Sant’Antioco is the second largest island around the region of Sardinia and is considered to be among the fourth largest among the Italian islands. It is connected through an artificial isthmus and was originally built by the Romans. Both Sant’Antioco and Calasette are the urban areas of this mainland whereas the rest of the region comprises of small towns with beach resorts. The history of this island is around 1000 years old and there were inhabitants settled in this town from 8th century B.C. The Phoenicians were the main founders of the city, that was earlier known as Sulky. In modern times the name of this city became Sant’ Antioco.
This place has lot of historical significance attached with it, where visitors can come across tombs and archeological sites. Besides, there are some beautiful beaches on this island along with rocky bays with the seawaters full of different varieties of species. Vacationers come here to enjoy the scenic beauty of this island and view the lovely landscape of the coastal region amidst some lovely coves.
Attractions on Sant’Antioco
Basilica di Sant’ Antioco is renowned for its catacombs which were used as a burial side for the dead by the early Christians. Just a few steps away, you can come across an archeological museum, which has some historical attractions for the visitors.
Apart from some of the religious sites, this island also offers plenty of beaches, which are the main attraction among the tourists coming to this place. Maladroxia and Spiaggia Coa Quaddus along the eastern coast of this island are worth visiting. Along Maladroxia beach, you can find a lot of facilities provided for the tourists such as beach bars, pedal boats including umbrella and chairs, which can be hired for relaxing on the beach. During the summer, this beach is inhabited by a large number of tourist population. On the other hand, Spiagga Coa Quaddus comprises of two beaches and one of them is smaller than the other. You can enjoy and relax on these beaches and spend some quiet moments.
There are other places of interest which may be off the beaten track that are also worth visiting in Sant’ Antioco. You can visit Portixeddu and Turi from where you can catch a panoramic view of the turrets and the watch tower alongside the sea. You can also explore some of the other smaller islands of this region and enjoy its natural scenic beauty. There are plenty of reefs found along the town of Calasetta and some of the best beaches to visit in this place include Sottotore and Le Saline beach.
This entire island comprises of nuraghi, Tombs of the Giants and Domus de Janas where you can take some interesting tours. You may hire marinas or rent boats to explore some of the most uninhabited regions of this island. Besides, there are a lot of sailing and diving opportunities on this island available for people who like to indulge in some adventure based activities.
Getting to Sant’ Antioco
Sant’ Antioco is located along the Southwestern region of Sardinia and is at a distance of around 87 kms away from Cagliari. There are bus services available from Cagliari and Iglesias connecting to the mainland with regular ferries that connect to Carloforte and Calasette. For travelling within the island, there are local buses available for exploring the different places along this region.
Hotels and Accomodation
There are some nice hotels located on this island, which offer all the possible amenities to the travelers for a comfortable living. You can also come across some villas offered on rent to the tourists that are equipped with a furnished living room, bedroom, bathroom and a kitchen with all the self-catering services provided to take care of the guests. The rates for the rooms depend on the duration of the stay and the tourist season so before making your travel plans, you can check out for the room rates and the rent. There are also a couple of camping sites available on this island, if you wish to enjoy the view of the seaside on this island. Besides, there are also some Bed& Breakfast inns for the delight of the travelers.
Food and Drink
You can find many good restaurants offering the finest of Italian cuisine including freshly made pizzas, fish dishes along with other varieties of seafood. The other popular dishes served here include fish soup, grilled mix fish along with Sardinian sweets. You can also find complimentary glasses of mirto served here along with the main course of meals in lots of restaurants. Mirto is actually the name of the local liquor available on this Sardinian island. Some of the restaurants also offer international cuisines to suit different taste buds along with the local Sardinian cuisine for the travelers.
Religious Festivals and Events
The feast of Sant’Antioco is one of the oldest religious festivals held here in the island of Sardinia. According to the historical evidence found here, Sant’Antioco is the patron saint of Sardinia. Besides, this festival is held twice a year where thousands of tourists gather to catch this festival along with the local group of people. This festival is marked by song, dance, fireworks and typical musical instruments are played to pay tribute to the patron saint.
Conclusion
Sant’ Antioco is one of the best places to visit where you can enjoy a pleasant vacation and view some interesting historical attractions. There are some nice beaches where one can enjoy the natural scenic surroundings and appreciate the beautiful landscape of the region. You can see the ancient Roman Bridge, Byssus museum along with Phoenician necropolises and host of other local sight seeing places around this island of Sant’ Antioco. If you are coming to Sardinia, then it is worth visiting this island and explore some of the sights of this local region.
They should have been open 9-12, 3-5.15pm and 7-8pm
Lovely island. Can you tell me if the Basilica and Catacombs were closed on Wednesday 5 July please