16 Interesting Facts About Sardinia

The picturesque island of Sardinia, which belongs to Italy, is a fascinating, beautiful, and remarkable place. Its incredible nature, local charm, and rich cultural and historical heritage attract many tourists. Sardinia offers beautiful beaches, cozy Italian villages, and much more, not to mention its unique cuisine that will surely interest any gourmet. Sardinia is a magnificent destination, and if you’re touring Italy, it’s definitely worth a visit.

Facts About Sardinia:

1. The island has a rather diverse landscape, featuring four major rivers and mountains reaching heights of up to 1,834 meters (6,017 feet).
2. Ancient people inhabited Sardinia as far back as the Neolithic period, thousands of years ago.
3. Sardinia was ruled by the Byzantine Empire, Spain, and Austria for centuries before finally becoming part of Italy.
4. Among all the islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sardinia is the second-largest, surpassed only by Sicily.
5. The island is not particularly wealthy, contributing only 2.2% to Italy’s GDP.
6. Sardinia’s area is larger than that of the entire country of Israel.
7. In some Sardinian cities, trams serve as popular public transportation and are proudly referred to by locals as “light metro.”
8. The sea off Sardinia’s coast is clearer than anywhere else in Italy.
9. Sardinia boasts the largest and cleanest urban beaches in Europe, counting only those located within city limits.
10. Sardinia’s rich history is evidenced by the presence of over 3,000 ancient fortresses, most of which have long since turned into ruins.
11. Sardinia’s Emerald Coast is considered the most expensive and prestigious resort in all of Europe.
12. Twenty-five percent of all Italy’s beaches are located on Sardinia.
13. Of all the regions in Italy, Sardinia is the most environmentally pristine.
14. Sardinia is known for producing one of the most notorious types of cheese, casu marzu. At one time, it was even banned from sale because it contains a large number of live cheese fly larvae, making it potentially dangerous to eat.
15. The Sardinian language is widely spoken on the island alongside Italian. Everyone understands Italian, but outside of tourist areas, few Sardinians speak English.
16. One of the local attractions is a small hotel with just six rooms, located inside an old lighthouse.