Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
These islands off Sardinia's southwestern coast display very different characters. Both are
popular summer destinations but Isola Sant'Antioco, the larger and more developed of the
two, is less obviously picturesque, with a rocky Sardinian landscape and a gritty working
port. Barely half an hour across the water, the pastel houses and bobbing fishing boats of
Isola di San Pietro are much more what you'd expect of a holiday island.
Sights & Activities
The main sights are in Sant'Antioco. Up in the high part of town, the
Basilica di
Sant'Antioco Martire
(Piazza Parrocchia 22; 9am-12pm & 3-6pm Mon-Sat, 10.30-11.15am & 3-6pm
Sun)
is a sublimely simple 5th-century church set over an extensive system of creepy
cata-
combs
(guided tours €3; 9am-noon & 3-6pm )
.
On the outskirts of town, the excellent
Museo Archeologico
(
www.archeotur.it
;
admission €6/
3.50; 9am-7pm)
contains a fascinating collection of local archaeological finds.
For beaches head to
Maladroixa
and
Spiaggia Coa Quaddus
on the eastern coast.
Over on Isola San Pietro the main activity is wandering the streets of laid-back
Carlo-
forte
, the main town. On the seafront, several outfits offer boat tours for about €30 per
person. From late May to early June, Carloforte's big annual event, the four-day
Girotonno
(
www.girotonno.org
)
festival, is dedicated to the island's traditional tuna kill, known locally
as the
mattanza
.
Sleeping
Hotel California
( 0781 85 44 70;
www.hotelcaliforniacarloforte.com
; Via Cavallera 15, Carloforte; s €50-60, d €70-100;
)
It ain't on a dark desert highway, but this Hotel California is still a lovely (if modest)
place, where you can expect a superfriendly family welcome and spacious, sun-filled
rooms. It's in a residential street a few blocks back from the
lungomare
(seafront promen-
ade).
HOTEL
€
Hotel Moderno
( 0781 8 31 05;
www.hotel-moderno-sant-antioco.it
;
Via Nazionale 82; s €55-60, d €92-100, tr
€122-132, q €132-142; )
A bright, welcoming hotel on the main road into
Sant'Antioco. Rooms are agreeable with a relaxing cream-and-salmon colour scheme and
HOTEL
€
