Prepare to live a Western Sardinia dream itinerary between picturesque towns, medieval villages and archaeological sites.
The Oristano region, pearl of Western Sardinia
The itinerary begins and ends in Oristano, the land of the beautiful and uncontaminated Sinis Peninsula. Get ready to experience a true Western Sardinia route and to discover lots of less known beaches.
The Sinis Peninsula
The first stage of our western Sardinia trip will start on the beautiful Sinis Peninsula. We stop in the village of Cabras for a visit to the Giovanni Marongiu Museum. The museum collects historical testimonies of the area, among which are the statues of the Giants of Mont’e Prama and Tharros, one of the oldest Sardinian cities. The Giants of Mont’e Prama are considered the major archaeological discovery of the late twentieth century in the Mediterranean. Walking along the pond, we proceed to San Giovanni Sinis, where we find a small and beautiful early Christian church.
Archaeological site of Tharros
After visiting the Cristian church, we will head over to the archaeological site of Tharros. Tharros was founded by the Phoenicians, then became Roman and then Byzantine. The archaeological site of Tharros is an open air museum in the Gulf of Oristano. We recommend a visit to the archaeological site of Tharros followed by a short walk towards Capo San Marco, the southernmost point of the peninsula.
Is Arutas and Mari Ermi
The next step are the beautiful beaches of Is Arutas and Mari Ermi. Back from San Salvatore village, after a stretch of provincial road 66, we will turn left towards the beautiful beach of Is Arutas. Is Arutas and Mari Ermi are made up of golden quartz grains. We suggest stopping for the night near these wonderful places.
On the second day, we head towards Riola, in the vicinity of which we cross the SS 292 towards Cuglieri. During the transfer, we stop at S’Archittu, a curious rock arch near the beach of Santa Caterina di Pittinurri. We then reach Cuglieri, an originally Roman city village overlooking the sea. Cuglieri lies amphitheatrically on the Bardosu hill, while the majestic basilica of Santa Maria della neve stands at the top of the village.
The most known western Sardinia, Bosa and Alghero
We will now head to Bosa and Alghero. Still on the S.S. 292 northwards, we will find the villages of Tresnuraghes and Magomadas. From Magomadas, we follow the coastal municipal road till Bosa Marina. The beach of Bosa Marina is in the coastal village of Bosa, the most important medieval town of the Planargia. We will visit Bosa the next day.
Bosa, the river city of Sardinia
We will dedicate the day to visiting Bosa, the river city of Sardinia. Bosa is an enchanting village where tradition and modernity merge and infuse curiosity and charm. The historic district of Sa Costa consists of colourful houses that climb the slopes of Serravalle hill. The Serravalle hill is dominated by the twelfth century castle of Malaspina, which can be reached by foot. From above, you can admire the view of the entire town washed by the river Temo. Inside the walls of the castle, we recommend a visit to the church of Nostra Signora de sos Regnos Altos, embellished with paintings from 1370. On summer evenings, Bosa hosts numerous shows, therefore we suggest to stop here for another more night.
Alghero and the Caves of Neptune
On the fourth day we head to Alghero and the Caves of Neptune. We will drive along the beautiful coastal road that connects Bosa to Alghero. This 45 km long road is so beautiful, it is one of the most used and impressive car promotion locations. This grey ribbon suspended between the sea and the mountain offers irresistible views, especially at sunset. The first part, from Torre Argentina to Capo Marargiu, is characterized by coves and natural pools with emerald water. Furthermore, near to Torre Poglina, you can enjoy unforgettable views.
Alghero is honestly too well known to be described. The city on the western Sardinian coast is a renowned tourist destination known as the capital of the Coral Riviera and still retains the influences of Catalan rule. Its beaches and the liveliness of the old town suggest staying here for at least three nights. Once here, we suggest visiting the Caves of Neptune. The best way is to book one of the many boats that leave from the port. The boat will take you to the cove and then back to Alghero through a sea of unforgettable colour. We suggest driving along the beautiful coastal road up to Capo Caccia. Once in Capo Caccia, near the lighthouse, we can admire the nearby wild island of Foradada.
From western Sardinia to the north of the island
On the seventh day, we take the road to Porto Torres to head towards the extreme tip of north-western Sardinia, the beautiful Stintino and Castelsardo.
La Pelosa
There are many famous beaches here, but La Pelosa might be the most unforgettable one. La Pelosa with its tower against the backdrop of the crystal-clear sea probably is one of the most beautiful Sardinian beaches. We suggest staying here for at least two nights.
The Asinara island
On the next day, visiting Asinara Island is a must. Asinara Island was only recently opened for visits. The best way to visit the Asinara Island is booking a guided tour (train, bug, bus) with well-trained guides. At Asinara Island, you will find uncontaminated places, isolated landscapes, as well as rare plant and animal species. This island in the extreme north-west of Sardinia is its own world all to be discovered.
The medieval village of Castelsardo
On the ninth day, we follow the coastal road from Stintino to the medieval village of Castelsardo. Castelsardo is a charming medieval village which lies on a promontory overlooking the centre of the Asinara gulf. The mediaeval town of Castelsardo was recognized as one of the most beautiful in Italy. Thanks to its great coves and characteristic port, Castelsardo is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in Sardinia, where you can stop for the night.
On the tenth and last day of the western Sardinia camper trip, we will return to Oristano on a route full of attractions. From Castelsardo, we will take the road to Sorso and Sennori and then, near Sassari, the S.S. 131.
Towards Oristano
We will have the opportunity to go on very interesting detours along the way. For example, we could visit the spectacular Saccargia, a Romanesque-Pisan style church. Going on, we can have a stop in Torralba and visit the Nuragic village of Santu Antine. The Nuragic village of Santu Antine is an architecture jewel which was built between the Middle Bronze Age (16th century BC) and the Iron Age (9th century BC). Santu Antine is, in fact, the most imposing of the so-called Nuraghi Valley, one of the areas with the highest density of prehistoric buildings in Sardinia.
After visiting Santu Antine, we will only be 80 km from Oristano, the end of this wonderful journey!
Western Sardinia by camper
The western Sardinia trip is one of our favourite Sardinian itineraries, perfect for campervan lovers!
If you want to make it even more unique and unforgettable, rent one of Yep Campers original vintage Westfalia campervans and live your dream in Sardinia!
