“Crystal-clear
emerald water, fine white sandy beaches, ancient rocks,
food of the gods, huge stones, wonderful woods, hidden paths,
history and myths. This is Sardinia, this is the footprint
of God”.
Sardinia is an island in the middle of
the Mediterranean. It has an area of 24,089 km2, 377 Municipalities
and 8 Provinces and the population is 1,631.880.
Sardinia is generally a mountainous island, rich of millenary
rocks shaped by the wind. More than 80% of its territory
is characterized by mountains (13,8%) or hills(60%). Punta
La Marmora, in the Gennargentu massif, is the highest peak
in Sardinia (1,834 MASL). The few lowland zones (18,5%)
are the Campidano Plains in the south and the Nurra Plains
in the north-west of the island.
The island has the typical Mediterranean climate, with mild
temperatures during the winter, scarce rainfalls and the
presence of the wind to mitigate the high summer temperatures,
which can reach 40 degrees. The inland areas suffer from
a far more rigorous climate, particularly in and around
the Gennargentu massif where winter snowfalls are not uncommon
and there are some sky resorts.
Due to low rain fall (approximately 500mm/year on the coasts)
in the 19th century construction started on 50 catchment
basins, with the majority of them having hydroelectric generating
stations. The catchment basins have been built in the most
important Sardinian rivers: Tirso, Flumendosa and Coghinas.
The Omodeo Lake is the biggest artificial basin in Italy.
The low population density (68/km2) helps in keeping the
Sardinian landscape wild and uncontaminated. Sardinia is
a privileged place to enjoy the marvels of Nature, such
as: mild climate, some of the most beautiful beaches in
the world, vast dunes, Karstic caves, deep gorges, impressive
granite rocks shaped by the wind, ancient woods, petrified
forests, inaccessible mountains, flourishing and fragrant
Mediterranean vegetation, arid sweeps and a large variety
of rare native animals. Anyone exploring Sardinia will be
captivated by the variety of its different and astonishing
views.
According to the legend, when God created the world he placed
some of the remaining stones on the seabed. He was wearing
a burning sandal. He put his foot on the stones and left
his footprint on them. The land was rough and bare. God
took some of the marvels he had previously distributed on
the other lands and placed them around the island. This
is the way Sardinia was born. With its rocky strong essence,
its intricate wonderful surface; similar to other places
but still unique.
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