Perchè la Sardegna
It is commonplace to consider Sardinia a paradise island if we think, in particular, to its wonderful sea, immune from all forms of human pollution and neglected by the inhabitants themselves to the advantage of inland areas.
Ideal place to spend entire days of relaxation, full of sun and sea breezes, where between the crystalline shades of its waters and the countless coves, hide depths rich in colorful ocean crops. All this exerts on the passing tourist, regenerated in the soul and spirit, the pride of having experienced sensations of exclusive life to be then proud of their return home.
But the wonders of Sardinia are not only the great scenarios related to the sea. They constitute the visible and commercial aspect of the coastal territories.
In reality, Sardinia is a magical continent, unique, indescribable, where the words written by Plato, in 460 BC, many centuries away, still echo with pleasure, provoking vibrations of mind, wonder and wonders, for having been Sardinia, assimilated to the continent of Atlantis, mysteriously disappeared by divine punishment, within a single night, swallowed by its own sea, of which still today are inexplicably found in the thousands of destroyed nuraghi, traces of marine fossils and sand, from the center of the island and throughout the predominantly flat southern area.
Also known as a land of nuraghi (more than 6000 units have been recorded), Sardinia boasts a more than millenary and glorious history, where ancient civilizations still completely unknown (only today the first scientific evidences begin to emerge), dating back to antediluvian times (over ten thousand years a.c.) even before the Nuragic (just over a thousand years a.c.) and that of the Shardana (3/4000 years a.c.); the latter, consisting of sea warriors and invaders of the Mediterranean coast, called to the aid of the Pharaohs themselves, they contributed, together with other peoples of the sea, to the decadence and defeat of the great Athenian empire, writing pages of glorious history.
In fact, the charm that the island has is mainly found in the little and confused knowledge of its origins and its millenary history that makes it in fact “mysterious”.
The greatest evidence comes from the funeral practice and its widespread monuments (thermometer of the degree of civilization reached), for the level of knowledge that possessed the peoples of the time, engaged in the exercise of mystical and funerary activities, still today, without answers to the amazing scientific and astral knowledge possessed in them.
In particular, the territory of our tourist residences, Gallura, is rich in archaeological evidence, mainly funerary. A few kilometers from Porto Pollo, you can reach interesting sites to visit, such as the nuragic village of La Prisgiona (locality Arzachena), sacred wells and tombs of the giants.
Near us, we find ancestral sites, where it is possible to find traces of primitive life, in close correlation with nature, both for mystical propitiatory practices and for therapeutic purposes (body care with energy and magnetism of boulders, children born on granite boulders, ergonomically adapted to the purpose and other).
The tombs of the giants, the funerary monuments characteristic of the nuragic civilization in Sardinia, are collective tombs that could contain a large number of inhumations.
They are composed of a long burial chamber that usually ends with an apse and is covered by stone slabs arranged horizontally. The most spectacular element is certainly the facade, in the center of which there is the stele, a large stone slab arranged vertically that usually ends with a centine, ie with a round frame; on the sides of the stele are arranged, always vertically, of the lower plates that form an arc called exedra. Seen from above, the shape of the tomb recalls the head of a bull that, considered a symbol of strength and fertility, was venerated by the ancient Sardinian people.
The name of “tomb of the giants” was given in ancient times in the mistaken belief that this imposing burial contained in its long corridor of mastodonic beings, the only ones who could also raise such an imposing structure.
Tomb of the Giants “Li Mizzani”
The tomb, small in size, is built with row technique. The tomb, facing east, contains a rectangular funeral corridor closed at the bottom by a single slab of head shaped like an arch. The exedra is only partially preserved: the hemicycle is bordered by orthostatic plates of small size, at the base of which there is a low bench-seat, also incomplete, intended to accommodate the offers.
The rear wall of the exedra connects seamlessly with the body of the tomb. At the center of the exedra is the monolithic stele, small in size compared to the examples documented in other tombs of Gallura and devoid of the centinated score. The monolith rests, without foundations, on one side on a flat stone and on the other directly on the ground.
The entrance door, semicircular, has an unusual element, probably due to an error of the builders: the accurate beveling of the perimeter profile of the inner face; this processing is normally reserved to the outer face. The fragmentary materials that came from the right side of the exedra (pans, Olle, vases with plastic cords applied, keeled cups) date back to recent bronze.
The Tomb of the Giants “Li Mizzani” is 2 km from the residential complex going to Palau.
Weekly markets.
They are markets where you can find typical local products.
Monday Summer
Cannigione – Via G. Orecchioni
Tuesday
Baja Sardinia – beach front
Tuesday
Olbia – Piazza Crispi
Wednesday
La Maddalena – historic center
Thursday
Santa Teresa Gallura – Piazza Modesto
Friday
Palau – Via Fonte Vecchia
FridaySummer
Porto Cervo – Piazzale Sopravento
Friday
San Teodoro – Centro paese
Saturday
Olbia Via S. Gallo (Zona V. Aldo Moro)
Tour of the island
The tour in the archipelago of La Maddalena consists of several stages that are touched during the day: a single departure will reveal you many different places. There are several companies that offer this service, generally the itinerary I follow the same route:
10:30 Departure from the port of Palau
Our journey starts right from the port of Palau, a mythical place for all Sardinians. The story tells that Admiral Nelson also docked there and stayed there from November 1, 1803 to January 11, 1805 before returning home aboard Victory and accompanied by thirteen ships of his retinue.
Swim break at Isola Spargi
First stop of our trip is the beach of Cala Corsara at the island of Spargi located west of the Archipelago of La Maddalena. Of the island of Spargi it strikes its round shape that offers to the look a wild and uncontaminated nature. Already in the distance you can admire the intricate vegetation that especially in the hinterland becomes a thick Mediterranean scrub. On the coast there are granite cliffs sculpted by the wind. Among the jagged rocks, the locals recognize the action of the wind that as a skilled stonemason reproduced the physiognomy of a dog, a witch, a Dutch hoof, the profile of the Italian peninsula and even that of Elvis that fascinate the observers and unleash fantasy. The island of Spargi is the ideal place for sports lovers, in fact, is very widespread the activity of snorkeling but also presents the ideal view to stop and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Lunch break
Lunch break. The commander will choose the most suitable place for lunch break in relation to weather conditions.
Vista Spiaggia Rosa
In the Island of Budelli we can admire the Pink Beach which is one of the most important and well-known symbols of the Archipelago of La Maddalena. In this uncontaminated territory, at the beginning of the 60s Michelangelo Antonioni shot the film Red Desert starring Monica Vitti. Why is it called pink beach? Because the color of the sand is… pink! The spectacular tint is due to pink organisms that Äinhabit’ the prairies of Posidonia oceanica, mainly skeletons of bryozoans Miriapora truncata and foraminiferi Miniacina miniacea. When these organisms die their shells are dragged ashore and chopped up by the action of water and wind. In this way the sand composed by these tiny fragments assumes the pink colouration. To protect this fragile and wonderful ecosystem since 1998 is not allowed anchoring boats nor bathing.
Swim break at Isola S. Maria
The second stop is planned on the island of Santa Maria. The trip can not miss this stage: you will conquer the purity of light, the crystal clear sea and the white beaches. The beach of the same name, whose name comes from the Benedictine convent built on the small island, welcomes travelers in search of relaxation and distractions.
Swim break Piscine Naturali
The tour continues with a stop at the Natural Pools. A swim in the Natural Pools of the National Park of La Maddalena restores body and spirit and feeds the energy reserves. These natural pools are located on the island of Budelli and are really known and renowned worldwide.
Navigation towards La Maddalena
Leave the Natural Pools and we will sail towards La Maddalena. We will walk along Cala d’Inferno, the Fisherman’s Church built by Uncle Giacomo Scotto devoted to Our Lady for saving him from several shipwrecks. We will see Cala Francese, the most important granite quarry of the island that gave work to over 400 stonemasons and that contributed to the socio-economic development of the island so much that at the beginning of the nineteenth century La Maddalena was known as the small Paris. Finally we will arrive in the characteristic old town in Cala Gavetta, a settlement chosen by the first inhabitants shepherds Corsican, as more sheltered from the prevailing wind the “mistral or mistral”.
Break at historic center of La Maddalena
Stop shopping in the historic center of La Maddalena. A bit of history… On 23 February 1723, Napoleon tried to annex the Archipelago to France as it had always been considered militarily strategic. Miraculous was the island defense that with men far less numerous and equipped managed to desist the French. For this reason a young islander, Domenico Millelire, at the head of the island garrison was awarded the 1st medal of military valor of the Royal Sardinian Navy.
Navigation and return to Palau
Sailing back to port in Palau. Leaving the historic center we will skirt the Island of St. Stephen, the island of Fear with the monument in memory of the battleship Rome. Just before returning to port Eolo still surprises us with the most beautiful rock of Gallura, symbol of Palau and national monument: the Rock of the Bear. Do not miss the incredible sunset at his feet!