The azure sea underneath L’Arco in S’Archittu, little known sea resort in Sardinia’s west coast viewed from the facing beach.
There are many reasons why you decide to go to a place. Food, culture, traditions, nightlife, people, they all make it for a potentially unforgettable trip. I know I said in my last post that I was going to start writing about my Brazilian adventure, and so I will, but I’m also going to alternate with other posts from Sardinia because I’ve visited places that are worth showing and met people who are definitely worth introducing to the world.
One of the first things any visitor notices in Sardinia is its hugely diverse landscape, which translates into a fantastic array of colors. I’ve been considering for quite a while to craft a post gathering the different shades I’ve seen all around the island, and now that I’ve been looking at my pictures I found some pretty amazing hues.
Being Sardinia an island of the Mediterranean Sea, most of the colors are given by its natural features, and being surrounded by water, the first color you will see when landing, and during most of your rides along the coast, is obviously a bright blue-green, turquoise.
Blue
Blue like the sea. After the first photo, I thought it was the case to publish a close-up of our crystal waters, main reason why locals are always a little wary of beaches abroad! The sea is a blessing: apart from being a great tourist resource thanks to our pristine sandy beaches, it’s also source of life, food and bearer of mild weather conditions all year long.
A close-up of the same water of the first photo
Gold
Gold like the silk of the sea, thousand-year-old tradition native from ancient Mesopotamia and preserved in Sardinia by the only woman in the world who still weaves the byssus, velvety strand secreted by the noble pen shell, fan-shaped mollusc native from the Mediterranean. Chiara Vigo is devoting her life to such tradition and cannot sell her work, although some were estimated even 500,000 euro, but she donates them to museums, presidents, universities and even the Pope.
Byssus embroidered in fabric by Chiara Vigo
Black
Black like Mamuthones, ugly masks the origins of which are lost in the mists of time. Probably the embodiment of natives’ ancient spirits, for 2000 years in Mamoiada, quaint hamlet in the Barbagia region, locals have been reproducing this propitiatory ritual in order for our ancestors’ spirits to intercede with pagan divinities for a good harvest at the end of the cold season, when Nature was the only source of life. Their first annual appearance is on January 17th in occasion of Saint Anthony’s festival. Since the main celebration during this feast is lighting fires in many squares of the town, the Mamuthones perform their ritual around them. Needless to say, the sight of these weird creatures dancing in the dark around the fire is utterly beguiling.
Mamuthone ready for the ritual
Purple
Purple like our sunsets. Truth be said, our sunsets boast the most diverse colors, from red to orange to pink. I love watching and photographing them, so I have a great collection, but I particularly like purple sunsets, I find them magic.
Purple sunset I couldn’t stop photographing in Sant’Antioco
Grey
Grey like stones. I think in very few places stones play such a pivotal role like in Sardinia. Heart and soul of local culture and traditions, stones are the island’s spine and the king element of all buildings today and in the past. Bronze Age stone towers are scattere all along the territory, prehistoric funerary monuments, sounding stones, different minerals cover the island’s history and culture all around.
Sounding stones carved by Pino Sciola
Green
Green like the lush vegetation that covers the island, especially its wild areas on high altitude. From mountains to hills to plains, in Sardinia green views are best enjoyed during the cold months and spring time, as when summer starts the landscape becomes straw-colored. I loved being immersed in green at Parco della Giara and Su Gorroppu canyon.
The green in Parco della Giara surrounding the lake where wild horses go to cool down from summer’s blazing heat
Sardinia looks like a place I would love because of its nature and history. I especially like the gold photo.
History-wise in Sardinia you can find interesting things especially from very ancient times, more or less from times that other places don’t explore too much!
Beautiful photos. The black mask is very intriguing, and I would love to go the the festival. I’ll have to check out the weather in January!
In January is definitely cold, especially in Mamoiada where these masks are, but you will enjoy the feast nevertheless!
Beautiful photos.
http://www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.com
Thanks Niranjan!
Bellissime foto!
Grazie!
Quelles merveilles ces couleurs, Fortaleza est belle mais notre Sardaigne!!!
C’est vrai!
Neat pictures. Sardinia is on our shortlist for some European short trips this winter and coming spring. Have seen so many diverse pictures of the place.
It’s such a diverse place, and depending on the season you will make different experiences. Let me know if you need any suggestion!
Beautifully done photos showcasing the hues of Sardinia. Very interesting to learn about the sounding stones.
Interesting indeed, I’ll be publishing a video soon of Pino Sciola taking sound out of his stones!
Angela, I’m loving all the photos on your site and this one is no exception. Sardinia sounds magical and, whilst reading this, I found myself wondering whether or not it’s a feasible addition to the European leg of my round-the-world trip next year! The water in the second photo is absolutely stunning….although I have to admit that I’m a little creeped out by the mamuthone…
Lol! No fear of Mamuthones, they’re harmless
Plus, they are best seen winter time, while if you want to enjoy crystal waters you’ll need to go in summer. Let me know if you want to go to Sardinia, I’ll give you some tips!
Hi Angela, your website is fascinating!! I was wondering if you could share any tips with me for Sardinia…? My husband and I want to share our first anniversary soemwhre fascinating, beautiful and has lots of quirks and curiosities, and Sardinia seems to fit the bill perfectly. We want to stay somewhere slightly off-beat, fairly rustic and of course..romantic! (although this could be defined by solitude of course!). I love crystal water and little coves as well so the area would need to be somewhere close to this kind of coastline..
Would you have any suggestions? We love exploring, relaxing, drinking wine, eating food, nature, quirky, traditional. If you can help that would be much much appreciated.
Thanks,
Michelle
Hi Michelle! I’m glad you are thinking about going to Sardinia. Sure I can suggest places and itineraries, when are you planning to go? If you go in the warm season to enjoy a small, little known and quiet beach, have a look at this, it’s where I usually go in the summer. July and August are busy here too, and since the beach is tiny, it gets packed pretty quikly, but if you go in June, it’s the perfect season!
http://www.chasingtheunexpected.com/2011/03/a-photo-per-day-in-sardinia-peace-and-crystal-waters/
If you are interested, beginning of July there is also this festival, which is a beautiful experience to make
http://www.chasingtheunexpected.com/2012/07/video-sardia-running-a-wild-horse-race-for-faith/
Let me know more of what you would like to do and I’ll be able to give you more spot-on advices!