A myriad of other nearby developments with similar offerings followed, such as Baja Sardinia and Liscia di Vacca. The sector developed in the rest of Sardinia as well, until it became one of the main sectors of the island's economic activities.
Sardinian territories
The island is subdivided into several historical regions, rich in history and traditions and sometimes different languages. Here are the most well-known ones:
South
Cagliaritano, Trexenta, Marmilla, Sarcidano, Sarrabus
Cagliari is the capital of the region and the largest city on the island. It has ancient origins, as it was founded by the Phoenicians on previous Nuragic sites. Later occupation by Punics and the Romans left many archaeological finds, including the Tuvixeddu necropolis and the amphitheater, which could accommodate up to 10,000 people. Numerous coastal ponds surround the city, like the Molentargius - Saline Regional Park, located between the urban area and Poetto Beach. These wetlands are very important for the reproduction of water birds such as the greater flamingo.
In the Sarrabus-Gerrei area, the beaches of Costa Rei extend to the foot of the hills of Capo Ferrato; they are considered to be among the most beautiful in the world by Lonely Planet, along with those of Villasimius farther south. To the southwest of Cagliari, the main tourist resorts are located in the town of Pula, which also houses the ruins of the ancient city of Nora.
The Marmilla and Sarcidano regions have several important archaeological sites and landscapes such as the Giara di Gesturi. At Barumini is the site of Su Nuraxi, a UNESCO heritage site, one of the most visited historic sites on the island. In the commune territory of Orroli, there are the ruins of Nuraghe Arrubiu. These territories and nearby Trexenta are traversed by the Trenino Verde, a tourism railway line.
Sulcis, Iglesiente, Monreale
The southwest part of Sardinia is the Sulcis region and includes the islands of San Pietro and Sant'Antioco, which have the peculiarity of hosting Ligurian communities (including Carloforte and Calasetta). The Teulada cape limestone cliffs originated 500 million years ago and are considered to be among the oldest rocks in Europe. In the vicinity of Carbonia, there is the fortress of Monte Sirai, a testimony to the Phoenician-Punic and then Roman domination of the region, which also affected the islands and the littoral below, where the ruins of Sulci, Bithia, Inosim and Pani-Loriga are located, dating from the 8th century BC. The most popular seaside resorts are Porto Pino (Sant'Anna Arresi) and Chia(Domus de Maria).
The Iglesiente, named after the medieval town of Iglesias (founded by the infamous Count Ugolino della Gherardesca), has been an important mining district; abandoned mines are an example of mining architecture and industrial archeology. In the municipality of Fluminimaggiore is the temple of Antas, from Punic Roman times.