Wild East Sardinia: Supramonte & Ogliastra

Olbia is a port city in the Gallura region, known for the Romanesque Basilica San Simplicio from the eleventh century. At the Museo Archeologico on the islet of Peddone, you can view Roman shipwrecks, while the car-free Corso Umberto I leads to the quay. You can find peace in the eighteen-hectare city park Fausto Noce or taste local seafood dishes in the narrow side streets of the historic centre.

San Teodoro is a coastal town in the Gallura region known for the three-kilometer-long sandy beach Spiaggia La Cinta and the Stagno di San Teodoro lagoon. Pink flamingos live in this brackish water lake, while from the rocky inlets of Cala d'Ambra you can look out onto the 560-meter-high limestone island Isola Tavolara. The village center organizes an evening market with local crafts near the granite formations of the northeastern coastline.

Cala Gonone is a coastal town on the Golfo di Orosei, located at the foot of the Supramonte mountains with limestone peaks over 1000 meters high. From the marina, you can visit the Grotte del Bue Marino by boat, a cave system where fresh and salt water meet. You can reach the white sandy beach of Cala Luna via hiking trails through the Mediterranean vegetation or across the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Oliena is located at the foot of the Monte Corrasi limestone massif, which reaches an altitude of 1,463 meters. The Sorgenti di Su Gologone form Sardinia's most important karst spring, where water emerges from a deep underground gorge. In the village, murals adorn the stone houses, and you can taste the local Cannonau wine. Hiking trails through the Supramonte mountains lead to the seventeenth-century Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio and various valleys.

Ulassai surprises with its location against a limestone cliff and the impressive Grotta su Marmuri, one of Europe's largest caves at 850 metres. You can stroll past artworks by Maria Lai that adorn the public space. After rainfall, the Cascate di Lequigorce spectacularly cascade down the rocks. From the Tacchi, the local table mountains, you can enjoy wide views over the forested valleys. The atmosphere is peaceful and offers a unique combination of natural beauty and artistic expression.

Baunei, a mountain village nestled against the limestone cliffs of the Ogliastra coast, introduces you to a landscape of deep gorges and towering rocks. On the overlying Altopiano del Golgo lies the natural chasm Su Sterru, one of Europe's deepest at 295 meters. From this plateau, you can hike to the limestone arch of Cala Goloritzé. On the coast, the 128-meter-high rock needle Pedra Longa rises. In the rugged surroundings, you can enjoy panoramic views of the clear blue Mediterranean Sea everywhere.

Near Arbatax, the Rocce Rosse, red porphyry rocks, rise directly from the sea, a striking sight by the harbour. The sixteenth-century Torre di San Gemiliano, a Spanish watchtower, offers expansive views over the coastline and the sandy beach of Cala Moresca. From the harbour, boats depart to explore the picturesque bays of the Golfo di Orosei. The harbour town combines the rugged beauty of the red rocks with a maritime atmosphere, where you can taste the salty sea air.

Nuoro immerses you in authentic Sardinian culture, perched high on a granite plateau. The Museo Etnografico Sardo displays an extensive collection of traditional costumes and local customs. From the high peak of Monte Ortobene, you can overlook the green valleys of the interior. There you will also find the bronze Statua del Redentore from 1901, a striking landmark. The city combines cultural depth with sweeping views of the unspoiled interior.

Olbia is a port city in the Gallura region, known for the Romanesque Basilica San Simplicio from the eleventh century. At the Museo Archeologico on the islet of Peddone, you can view Roman shipwrecks, while the car-free Corso Umberto I leads to the quay. You can find peace in the eighteen-hectare city park Fausto Noce or taste local seafood dishes in the narrow side streets of the historic centre.