Francesco and Jessie Are Getting Married! *

June 21 - July 52014

*not dressed like this though!

We are super excited that you are thinking about joining us in Sardinia to celebrate our wedding and party!

We hope that you take full advantage of the beauty and magic of Sardinia and see as much of the island as possible. We can promise wine, cheese, sand and sun

(not necessarily all at the same time), but for the adventurous, here are a few suggestions of things to explore in and around Cala Liberotto.

Don’t forget to... - check out our google map of all of Sardinia if you have time and a car! (link in your email);- get a Sardinia road maps at the beach house;*- talk to the tourist desk at the airport and in Orosei;- email us with any questions!

*Note: most of these things require a car to get to - Sardinia’s public transportation leaves something to be desired. But don’t worry - if you don’t have your own, there will be plenty of people at the beach house. Ask around and surely others will be interested.

Don’t forget to... - check out our google map of all of Sardinia if you have time and a car! (link in your email);- get a Sardinia road maps at the beach house;*- talk to the tourist desk at the airport and in Orosei;- email us with any questions!

*Note: most of these things require a car to get to - Sardinia’s public transportation leaves something to be desired. But don’t worry - if you don’t have your own, there will be plenty of people at the beach house. Ask around and surely others will be interested.

THE SEASardinia is…an amazing island: anywhere you go, there is a high chance to stumble upon breathtaking beaches of any type: long and skinny, quaint and hidden, sandwiched between cliffs tumbling into the sea, with white or even pink (coral) sand. Here are a few main ones near the beach house.

Wake up early and drive South on SP125 from Cala Liberotto through Orosei and Dorgali, then follow signs for Cala Gonone through the tunnel in the mountain! In 50 minutes you will reach a small port where you can get a taxi boat (10-30 euros per person, return) to some of the most stunning beaches in the world, as well as

Minutes north of Cala Liberotto, Bidderosa is a natural park with a skinny, long, deserted beach, crystal clear water and white sand. Ranked among the top 10 secret beaches in Europe, The Forestry Department only lets in a small number of cars a day. Go early, bring your lunch and have a picnic and a nap under the pine trees when it gets too hot!

the ‘Bue Marino’ marine caves. Bring water, a beach umbrella and food, the goal of your trip is to be absolutley stranded for a few hours on amazing beaches with no facilities! Boats work as ferries between Cala Luna, Cala Marioulu, Cala Goloritze’, and the grottos. You can also hike to Cala Luna through the mountains - ask for details!

La Cinta is the beach of San Teodoro (50km north of Cala Liberotto), a long beach which can get crowded near the entrance but has an amazing view over the Kingdom of Tavolara, a massive piece of rock off the coast, surveyed by British Queen Victoria’s Royal Photographer in 1900. If you keep driving North, you will find an even better

Capo Comino is another beautiful and vast moon-shaped beach 15 minutes north on SP125 from Cala Liberotto. If you venture in the wild dunes you will find centuries-old junipers shaped by the wind. There is a small café/snack bar on the South end, and a supermarket on the main road (SS125) close to the North entrance.

viewpoint on the coast, at Capo Coda Cavallo. Or just take a boat and get on the island, where the last ‘king’ runs a small restaurant: ‘da Tonino’. Don’t hike on the island though…there is a NATO military base hidden somewhere!

THE mountains

THE mountainsSardinia has been the cradle of a huge, ancient civilisation we still know very little about, apart from the ever-present megalithic structures called ‘nuraghe’ (pl. ‘nuraghi’) and a few bronze artefacts left behind (if you are a fan of history, check out the national archeological museums in Sassari and Cagliari). These amazing structures melt in the landscape along with other ‘natural’ monuments carved by the wind, the sun and rivers, as well as later constructions: Phoenicians (Tharros), Roman, Medieval, etc... Here are a few interesting treks and visits close to the beach house.

Tiscali is a magical place: a nuragic village (XV century B.C.) built in a cave on top of a mountain, known by shepherds for centuries but documented for the first time in 1910. The trek (2h+2h) is stunning, with a high risk of getting lost! As far as

For a half-day trip into the depths of Sardinia, drive 30 km South past Orosei towards Dorgali, until you reach the Ispinigoli caves. A guided tour will show you inside the belly of a mountain, where you will find a cathedral-looking cave featuring the largest stalagmite-stalactite column in Europe (and amongst the tallest in the world).

treks go, Su Gorroppu, close by, has a deep gorge beautifully carved for millennia in the marble heart of a mountain by a stream. The place is so isolated it still is populated by the Sardinian Brook Salamander, one of the rarest amphibians on the planet. Don’t worry about directions, we’ll organise a trip together.

You will find nuraghi scattered around the countryside, but these two are particularly worth a visit: Nuraghe Mannu is small but has a stunning view of the sea in the back. To get there, drive towards Cala Gonone, through the tunnel at Dorgali, and follow directions on your right for

This rock eroded by the wind in the shape of a bear, Roccia d’Orso, is one of the most beautiful natural monuments on the

the agriturismo named after it. Instead, if you are travelling to the West or North-West coast, plan a couple of hours at Santu Antine (near Torralba), an amazing nuragic village with a three-story central tower, 4-meter thick fortified walls, and a good English-language audio guide.

island. If you take a detour to the North-East coast, you should climb on its back at sunset in good company – unforgettable! Driving there will take you almost 2 hours each way, but there is plenty to see once you head in that direction.

THE village

THE villageSardinia is an island of villages, big and small, with the only real city being Cagliari, the regional capital. Villages not only have character, they have cultures of their own, each having a distinct traditional costume, often a distinct accent and dialect of the Sardinian language, as well as unique foods and dances. A few kilometers can change much in the way people see the world, and if you know what you are looking for, the way you experience the place.

Orosei is a quaint village of farmers and fishermen, flowery stone courtyards, excellent wine and narrow lanes with low arches. Stop over at Su Barchile for an amazing mid-priced meal. This is the closest village to the beach house (about 15 mins driving distance) and will be the place to go for any need that extends beyond the basics.

Orgosolo is one of the villages in the centre of Sardinia which prides itself on never having been conquered, whether by the Romans or by the…Italian state. The villagers are fierce, if exemplarily closed-minded. The village is made even more scenic by dozens of murals, most of them political. It’s a great half-day trip (around 1 hour and 15 mins each direction) to the true heart of Sardinia. Orgosolo’s costume is one of the most beautiful ones on the island. You can see it during festivals, or visit the ethnographic museum in Nuoro!

Dorgali and Oliena (40 mins and 50 mins respectively) are two villages on the way from Orosei towards the centre of the island. They are famous for pottery, sweets, food and ‘black’ wine, Cannonau. You have to try to know.

Nuoro is a town 50 some kilometres away from Cala Liberotto (1 hour drive each way). It is the cultural hub of the region with an impressive modern art museum displaying world-class temporary exhibitions and a good collection of Sardinian art, as well as a unique ethnographic museum with costumes from all over Sardinia. Like every Sardinian village there is also good food and small quaint streets for a nice stroll.

Food and crafts

Food and craftsAs we said, even a few kilometers can change a lot in Sardinia - each village has its own dialect, food, craft dance, and traditional costume. Find below just a few of the typical Sardinian treats - be it wine, cheese or handicrafts - and the best place to find them around the island (though somecan be found everywhere).

Filigree buttonsCraft shops in Nuoro have the best

selection from across the island

Red wine: Cannonau, Monica...White wine: Vermintino!

Tiricche(sweet) shape and filling change

from place to place

Resolzahand-made in the village of Pattada

Potteryfamous in Dorgali

Cheesetry Podda made with

half sheep’s, half cow’s milk, or Pecorino, the 100% sheep mature-

cheese

Traditional Maskscheck them out in Nuoro

Gnocchettipasta hand-shaped piece by piece

using traditional Sardinian baskets

Porcettoroasted on an open fire for eight

hours

Pane Carasau (plain) andPane Guttiau (roasted with olive

oil and salt)

Panadafamous from Oschiri

Woven Carpetsbest carpets are from Nule!

Bottargadried and grated fish eggs

Hand Woven Basketsfamous in Castlesardo, North of the

island

RSVP by April 30, 2014with the # of people and dates you will be attending

to:

jessieleighhodges@gmail.comand/or

francescobino@gmail.comSpace in the beach house is limited...so let us know if you are interested in camping nearby (also right on the sea, so you can fall asleep to the sound of waves crashing!)