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Italy

Stunning Sardinia: From the Ancient World to the Costa Smeralda

Program No. 22330RJ
The sun-soaked Italian island of Sardinia is a treasure trove. Enjoy coastal beauty one day, and discover the artifacts and megaliths left behind by ancient civilizations the next.
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Small Group
Length
11 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
4,499
Flights start at
1,050

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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
11 days
10 nights
What's Included
22 meals ( 9B, 8L, 5D )
5 expert-led lectures
15 expert-led field trips
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
9 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
After checking in at the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session. Orientation: 6:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Unless specified otherwise, the majority of transportation will be provided via motorcoach thereby necessitating ascending and descending a few steps. All meals include wine, coffee, and water. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. At the hotel restaurant, we’ll enjoy a welcome cocktail together.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow road scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus, driving about 50 miles one way, approximately 1.5-hour riding time. Walking about 1.5 miles on cobblestone street, and uneven surface with some high steps, approximately 2 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
From the hotel, we’ll set out to explore Cagliari via walking with our Group Leader and an archeologist. We will visit the National Archeological Museum with an on-site lecture on the Nuragic Civilization by our archeologist. We will continue and walk through the historical center of Cagliari. The Archeological Museum of Cagliari is the main archeological collection of Sardinia, with more than 4000 objects, covering 7.000 years from Prehistoric Age to High Medieval Period, coming from all the provinces of the island. Then we will board our motorcoach and ride to Villanovaforru, a hamlet of 680 people in the Marmilla area. It became famous in the Fifties after the finding of the nuraghe Genna Maria with its huge central tower (15th century BCE). During the Iron Age (9th-8th century BCE) this extended settlement was used as a votive place.
Lunch:
At a farmhouse in Villanovaforru.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue our ride to Siddi to visit the tomb of Sa Dom’e s’Orcu with an on-site lecture held by our Group Leader. Sa Domu de s’Orcu, dated 16th-14th century BCE, is a so-called giant’s tomb. This kind of tombs are enormous, and this one is one of the best preserved and biggest in all Sardinia, long 50 feet and built of basaltic blocks reaching the weight of 1.900 stones. We will next visit the ‘Su Nuraxi’ a unique Nuragic archaeological settlement and NESCO World Heritage Site in Barumini, with an on-site lecture from our Group Leader. We will then return to our hotel.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus, driving about 75 miles one way, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking about 1.5 miles, approximately 2 hours on hilly trail. Uneven and moldy surface with some steps with no railing in the necropolis and the catacombs.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll board our motorcoach and ride to Sant’Antioco Island on a scenic route. Sant’Antico is the biggest island of Sardina, and it is connected by a bridge to the mainland. This picturesque isle is one of the favorite tourist destinations in summer and it is known for the manufacturing of byssus, a sort of silk obtain by the Pinna Nobilis. We will visit the Byssus museum. We will visit the Tophet archeological park, and the Punic necropolis, dating 5th-3rd century BCE and reused until last century by the indigent families as dwelling.
Lunch:
At a restaurant in Sant’Antioco.
Afternoon:
We will ride to Nora to visit the archeological park on the ruins of the first site founded in Sardinia by the Phoenicians in the 8th century BCE. Conquered by the romans in the 1st century CE, it became a huge settlement in the 2nd – 3rd century CE counting around 8000 inhabitants. Most of the ruins date back to the Roman period, as the theater, a series of mosaics, the bath complexes and the temple of Aesculapius. This astonishing place was rediscovered in the Fifties thanks to the archeologist Gennaro Pesce and four major Italian Universities are continuously excavating the site to bring to life more findings. In the late afternoon, we’ll return to Cagliari.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus, driving about 140 miles, approximately 3 hours riding time. Walking about 1.5 miles, approximately 1 hour on flat terrain.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we will board our private motorcoach and transfer to Alghero. During our ride we will stop at Bosa, a fabulous medieval city where history and modernity come together generating curiosity and fascination. We will enjoy an onsite lecture on Food and Wine specialties of Sardinia held by our Group Leader. We will visit the medieval city that lies around the Serravalle Castle built by the Malaspinas between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. We will walk by the Cathedral, stroll along the main street of the old town and free time.
Lunch:
At a restaurant in Bosa.
Afternoon:
In the early afternoon we will continue our transfer to Alghero and check in at the hotel.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus, driving about 23 miles one way, approximately 1 hour riding time. Walking about approximately 30 minutes throughout the day on uneven terrain with a few hilly sections. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board our motorcoach and ride to Villanova Monteleone. We’ll visit a family-owned farmhouse (caseificio) that produces soft and pecorino cheese. With an expert, we will learn how to make a soft cheese! It follows a curd and cheese tasting with a typical Sardinia bread and paired with a local wine. We will then walk through the woods and the Italian garden of the farmhouse and visit a pre-nuragic rock-cut chamber tomb, Domus de Janas.
Lunch:
At the small family-run caseificio, we will enjoy some of the regional cuisine.
Afternoon:
Afterwards, the motorcoach will be waiting for us for our return to the hotel, and the afternoon will be free time. You can enjoy free time to shop in the numerous and typical shops selling mainly coral jewelry and local craft. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening:
At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus, driving about 116 miles, approximately 3 hours riding time. Walking about 2 miles, approximately 2 hours on cobblestone street with a few hilly sections and steps with no railing.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we will board our private motorcoach and transfer to Olbia. During our ride, we will stop in Castelsardo, one of “The Most Beautiful Boroughs in Italy” (according to the Association rewarding small and high quality life style villages in Italy). This picturesque town sits on the northern coast, dotted with colorful houses perched on a rocky outcropping overlooking the sea. Castelsardo's main attraction is the Castello dei Doria, dating back to 1102 and home to a museum of basket weaving, which remains an integral local craft. One of the highlights of the castle is its terrace, with dramatic views of the town, the coast, and towards Corsica.
Lunch:
At a restaurant in Castelsardo.
Afternoon:
Continuing our transfer, we expect to arrive in Olbia in the late afternoon and check in to our hotel.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorcoach and the boat. Bus driving about 25 miles one way, approximately 1 hours. In case of undertow, getting off/on the boat can be challenging. Walking approximately 30 minutes on flat trail. The boat ride around the archipelago is about 7 hours. When we stop at the beaches, there will be no restrooms, umbrellas, or chairs. Bring your bathing suit and towel if you wish to swim in the crystal-clear water. In case of inclement weather, we will have an alternative itinerary.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board our private motorcoach and ride to Palau where we will take the boat to enjoy an excursion to La Maddalena Archipelago, a Natural National Park (whose most important islands beyond La Maddalena are Spargi, Budelli, Razzoli, Santo Stefano, Santa Maria and Caprera) to see the most beautiful beaches of the islands, surrounded by crystal clear waters.
Lunch:
On the boat.
Afternoon:
We will reach La Maddalena island and visit the historical center. We will board the boat from La Maddalena to Palau to return to the hotel with our motorcoach.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus, driving about 45 miles one way, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking about 2 miles, approximately 2 hours on uneven terrain with a few hilly sections and steps with no railing. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Our next field trip by motorcoach is to San Pantaleo, which is a timeless spot that welcomes visitors with the warm hospitality of its inhabitants and a simplicity that is hard to find nowadays. It attracts numerous visitors because is a local treasure chest of artisan craftsmanship thanks to the exclusive products crafted by local ceramists, wrought iron craftsmen and skilled in layers. We will then ride to Tempio Pausania, enchanting town in the heart of Gallura, in north-eastern Sardinia a 'granite temple' surrounded by water and greenery, famous for Carnival, cork and muscat. We will visit the cork factory in Calangianus and drive through to the very picturesque village of Aggius.
Lunch:
At a farmhouse in Aggius.
Afternoon:
We will then return to the hotel. The afternoon is free.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus, driving about 200 miles, approximately 4 hours riding time. Walking about 2 miles, approximately 2 hours on cobblestone street with a few hilly sections and steps with no railing.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we will board our private motorcoach and transfer to Cagliari. During our ride we will stop at to Nuoro to visit the Ethnographical Museum. This is the largest in Sardinia, exhibiting all the traditional costumes of all the areas of the island. An ample and varied collection of costumes, jewels, handcraft, used throughout the centuries by the inhabitants of the island. Our next field trip by motorcoach is to Orgosolo and visit the center of town and its famous mural paintings.The first murals was painted in 1969 by a group of anarchists, and few years later a teacher from the local middle school started to make the students paint on the walls of the town. Later on famous artists came here to continue the tradition. Most of the murals have a political subject both local and international. Orgosolo is a real unique example of mural art.
Lunch:
At a farmhouse in Orgosolo. It's a unique experience eating with your hands on wooden benches and listen the local shepherds singing the folk music.
Afternoon:
We will travel the final stretch of our transfer to Cagliari and check into the hotel. At the hotel we will enjoy a drink and share some of our favorite experiences from the program with fellow Road Scholars.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure. Be sure to prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel depending on departure time. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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