| If you are in the mood for a European tourist | | | | Pelosa. Perhaps you can guess from its name that |
| destination, you should really consider the island of | | | | Castelsardo has a castle. Castelsardo is said to have |
| Sardinia, a region of southern Italy. Depending on | | | | the most interesting Easter procession in all Sardinia |
| your particular interests, this beautiful area can be an | | | | with a torchlight parade; the tradition dates back to |
| ideal vacation spot. You can get classic Italian food, | | | | the Eleventh Century. |
| and wash it down with fine local wine. Much of | | | | La Maddalena, population twelve thousand, is the only |
| Sardinia remains undiscovered by tourists, while other | | | | inhabited island on the archipelago of Costa Smeralda |
| sites are favorites of Italian and international jet | | | | on the northeast coast of Sardinia in the Straits of |
| setters and are priced accordingly. This article | | | | Bonifacio. The archipelago boasts some 125 miles |
| presents northern Sardinia. Companion articles present | | | | (200 kilometers) of coastline with many white sand |
| central Sardinia and southern Sardinia. | | | | small beaches and the famous Pink Beach on the |
| We'll start our Sardinian tour in the northwest costal | | | | island of Budelli. Nature is great in this part of the |
| city of Alghero. We head northeast to Sassari and | | | | world as one might expect in a National Nature |
| briefly visit Porto Torres, Stintino, and Castelsardo at | | | | Reserve. This area's most famous citizen was |
| different points on Sardinia's northern coast. Then we | | | | Guiseppe Garibaldi, the hero of Italian unification. You |
| head northeast to the island of La Maddalena on the | | | | can visit his house and the cemetery in which he and |
| Costa Smeralda. We return to the mainland to finish | | | | his family are buried on the nearby Caprera Island. |
| our tour at Porto Cervo. If you still have time and | | | | Capra means goat in Italian and also explains the |
| energy try to visit the Golfo Aranci resort and the | | | | name of the Isle of Capri where today goats are |
| port of Olbia. | | | | few and far between. |
| Alghero, population forty thousand, was founded | | | | Porto Cervo, population about two thousand |
| early in the Twelfth Century. The area itself was | | | | off-season, is a major tourist center during the |
| initially settled at least five thousand years ago. And | | | | summer. The story has it that more than forty years |
| yet in the nearby countryside malaria was a problem | | | | ago Aga Khan discovered this area when seeking |
| until the 1950s. Its historic center was heavily | | | | shelter from a storm. He liked the location and |
| damaged during World War II. Almost a quarter of | | | | decided to develop it into an upscale resort, a |
| the population speaks a sort of Catalan as their | | | | favorite of the yachting crowd. Just to refresh your |
| native tongue. What's more, the street signs are in | | | | memory Aga Khan's father, Aly Khan, was engaged |
| Catalan. In case you don't know, the Catalan | | | | to the Hollywood actress Gene Tierney and married |
| language is related to Spanish and is the language | | | | Hollywood superstar Rita Hayworth in 1948. They |
| spoken in Barcelona. In fact Alghero's nickname is | | | | separated in 1951 before divorcing in 1953. Perhaps to |
| Barcelonetta (little Barcelona.) Many older buildings in | | | | drown his sorrows he became Pakistan's Ambassador |
| Alghero are clearly influenced by Catalan architecture | | | | to the United Nations in 1958. |
| and its neighboring province, Aragon. They include the | | | | What do you do if you, like me, don't have a yacht? |
| Sixteenth Century Cathedral of St. Mary, the | | | | Silly boy/girl, just rent one. With the wonders of the |
| Fourteenth Century Church of St. Francis, and the | | | | Internet it took me no time at all to find a yacht |
| Sixteenth Century Palazzo D'Albis. The Museo | | | | rental agency in Porto Cervo. I simply clicked on the |
| Diocesano d'Arte Sacra (Diocesan Museum of Sacred | | | | first offering; at this point in my life I am not really in |
| Art) is located in the former (Thirteenth Century) | | | | the market for yacht rental or purchase. A 2006 |
| Rosario church next to the Cathedral. In addition to | | | | forty-nine foot (fifteen meter) four-cabin yacht with |
| its religious art collection the museum hosts a unique | | | | a bilingual crew of one costs from 3500 to 5900 |
| collection of Catalan silverware. | | | | Euros per week (don't forget to add about 40% at |
| Do you like towers? If so, then Alghero is a city for | | | | today's exchange rates to convert Euros to Dollars.) |
| you. Make sure to climb the Cathedral's bell tower for | | | | As everyone has heard, "If you have to ask, you |
| a great view of this city, especially at sunset. You | | | | can't afford a yacht," even for a rental. |
| should also see the Torre del Portal Alghero (Tower | | | | What about food? Many people are surprised that |
| of the Portal to Alghero) built at the expense of its | | | | native Sardinians are not all that big on fish and |
| local Jewish community in the mid-Fourteenth | | | | seafood. Could this have something to do with the |
| Century. There are several other towers in and | | | | fact that a third of Italian sheep are raised on the |
| around town. | | | | island? One Sardinian specialty is roasting large animals |
| The Grotta di Nettuno (Neptune's Caves) is an | | | | in a wood-lined pit. When the fire dies down a bit the |
| unforgettable geological marvel deep inside the | | | | charcoal is covered with myrtle branches. The meat |
| limestone promontory of Capo Caccia. It extends | | | | is then placed in the pit and covered with more |
| approximately a mile and a half (two and a half | | | | myrtle and herbs. The pit is filled with earth and then |
| kilometers). The cave is outside town and you will | | | | a big bonfire is lit. After several hours the meat is |
| enjoy the view on the way there, whether you hike, | | | | ready. If ever you are invited to such a shindig don't |
| go by car, or take a boat tour. The cave complex is | | | | miss it. Experts claim that Porceddu (Roast Suckling |
| composed of caverns, wide passages, clear lakes, | | | | Pig) is the best meat for such a barbecue. |
| deep wells, and narrow tunnels. Visits are by guide | | | | Let's suggest a sample menu, one of many. Start |
| only and are subject to cancellation for stormy | | | | with la Fabadda (Cabbage and Broad Bean Soup). |
| weather. | | | | Then sample the Porceddu (Roast Suckling Pig). For |
| Sassari, population over one hundred twenty-five | | | | dessert indulge yourself with Copulettas (Meringues |
| thousand, is Sardinia's second largest city. In actual | | | | with Marmalade, Honey, and Almonds). Be sure that |
| area only the cities of Rome and Ravenna are bigger. | | | | you increase your dining pleasure by including local |
| It is an ancient university town. Several Italian political | | | | wines with your meal. |
| leaders come from Sassari including the former head | | | | We'll conclude with a quick look at Sardinian wine. |
| of the Communist Party and two Presidents of the | | | | Sardinia ranks eighth among the 20 Italian regions in |
| Republic, one a cousin to that Party leader. | | | | acreage devoted to wine grapes and twelfth in total |
| The Duomo St. Nicholas of Bari (Cathedral) originally | | | | annual wine production. About 57% of its wine |
| built in the Thirteenth Century exemplifies multiple | | | | production is red or rose (not very much rose) |
| styles, Romanesque, Baroque, and Catalan-Gothic. | | | | leaving 43% for white wine. DOC stands for |
| Why not see if you can identify them? Among other | | | | Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be |
| churches to tour are the Thirteenth Century Church | | | | translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, |
| of Santa Maria di Betlem, the Twelfth Century | | | | presumably a high-quality wine. The G in DOCG |
| Church of St. Peter in Silki, and the Church of the | | | | stands for Garantita, but there is in fact no |
| Most Blessed Trinity. | | | | guarantee that such wines are truly superior. This |
| Make sure to visit the Eighteenth-Nineteenth Century | | | | region is home to 19 DOC wines and one DOCG |
| Palazzo Ducale (Duke's Palace), now the Town Hall. | | | | wine, Vermentino di Gallura. Some 15% of Sardinian |
| Don't forget the Nineteenth Century Palazzo | | | | wine carries the DOC or DOCG designation. |
| Giordano, now the headquarters of the Banco di | | | | Vermentino di Gallura DOCG is produced in |
| Napoli (Naples Bank). The Seventeenth Century | | | | northeastern Sardinia from the local white |
| Rosello is still a marble fountain decorated with a | | | | Vermentino grape with up to 5% of other local white |
| dozen lions but no longer serves as an aqueduct. | | | | grapes. It may be dry or sweet. As you might guess, |
| Sassari is situated between Porto Torres and Stintino | | | | the Alghero DOC wine is produced near the city of |
| to the northwest and Castelsardo to the northeast. | | | | Alghero. It is made in a wide variety of styles from |
| Porto Torres is known for its Roman ruins including a | | | | white or red local grapes or from several international |
| bridge that is still functional. Stintino, located on a | | | | grape varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon and |
| narrow promontory jutting into the Gulf of Assinara, | | | | Chardonnay. |
| is justifiably famous for its beaches, especially La | | | | |