Karl WP Beyer Sardinia, Italy's second largest island, is the ideal destination for nature lovers. Guests of the island who travel to Olbia by ferries and cruise lines are well advised to check out Sardinia, one of the five autonomous regions of Italy.
Article overview Olbia / Sardinia
The autonomous region of Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily. The land area, including the offshore islands, is 24.090 square kilometers. Sardinia is slightly smaller than Sicily, but almost three times larger than the island of Corsica, which borders in the north and belongs to France. There are 270 kilometers as the crow flies between the northernmost and southernmost points of the island. Sardinia stretches for 145 kilometers from east to west. Sardinia is sparsely populated; currently 1,63 million people live on the island. Sardinia's capital, Cagliari, is located in the south of the island.
Sardinia - Gulf of Olbia
Sardinia - island of natural parks
Sardinia was originally rich in natural resources. Ore and coal deposits have been ruthlessly exploited for centuries. The formerly dense forests have been cut down. In addition, the Sardinian nature suffered from the desertification of the country caused by sheep and goat farming and from deliberately set fires.
The overexploitation of nature was successfully curbed by the establishment of 33 nature parks. Today the parks give their visitors a picture of the original and unadulterated Sardinian landscape. The Supramonte-Gennargentu National Park on the east coast of Sardinia is of particular importance. The park includes the Gennargentu Mountains and the Orosei Gulf Coast. Deer, wild boars, wild cats and birds of prey live on the slopes of the 1.800 meter high mountains.
Sardinia - landscape in front of Porto Cervo
Sardinia - rock formations in the north
Costa Smeralda and the Maddalena Archipelago
The Gallura region extends in the north-east of Sardinia. It is characterized by Mediterranean plants, fragrant macchia, cork and holm oaks and bizarre rock formations.
The coast of this region is marketed for tourism under the name "Costa Smeralda". This wonderful stretch of land has been the playground of the international jet set since the 1960s.
North of the Costa Smeralda is another national park, the Maddalena Archipelago.
Sardinia - Porto Cervo
Sardinia - Palau, Maddalena and San Stefano Caprera
Olbia - the most important city in the Gallura region
The most important city in Gallura is Olbia, the fourth largest city in Sardinia. Olbia's port was already known to the Etruscans. Then it was expanded under Roman rule. Today the city on the gulf of the same name with 60.000 inhabitants (2020 estimate) is a lively industrial and commercial metropolis. The city has a busy ferry port from which large ferries go to various destinations in Italy and Corsica. Visitors perceive the historical part of the city as provincial and sleepy.
Old town alley in Olbia
Olbia - cruise ship and ferry
Olbia for crusaders
The airport is regularly approached from Germany with charter and scheduled planes, and from time to time cruise ships head for Olbia's port. What Olbia and its surroundings offer day guests arriving by cruise ship is described below Olbia - places of interest.
Update April 2021
