OLB · Italy
Clear turquoise water, white sand and the glamour of the Costa Smeralda.
Sardinia, the second largest island in the Mediterranean, is ringed by beaches with water so clear it is often compared with the Caribbean. In the north east, the Costa Smeralda around Porto Cervo is known for its yachts and smart hotels, and boat trips run from Palau to the islands of the La Maddalena archipelago.
Inland, the island is wild and mountainous, scattered with thousands of nuraghi, Bronze Age stone towers. Su Nuraxi at Barumini is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Alghero in the north west has Catalan roots and a walled old town, and Cagliari, the capital, rises on a hill above the south coast.
