Is Sardinia suitable for the independent traveler While many consider exploring countries and cultures on your own to be the best—if not the only—way to travel having a guide or even a guidebook proves invaluable when venturing into Sardinia's interior Toon van Mierlo hits the road with Sardinian travel expert Robin van Teunenbroek I'm experiencing an existential crisis—at least regarding my identity as a traveler I've sworn by independent exploration as the ultimate way to experience countries and cultures my recent visit to Sardinia has seriously challenged my conviction as a die-hard independent tourist After checking into a charming hotel near Oliena, in the heart of the Supramonte region, we meet Robin van Teunenbroek Having lived and worked in Sardinia for thirteen years Robin has fallen in love with the Supramonte area where he seems to know every stone by heart we had already marveled at the magnificent mountain massif that appears to rise directly from the hotel garden When Robin announces we're actually going up there and just as I've completely lost my sense of direction and the bouncing Land Rover makes it impossible to continue taking notes We climb higher and higher as the path—if you can call it that—grows increasingly narrow which has regrown after years of intensive charcoal production gradually gives way to magnificent ancient specimens that survived only because they were too difficult to reach These last remnants of old-growth forest soon disappear as we carefully navigate a path barely wider than the Land Rover I'm torn—both literally and figuratively—between fear of the sheer drop to my right and admiration for Robin's expertise we arrive at a breathtaking plateau where we pause to explore on foot It's here that I first realize that without Robin we would never have discovered this unique corner of Sardinia—unless we'd attempted an arduous day-long hike We descend enriched with countless insights about the nature and history of this remarkable rocky outcrop with nearly every bend in the road holding its own tale He stops at what appears to be an innocent stream painting us a vivid picture of the devastating torrent it becomes in winter He points out plants left and right: various species of wild mint on a track impassable to ordinary vehicles we stop at a "Domus de Janas"—a tomb of the Ozieri people who inhabited Sardinia even before the Nuraghe civilization I begin to sense a shift in how I perceive the environment Details I would have otherwise missed start catching my eye While the physical landscape remains as overwhelmingly beautiful as ever allowing me to experience it on a deeper level The Nuragic culture features prominently in our exploration Robin takes us to a water sanctuary and a "Tomba dei Giganti"—a burial mound with an impressive stele (standing stone) at its entrance helping us understand the site's symbolism and poetry We discover one of the Supramonte's most spectacular lunch spots at Sant'Elena From its terrace on the slopes of an ancient volcano just kilometers from the entrance to Europe's deepest canyon: Gola su Gorropu where we spend hours skimming along the rocks of the Golfo di Orosei admiring the coastline's beauty—best viewed from the water The skipper from "Prima Sardegna," one of the island's oldest and most reliable rental companies skillfully guides us through rocky archways For guests who demonstrate respect for nature Robin reveals one of the region's best-kept secrets: a secluded river surrounded by sun-bleached rocks where vibrant oleanders somehow flourish in the most improbable places we must promise not to reveal its location—as if I could find it again I feel as though I've glimpsed a lost paradise I've made peace with my new status as a guided independent tourist Someone like Robin doesn't just show you the country—he helps the country reveal itself to you Thanks to:www.primasardegna.com Dolcevia® is a registered trademark - 2024-2025 Copyright Dolcevia.com Don't miss our new features for slow travelers - Experience a different Italy Not yet subscribed to VIP Zone? Click here Hitachi has partnered with local authorities across the island to find innovative digital techniques that can offer a better faster solution.Save this storySaveSave this storySaveViticulture is one of the major industries in Sardinia affected by restricted water supplyHitachiThe Sardinian town of Oliena is built near the protected Su Gologone spring a perfect water supply for the 7,000 residents But serious leaks in the ancient town's aging network of pipes meant that supply was likely to become intermittent and the spring was slowly running out of water water distribution network losses have been a strong issue for decades further exacerbated by the progressive degradation of the infrastructures due to inefficient management and maintenance," said Sandro Murtas Traditional solutions weren't the answer An innovative response to this social challenge was needed so the municipal government and Abbanoa turned to Hitachi Drives and Automation's Water Management division part of the company's social innovation strategy which is centred on the use of technology and new thinking to solve social challenges Abbanoa appointed Hitachi to scan the network and address them in a sustainable way – a solution so successful it is now being rolled out across more than 30 towns and cities on the Italian island water availability is changing everywhere" explains Giacomo Meroni "Sardinia is strongly affected by these changes and the region is recognised to have a level of leakage higher than 50 per cent." Digital technology can be used to survey the entire water distribution network air and transients controlHitachiIn Oliena sustainable approach that highlighted the use of technology and engineering to address social challenges slashed leakage by 60 per cent "There's no one single technology that solves every problem but there is a scientific approach that supports us in selecting the best available technologies for the water network we are working on," Meroni explains The project wasn't simply about fixing leaks one by one – with that tactic and the overall problem doesn't go away the project sought to uncover the causes of the leaks in order to prevent them from reappearing and to improve the network's overall efficiency "Our primary focus is the identification and elimination of the main causes of inefficiencies in water networks not only leak detection," Meroni says "Leaks are a physical element that cannot be cancelled but should be brought to an acceptable level socially and economically." the traditional approach to leaks reduction involved a complicated tender process and long implementation time for major rebuilding projects That's expensive and takes a long time to complete meaning that the network is going to further deteriorate by the time work starts Hiachi used digital technologies to survey the network speeding up the diagnostic and planning phase of the work using an innovative approach to pinpoint problems in pipes "For the leakage detection we used the step test together with electro-acoustic equipment (geophone adding that such work is also supported by detailed hydraulic analysis not only is the water wastage significantly reduced but thanks to detailed pumps audit and optimisation the energy efficiency of the water network is strongly improved Water agency Abbanoa partnered with Hitachi to find an innovative solution to Oliena's water supply issuesHitachiSolving such social issues in innovative ways requires more than technology and engineering It also requires the right people to come together to work on the challenge "Working together with local partners… in collaboration obtains a good result," says Meroni "Having the project supported by the management of the aqueduct and the technical staff in the field ensures high possibilities of a great result." "The pilot project produced more than encouraging results," agrees Murtas It reduced water leakage by 54 per ent in Oliena and cut the minimum night flow levels in half Similar projects in neighbouring Sardinian towns with reductions in water loss of 44 and 53 per cent respectively Such projects are important to the local residents who can cut costs while providing better services "We think that our methodology gives more value and duration to assets and also allows better energy efficiency," says Meroni access to water is also a wider social issue "Water is a vital element and it is not obvious that we'll have it always available," he says Social innovation projects can help tackle such serious challenges making a genuine difference to people's lives – just ask the people of Oliena listen to WIRED's special social innovation podcast at the top of this article Modern life is saturated with data and technologies are emerging nearly every day – but how can we use these innovations to make a real difference to the world Hitachi believes that social innovation should underpin everything it does so it can find ways to tackle the biggest issues we face today Visit Social-Innovation.Hitachi to learn how social innovation is helping Hitachi drive change across the globe. This article was originally published by WIRED UK It is the essential source of information and ideas that make sense of a world in constant transformation The WIRED conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our lives—from culture to business The breakthroughs and innovations that we uncover lead to new ways of thinking a special variety of what is generally known as grenache are produced in a triangle that stretches along an idyllic coastline from Orosei to Bari Sardo and then into the wild mountainous interiors as far as Atzara This is an off-the-beaten-track destination – even the seaside resorts aren't overpriced or packed out – and there is a really genuine feel to the welcome given to visitors you will only occasionally see patches of vineyards dotted around an essentially pastoral landscape This is because there is a centuries-old tradition here of pretty much everyone – from farmers and olive growers to the butcher and baker – owning small plots of vines cultivating them and making wine at home for family consumption Things changed in the 1950s with the appearance of the Cantina Sociale grouping together several hundred winemakers is the emergence of a new generation of independent winemakers creating larger vineyards and concentrating on making quality cannonau And each village here is producing wines that have their own special character While cannonau is not that well known outside Sardinia, the obscure mandrolisai denomination ranks as an even rarer discovery. This is still cannonau country but winemakers around the villages of Atzara and Meana make mandrolisai, a unique blend of cannonau and two local grapes, muristellu and monica. There are several excellent winemakers (see amosconsorziovini.it) but the exciting winery to seek out is Fradiles Call Paolo Savoldo first and he is more than happy to organise a tour of the vineyards Paolo is always looking for new challenges so although he makes a cannonau and mandrolisai there is also a fascinating 100% muristellu with the mandrolisai priced at €7.50 and the muristellu at €10 Car hire was provided by carrentals.co.uk. EasyJet and Jet2 fly to Olbia. Further information: stradadelvinocannonau.it this is a place where culinary traditions are still very much alive Sardinians are among the longest-living folk in Europe if not the world – and the wealth of natural ingredients behind their longevity is on full display in the island’s restaurants The Sulcis wine region may not be the most touristed part of Sardinia but this wonderful father-and-son restaurant is well worth a drive from wherever you are There’s an incredible selection of seafood (think tiny crabs from Sant’Antioco island made with co-owner Massimiliano’s hand-foraged myrtle berries Get back to nature with a slap-up meal at this agriturismo on the west coast The Minaudo family are Sardinian through and through and passionate about keeping farming traditions alive – hence their regular sessions with school kids on how they do things A Michelin-starred restaurant on the Costa Smeralda Chef Italo Bassi is known for his inventiveness – from deer tartare to sea-urchin gelato – with a focus on raw seafood Madame Confusion – Tatjana Rozenfeld – is the sommelier who’s also responsible for all the art on the walls which means the food is very different here from the rest of Sardinia This is the place for paella and for fish (unusual in Sardinia where traditional dishes are meat-based) – and this lovely restaurant Try the agliata all’algherese – dogfish slathered in a sweet tomato Courtesy of Sardineri ristorante-pizzeria The west coast of the island around Bosa is one of the most spectacular rollercoaster drives around and this is a worthy spot to catch your breath but the marinated sardines and zucchini tempura are unmissable Sign up to our newsletter to save up to $800 on our unique trips See privacy policy © Yadid Levy / Alamy Stock Photo Even Madonna has been to Su Gologone set around a huge chimney and filled with traditional rustic furniture has been drawing in guests for decades thanks to its hyper-traditional cooking techniques Try the roasted meats – from sausages to kid goat – and add a side of culurgiones dumplings this super-traditional trattoria was opened by renowned chef Roberto Serra in 2020 but the quality of food won it the top three “prawns” star rating in the Gambero Rosso guide for 2021 This lovely restaurant on La Maddalena island has been grilling freshly caught seafood since 1958 lobster and sea urchin scooped straight from the sea – literally as they’re all in the tanks where you can choose the one you want – but don’t miss the aragosta alle sette-otto: an entire lobster This is an updated version of an article originally by Gillian McGuire See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in July Guides & Tips A Guide to the 5 Most Dazzling Views in Catania See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Autumn Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in November See & Do The Best Hiking Trails in Italy See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in September Guides & Tips This Is Europe's Ultimate Road Trip See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in Summer Guides & Tips Beat the Crowds with these Alternative Summer Destinations Guides & Tips The Best European Cities to Visit in December See & Do The Best European Cities to Visit in October Art A Tour of Bernini's Masterpieces in Rome US: +1 (678) 967 4965 | UK: +44 (0)1630 35000 tripssupport@theculturetrip.com © Copyright 2025 The Culture Trip Ltd 1966 A week before the 1966 World Cup kicked-off Gianfranco Zola was born on 5 July 1966 in Oliena 1980 Zola began his football education at his local side Corrasi Oliena in 1980 and remained a part of the team until 1983 1984 The Italian joined his first professional football team Nuorese in 1984; during his two year stay at the club he scored 10 goals 1986 He moved to Sassari-based Torres where he played for three seasons who played the supporting striker role with equal aplomb made his first big move when he joined Napoli and then started featuring in the Italian top division in that era was a powerhouse in Italian football boasting luminaries like Diego Maradona and Careca among others in their ranks Maradona jovially declared: “Finally they have bought someone shorter than me!” But who could have known that the “shorter guy” will also be counted among the greatest legends of the game 1990 Zola scored two goals in the league in his inaugural season at Napoli Maradona scored 16 to lead them to the Scudetto which turned out to be the only league title of Zola’s career he famously said: “I learned everything from Diego I used to spy on him every time he trained and learned how to curl a free-kick just like him.” Zola led the attacking responsibilities along with the Brazilian forward Careca to win the Italian Super Cup for Napoli Zola made his national team debut when the legendary Arrigo Sacchi called him for a friendly against Norway In a telling endorsement of the diminutive Italian “Napoli doesn’t need to look for anyone to replace me 1993 When poor financial conditions forced Napoli to sell its biggest names a team challenging for the league title in those days he established himself as one of the most creative players in Italy and was in the august company of stalwarts like Alessandro del Piero and guided them to the UEFA Super Cup title 1995 Zola won his first major European title (the UEFA Cup) when Parma defeated fellow Italians Juventus 2-1 over two legs in the final Baggio bagged both the goals for the champions he was unable to fit into new manager Carlo Ancelotti’s team and after scoring 49 goals in 102 appearances for Parma he moved to London Ruud Gullit signed him for Chelsea for £4.5m England took full notice of his skills when he started scoring and setting up goals of such pristine quality the likes of which were never seen in the English Isles Zola began his goal scoring for the Stamford Bridge-based outfit with a free-kick against Everton and continued it with a goal against West Ham A week later he scored both goals against Aston Villa and in January fired home his first goal in the FA Cup when Chelsea faced West Bromwich Albion The legend of Gianfranco Zola began its ascent among the Chelsea faithful 1997 The Italian collected his first trophy for Chelsea with a FA Cup final win over Middlesbrough His stunning individual displays in his inaugural season at Stamford Bridge saw him collect the FWA Player of the Year award in the process he became the first Chelsea player to win the award 1998 It was one of the most successful years for Zola in terms of the trophies won the Cup Winners’ Cup and the Super Cup wins 2000 His free-kick assist to Roberto de Matteo in the final against Aston Villa turned out to be the match winning goal and Zola collected his second FA Cup winner’s medal and helped the team qualify for the Champions League For his performance he was awarded Chelsea’s player of the year Chelsea fans voted Zola the best ever Chelsea player 2003 Zola returned to his native Sardinia and helped the region’s biggest club 2005 At the end of 2004/05 season Zola retired in his last ever professional game he scored a double against Juventus Zola’s number 25 jersey has not been given to any other player after his departure prompting some to speculate that the number has been retired in honour of the greatest Chelsea player in history Cagliari appointed its fan favourite Zola as manager in his new stint he will look to steer the Rossoblu clear of relegation mire PLEASE LET US KNOW IN THE COMMENTS SECTION ALSO CHECK OUT OTHER TIMELINES OF OTHER LEGENDS OF THE GAME A voracious reader who loves reading anything and everything related to the history of football He’s an ardent supporter of Manchester United and rarely misses a match Written by Guest Author - Martin Gjorgjievski Southampton FC may not have a history as… Very few players can boast of a career as illustrious and as trophy-laden as the… Although it isn’t as popular as some of its wealthier counterparts like Manchester United’s