Winter in Sardinia is for those who want to fall in love with the island. It is for those who are not only looking for the nightlife and the coolest beaches, but who are ready to capture its purest essence by letting themselves go and discovering a unique territory. Travelling in winter is nice because the prices are lower, the villages more lively and the influx of tourists is reduced so that you can enjoy the wonders in front of you more intensely. If the Costa Smeralda and Cagliari are the most famous places on the island, do something different this year, come and get to know the central-western part of the island. Get to know the truest Sardinia, made up of kilometres of unspoilt vegetation, real people, ancient traditions and remnants of a glorious history.
Wild nature and silent beaches
Nature is the hallmark of Sardinia East Land. Only here, when from the most inaccessible mountain in a moment you find yourself facing the blue sea, will you feel the heart fluttering typical of lovers. Winter on the east coast is characterised by a thousand charms: snow-capped mountains, orange-coloured forests and lonely beaches where the sound of the sea plays the leading role. Snow lovers can ski in the peaks of the Gennargentu, more specifically in Bruncu Spina in the municipality of Fonni, where there is a ski area where you can tackle the slopes on skis, sleds and snowboards. Trekking in the territories of Ogliastra between granite heels and evergreen forests, exploring the rugged territories of Barbagia between caves and canyons, climbing steep walls and admiring the sea in winter from the marvellous coves of the Gulf of Orosei.
Authenticity and popular traditions
Winter in the villages on the east coast passes slowly. It is made up of lit fireplaces, hands-on cooking and delicious aromas. Eastern Sardinia is home to the towns of the Blue Zone, villages like Ulassai, lands of longevity where you can savour the slow and genuine life. The villages here are fragments of the past where you can discover popular traditions and sincere faces, indulging in the stories and memories of the elderly, typical dances and the tasting of recipes handed down from generation to generation.
In winter, it is time for Carnival, and some of the oldest rituals can be found right here in the Barbagia region. The masks of the Mamoiada carnival, the Mamuthones and the Issohadores, are the best known on the island, and you can see them parade on 16 January, the day of Sant’Antonio Abate, which officially marks the beginning of carnival. Attending the bonfire of Sant’Antonio means experiencing the real atmosphere of life in a Sardinian village. But New Year’s Eve is also a special time to experience an unusual trip to Sardinia. In Orgosolo, New Year’s Eve is the time of Sa Candelaria, an ancient ritual in which children gather and go around the houses of the village asking for sweets and offerings; and so here the year begins with a strong sense of community now foreign to large cities.
Traces of a thousand-year history
In Barbagia, traces of the ancient peoples who inhabited the island can be found in dense forests, while hiking through granite plateaus, such as the Nuragic village of Tiscali, one of the largest on the island and emblematic of the mystery and fascination of the Nuragic civilisation. In Ogliastra, you can admire some of the most beautiful nuraghi such as the red Nuraghe Aleri or the Nuraghe S’Omu e S’Orcu.
On rainy days, take refuge in one of our territory’s great museums. Those dedicated to traditions such as the Museo del Costume in Nuoro, the region’s largest ethnographic museum. In Mamoiada, the Museum of Mediterranean Masks tells the story of island and Mediterranean carnival masks and in Bitti, the Museum of Tenor Singing where you can take a long journey through Sardinian singing that has become a Unesco World Heritage Site. Discover the immense artistic heritage in museums dedicated to artists such as the MANN, the museum of contemporary art in Nuoro, and the Casa Museo di Grazia Deledda, also in the Barbagia city. But beyond the provincial capital, you will find traces of great artists in the small towns in the surrounding area, such as Orani, where you can visit the museum dedicated to Costantino Nivola, or in Ulassai, the one dedicated to Maria Lai, the great Sardinian textile artist.
