Archaeology handicrafts and science and technology sites to visit Sardinia

A wild site par excellence (out of season!), Capo Pecora is one of the jewels of the Costa Verde, of which it represents the southern extremity. Its granite promontory stands out on a coastline dominated by limestone: the pink of the granite contrasts with the turquoise of the water and the green of the Mediterranean scrub. Steep cliffs, swept by the wind, delimit it and frame small pebble beaches polished by the ceaseless work of the sea. In the creeks, the rocks have taken on particular aspects: one of them is called "dinosaur egg beach"

The Costa Verde is a coastline characterized by splendid, long, sandy and somewhat wild beaches, spectacular cliffs and dunes overlooking the emerald sea and dying inland. The golden colors of the sand blend with the lush green of the typical Mediterranean scrubland.

In spring, the Costa Verde also becomes a paradise for surfers, who find the best waves to ride. In summer, the summer calm offers an unrivalled atmosphere, long days on the beach and picture-postcard sunsets that are among the most beautiful in the Mediterranean. The coast is so pure and isolated that even the loggerhead sea turtle lays its eggs along the beaches of Piscinas and Scivu.

Piscinas. One of Sardinia's wildest beaches. 3 km of golden sand bordered by dunes up to 100 m high. They are among the highest living dunes in Europe and constitute a unique natural environment. Due to the strong currents and the immediate depth of the water, the beach is not really suitable for children. As the site is accessible via a track and there are no villages in the immediate vicinity, Piscinas is never really crowded. This makes it a perfect place to spend a day if you're looking for a quiet spot. Visits to Piscinas, the abandoned mining village of Ingurtosu and the Laveria Brassey mine can be combined in the same day.

It is by a well shaded botanical discovery path that one reaches this remarkable site: a sacred well in a unique state of conservation... and water still flowing in the middle of summer when everything around is dry. The architecture is just remarkable, the triangular shape evokes the sacred feminine, the tholos (roof covering) is intact and the atmosphere that emanates from the place summons the divine. This well was dedicated to the cult of water and Su Tiempesu is one of the most refined examples of religious architecture of the Nuraghic period.

Experts estimate its age to be between 3,000 and 4,000 years. The "Great Patriarch" is considered the oldest thousand-year-old olive tree in Europe. It is 14 meters high and its trunk at the base is 18 meters in circumference. Contemplating this majestic tree arouses emotion and humility, we had tears in our eyes. A second olive tree, more than 2,000 years old, and a last one of five centuries old complete this group. The guided tour by a team of passionate people is very instructive.

According to legend, Nora is the oldest city in Sardinia and was founded by the Phoenician hero Norax, son of Hermes and the nymph Erithya. It is more likely that this city was founded around 700 B.C. by Phoenician merchants who crossed the Mediterranean Sea to trade. They chose the peninsula of Cape Pula and its rocky promontory to lay the foundations of their city. It was in Nora that the famous stele was discovered, dating from the beginning of the 8th century B.C., which is considered to be the oldest written document in Western history. It is also on this stele that appears the word Shrdn, from which the present name of Sardinia is said to be derived. Apart from this stele, only few traces of the Phoenician occupation remain. The port city was taken by the Carthaginians at the beginning of the 6th century BC. Under their occupation, the city prospered and grew. It grew from 300 inhabitants to 3,000. The constructions are then made of dry stones.

The Romans seized the island in 238 BC and continued to develop Nora. They built an amphitheatre and a forum that can still be seen today and, around 150 AD, a spa and a market(macellum). They also built a road network and an efficient sewage system. Some of these structures still retain their mosaic decorations, one of the distinctive features of the ancient city of Nora. It is thought that towards the end of the 2nd century AD a mosaic school was opened in Nora, which would explain the flourishing of this art in the Roman city in the 3rd and 4th centuries. Its main characteristic is the almost constant use of white, ochre and black colours, whose beautiful harmonies can be found, for example, on the pavements of the frigidarium of the central baths. The Romans improved the constructions, used bricks, cut the stones and sealed them with mortar. We can't recommend too strongly that you opt for a guided tour of the archaeological site in order to get the full benefit of it. Some areas of the site only reveal their interest with the lights of a learned person.

In summer, the Roman amphitheatre in Nora is the venue for the Poets' Night festival (in Italian). From the archaeological area of Pula you can admire the nearby Torre del Coltellazzo. The Spanish tower, perched on a promontory of volcanic rock overlooking Nora beach, was built between 1580 and 1610 to defend the coast against Arab invaders.

The Nuragic Complex of Malchittu promotes the archaeological remains of the region by dedicating an educational area to them: the tomb of the giants Coddu Ecchju and Li Lolghi, the nuraghe La Prisgiona, Albucciu and Tempietto di Malchittu and many others. There are seven in total, but only some of them are unmissable and the Petit Futé has listed them for you. You can buy a pass here, the price of which varies according to the number of sites chosen. You should know that it takes half a day to visit two of them. The most important sites are the nuraghe La Prisgiona, the tomb of the giants of Li Lolghi and that of Coddu Vecchiu.

The complex of Malchittu includes a nuraghe, a large hut, tombs and a temple dating from the Middle Bronze Age. The hut has a circular plan with a large diameter and projecting stone walls. The remains of the nuraghe, set against a rocky outcrop, can be seen by walking up the hill along a narrow gorge. On the right is the temple. The nuraghe is completely collapsed. On the other hand, the temple is clearly identifiable with its rectangular structure. The entrance is through a vestibule that runs along the rock and leads to a large room. Offerings were placed on the table at the back. Niches were built into the walls and a hearth was drawn into the floor with stones arranged in a circle. Six tombs have been discovered in the vicinity, but they are hidden by vegetation.

This recently-opened cave has to be earned: a 10-minute drive by car, then as much on foot along a balcony path. Greeted by your guide, you'll receive a caving helmet and set off on your guided tour, a true scientific and historical adventure. The environment once carved out by the underground river is now adorned with pools, stalactites, stalagmites and "draperies", which you discover just a few centimetres from your eyes on a 300 m-long trail. An intimate experience, as close as possible to geology!