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Tavolara

text Samuele Ferrari

December 20, 2024

Sardinia's most beautiful parks and nature reserves

The natural beauties you absolutely must visit on the island

Sardinia, with its unspoiled charm and breathtaking landscapes, is a true paradise for nature lovers. From the mountains to the beaches lapped by crystal-clear waters, the island offers an incredible variety of biodiversity. Among protected natural areas, national parks, and reserves, Sardinia holds many wonderful treasures.

The protected natural areas include three national parks, various regional parks, smaller oases, and natural monuments, making Sardinia one of Italy’s largest biodiversity hotspots.

Let’s embark on a journey to discover the island’s natural wonders, exploring the enchanting places that attract visitors from all over the world.

National Parks

Sardinia has established three national parks: the Parco Nazionale dell’Isola dell’Asinara, the Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago di La Maddalena, and the Parco Nazionale del Golfo di Orosei e del Gennargentu.

Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago di La Maddalena

Founded in 1994, the Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago di La Maddalena was Sardinia’s first national park. It spans 180 kilometers of coastline and includes over 60 islands, such as La Maddalena, Caprera, Spargi, Budelli, Santa Maria, Razzoli, and Santa Teresa. The islands are home to a wide variety of wildlife, including rare species like the Queen's falcon and the Corsican gull. The flora includes Mediterranean species such as limaccia, oak, and cork trees. The park offers many activities for visitors, such as boat tours, snorkeling, and trekking, as well as a visit to the Compendio Garibaldino, the home of Giuseppe Garibaldi, located on Caprera Island. Among the beaches, don’t miss the Spiaggia Rosa on Budelli, as well as those on Spargi and La Maddalena.

Arcipelago La Maddalena

Parco Nazionale dell’Isola dell’Asinara

The Parco Nazionale dell’Isola dell’Asinara is located on Asinara Island, in the northwest of Sardinia, off the coast of Porto Torres. The island has an area of 51 km² and is characterized by hills, sandy beaches, salt marshes, and Mediterranean scrub. The park is famous for its wildlife, including the native Asinara white donkey, as well as deer, various bird species, and reptiles. Not all areas of the park are accessible to visitors; Zone A is restricted for scientific purposes, while Zone B is open to the public and allows activities like trekking and excursions. Recommended beaches include Cala d’Oliva and Cala Scomunica.

Isola dell'Asinara

Parco Nazionale del Golfo di Orosei e del Gennargentu

The Parco Nazionale del Golfo di Orosei e del Gennargentu is one of the largest and most scenic parks in Sardinia, covering 73,000 hectares in the central and eastern parts of the island. It includes the island’s largest mountain range: Gennargentu. The park is known for its diverse landscapes, which include the Gulf of Orosei, famous for its crystal-clear waters and fine sandy beaches, and the Gennargentu mountain range, with peaks like Bruncu Spina (1,834 m) and Punta La Marmora (1,834 m). Local wildlife includes species such as the Sardinian deer, the wildcat, the golden eagle, and the peregrine falcon, while the flora is dominated by Mediterranean scrub, junipers, and rock vegetation. Among the activities, we recommend trekking on the Gennargentu and visiting the numerous nuraghi within the park's boundaries.

The Gennargentu Massif

Marine Protected Areas

Sardinia is home to several marine protected areas, maritime zones designated for the conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems. Some of the most famous ones include the Penisola del Sinis - Isola di Mal di Ventre, Tavolara - Punta Coda Cavallo, Capo Caccia - Isola Piana, Capo Carbonara, and Capo Testa. These areas are renowned for their pristine beaches and the rich marine biodiversity, including dolphins, turtles, and the abundant presence of Posidonia oceanica (a seagrass crucial for the ecosystem). Additionally, Sardinia plays a key role in the conservation of the Santuario Pelagos, a marine protected area that stretches from the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas to the coasts of France and Monaco. Species in the sanctuary include the fin whale, dolphins, grampus, tursiops dolphins, sperm whale, and humpback whale. The Santuario Pelagos plays a crucial role in protecting these waters from pollution, fishing activities, shipping traffic, and climate change.

Capo Testa. Valle della Luna

Regional Parks

In addition to the national parks, Sardinia also has several regional parks, such as those of Porto Conte, Molentargius, Capo Carbonara, Supramonte, and the Sette Fratelli. These parks are scattered throughout the island, showcasing the immense variety of habitats and ecosystems in Sardinia, a land that combines canyons, archipelagos, beaches, mountains, and salt marshes.

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