Strictly Sardinia – “What To Know Before Traveling To Sardinia”

Host: Claudia Tavani
Date: September 4, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Claudia Tavani, lifelong Sardinian and travel blogger, shares essential advice and fascinating insights for anyone considering a trip to Sardinia. Drawing on her local expertise, Claudia details the island’s geography, culture, traditions, festivals, food, and unique quirks, debunking common misconceptions and offering tips for an authentic Sardinian experience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Sardinia: Identity and Location

• Geographical and Political Identity

  • Sardinia is part of Italy, which some travelers mistakenly confuse.
    • “Some people believe it belongs to France, some people completely ignore it exists. Other people have told me in the past they thought it was just rocks in the ocean.” [01:40]
  • Became part of Italy in 1861; unique vibe sets it apart from mainland regions.
    • “There is a different vibe when you visit Sardinia that makes it a bit different from what you used to in Italy… it’s also part of the fact that we are isolated.” [02:24]

• Local Languages

  • Italian is spoken everywhere, but in rural villages, Sardinian—a neo-Latin language—dominates.
    • “Sardinian is a neo Latin language... it sounds a bit like a mixture between Spanish and Italian.” [03:19]
  • Alghero town hosts a Catalan-speaking minority.

Island Size & Getting Around

• Misconceptions on Scale

  • Sardinia is roughly the size of Vermont and very mountainous.
    • “Don’t come to me and ask me if I think three days are enough to visit Sardinia.” [04:15]
  • Comparisons to Sicily: similar in size, but with a far smaller population (1.6 million v. Sicily’s 5+ million).
    • “At times you can drive for hours and hardly spot anyone else on the drive. It’s bliss.” [05:40]

• Transport Tips

  • Renting a car is recommended; public transportation is unreliable.
  • Watch out for sheep traffic jams—Sardinia has more sheep than people; even Cagliari’s outskirts see roaming herds.

Food & Drink Culture

• Sardinian Cuisine

  • Rich, unique food—dedicated episode available for deeper exploration.
  • Famous cheeses, notably pecorino; “casu marzu” (rotten cheese) is infamous and a point of curiosity.
    • “I was also interviewed by Euronews about this casu marzu. Casu means cheese… marzu means rotten… It’s not rotten at all.” [09:15]
    • Cheese features larvae, produced in spring and early summer; hard to find outside the island.
      • “They say that it is one of the most dangerous foods in the world. Well, you know, my mom grew up eating it… and Sardinia has one of the highest life expectancies in the world.” [12:43]

• Wine & Beer

  • Two typical Sardinian wines: Cannonau (red), Vermentino (white); wine tastings highly recommended.
  • Sardinians drink more beer than wine (local staple “Ichnusa” and many craft beers).

Longevity & Blue Zones

• Exceptional Lifespans
  • Sardinia is a world “blue zone,” renowned for its high number of centenarians.
    • “The high life expectancy is due to a combination of factors… healthy diet… small quantities, a little bit of everything… strong family bonds... overall happiness.” [13:30]

Festivals, Traditions, and Customs

• Festival Calendar

  • Sardinia has year-round festivals—religious, wine, food, music, and more.
    • Examples: Cavalcata Sarda (Sassari), Sant’Efisio (Cagliari), Time in Jazz festival, Autunno in Barbagia.
  • Notable carnival traditions: Mamuthones of Mamoiada (ancestral masks), Sartiglia in Oristano (equestrian joust).
    • “It’s incredible how they do it… an incredible show.” [18:39]

• Unique Halloween/Day of the Dead Traditions

  • Village of Seui celebrates “Su Prugadoriu” with food offerings for the dead on October 31st.
    • “It’s an interesting time to be here.” [21:35]

• Folk Customs

  • Older women in rural villages wear traditional dress, including headscarves (“mucadori”).
  • Historical customs such as the “evil eye” and the tradition of Sa Cabadora (ritual euthanasia, explored in literature).

Arts, Literature, and Cinema

• Vibrant Creative Scene
  • Street art murals in Orgosolo and San Sperate; Sound Garden by Pinuccio Sciola near Cagliari.
  • Nobel Prize–winning author Grazia Deledda and acclaimed writer Piergiorgio Pulixi mentioned; reading recommendations for those wishing to learn more about Sardinian life.
  • Local film recommendation: “The Man Who Bought the Moon” by Paolo Zucca.

Archaeological and Natural Wonders

• Rich Archaeology

  • Sites span Roman to Nuragic origins (Iron Age forts called “nuraghe” unique to Sardinia).
  • Multi-layered sites combine Punic, Roman, and Nuragic ruins.

• Wildlife & Nature

  • Diverse landscapes: beaches, mountains, forests, sand dunes.
  • Pink flamingos abound (best in spring; especially in Cagliari’s Molentargius Nature Reserve).
  • Wild horses (“giara”) are unique to the Giara plateau and resemble elegant small ponies.
    • “They’re only 120cm tall… but they are very graceful.” [28:30]

Practical Travel Tips

• Seasonal Costs
  • Visiting in July–August is expensive; off-season offers better value and fewer crowds.
    • “If you decide to visit in the off season... you won’t find it nearly as expensive as you think.” [30:47]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "There are more sheep than people in Sardinia... occasionally even a traffic jam caused by sheep as you drive along the way." [06:09]
• "My typical answer is, I suggest you don't even come [for a day trip]." [04:35]
• "Sardinia hardly ever really gets crowded… you can drive for hours and hardly spot anyone else on the drive. It’s bliss." [05:51]
• "In Sardinia we have one of the highest life expectancies in the world. So I don't think casu marzu is that dangerous after all." [12:58]
• "Sardinia always has a festival happening. There's always something going on." [14:07]
• "Take a close look around. Especially if you're visiting outside the big cities… Sardinian women cover their head—well, at least the older generations do." [25:23]
• "If you're coming in Sardinia, especially in the off season, don't think that you won't have much to do. Because we have unique sites..." [27:26]
• "No, three days are not enough to visit Sardinia." [29:31]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:40 – Common misconceptions about Sardinia’s location
• 03:19 – Sardinian and Catalan languages
• 04:15 – Island size and travel challenges
• 05:40 – Population, crowds, and rural charm
• 06:09 – Sheep outnumbering people
• 09:15 – Sardinian cuisine and “casu marzu”
• 13:30 – Sardinia as a blue zone (longevity)
• 14:07 – Festivals and celebrations throughout the year
• 18:39 – Carnival traditions: Mamuthones, Sartiglia
• 21:35 – Unique Halloween (Su Prugadoriu) in Seui
• 25:23 – Traditional women’s dress and customs
• 27:26 – Archaeological sites and off-season activities
• 28:30 – Wildlife: pink flamingos and wild horses
• 30:47 – Cost of visiting Sardinia by season

Conclusion

Claudia closes the episode reminding listeners that Sardinia offers far more than beaches: from ancient history, wild nature, vibrant cultural festivals, and mouthwatering cuisine, Sardinia rewards those who take the time to truly explore. She teases next week’s episode on Sardinian wine and wineries, encouraging listeners to leave reviews and share with friends.

Resource: For more details, visit Strictly Sardinia Blog.