Let’s Explore Sardinia – An Italian Island With a Caribbean Twist

Like the Caribbean, but it's the Mediterranean. The Italian island of Sardinia is known for its white beaches and turquoise blue waters. But is it really similar to the Caribbean? I've seen all the clear blue waters and you can go snorkeling and see all the fish. So I can see the resemblance. I think that the colour of the water is really beautiful. White sandy beaches. I'm on the side. Being Sardinian, I say that Sardinia is more beautiful than the Caribbean. You eat very well. Better than in the Caribbean. I've never been to the Caribbean, but we have a lot of customers who tell us that we have nothing to envy in the Caribbean. With the colour of the water and the vegetation, it's very similar. Okay, there are pine trees instead of palm trees and you can't swim year-round. But if you come at the right time of year, you'll find an almost endless choice of beautiful beaches that slope gently into the water. In the summer, when the sea is much more beautiful, the water makes its colours stand out. While in the high season, Sardinia is very busy. Anyone who has the opportunity to hop on a boat in Sardinia is in for a treat. The island is a paradise for water sports and sailing enthusiasts, just like the Caribbean. Boats can be chartered everywhere. One of the many small harbour towns is La Caleta in the west. There's also a sailing club here. Giovanni Luzzo is its president. With around 2,000 kilometres of coastline, Luzzo says you can circumnavigate it by sailboat in around 20 to 25 days. Sailing enthusiasts love it. It's a popular stop on sailboat trips around the Mediterranean. I'm travelling all around the Mediterranean and I'm doing all the islands. Balearia, Sardinia, Corsica, Sicilia. I'm from Brazil. Our waters are not so clear like these here. And this is very beautiful. But Sardinia has more to offer than just the coastline. The interior of the second largest island in the Mediterranean is mountainous, with rather sparse vegetation. Although you won't find rainforests or palm trees like in the Caribbean, many ancient cultures have left their mark here. These towers, called nuraghi, are typical of Sardinia. They date back to prehistoric times. The nuraghi, called la prisjona in the northwest of the island, was occupied between the 14th and 8th centuries BC. These buildings bear witness to the ancient settlement of the island and the important role Sardinia must have played in the Mediterranean back then. What about the music? The reggae or calypso you'll find in the Caribbean doesn't hail from here. Instead, there is a unique and centuries-old musical tradition called the cantoata nare, in which four men sing together, often in village bars. They stand close together to hear each other better and to communicate more directly. So you do the cantoata nare, you drink and you listen, just in silence, because you like it. It's a tradition that we have in our hearts, it's the Sardinian identity, the identity of Orgosolo, because every country has its own tenor. We have this, and we're proud to have it. Back on the coast, what culinary delights are there to discover in Sardinia? Like in the Caribbean, you'll find plenty of seafood, but with a Sardinian twist. Like this pasta, cooked like risotto and served with Sardinian wine, Vementino. Our conclusion? When it comes to the sea and the beaches, there really are many similarities between Sardinia and the Caribbean. But when it comes to history, traditions and cuisine, the differences are huge. So it's worth traveling to both places.