Sardinia in the Spring Season: five reasons to discover it.

Those who believe that Summer is the best time to explore Sardinia have never had the pleasure of visiting in Spring!

Spring is truly the ideal time to discover this fascinating island. The days get longer, the climate is pleasant and temperate, and the vegetation explodes in new hues, creating the typical atmosphere of the spring season.
If you are planning a trip to Sardinia and wondering what this place has to offer besides the famous sea, here are some good reasons to visit during the quieter season.

2. THE CELEBRATIONS OF HOLY WEEK.

Every place has its traditions! In Sardinia, Easter has a solemn and magical importance, more heartfelt than Christmas. The highlight is Holy Week, known as 'Sa Chida Santa', which includes a series of ceremonies related to the liturgical and folkloristic celebration of the Passion of Christ.During Holy Week, ancient pagan traditions merge harmoniously with Christianity, inherited from Spain, giving rise toa riot of colours, songs and festivities that vary from place to place, jealously guarded by Sardinians for over four hundred years. The main cities involved in the processions of 'Is Misterius' - the precious simulacra of the Passion - include Cagliari, Iglesias, Alghero, Castelsardo, Nuoro, Oristano, and others.

3. THE FEAST OF SAINT ANTIOCO THE MARTYR, THE FEAST OF SAINT EFISIO AND THE CAVALCATA SARDA.

Spring in Sardinia is associated with celebrations and popular devotion, expressed especially through three large processions that attract visitors from all parts of the island. It starts with the feast of Sant'Antioco in the town of the same name in Sulcis, which takes place on the third Monday after Easter, usually between mid-April and early May. However, preparations begin the Saturday before with the parade of ‘Is Coccois’ - typical Sardinian breads - in which folk groups from all over Sardinia participate. This is probably the oldest festival on the island, and Saint Antiochus is perhaps the most venerated saint for centuries, with his relics preserved in the basilica dedicated to him, where his arrival from Mauritania and his martyrdom in the 2nd century A.D. are remembered. From 1 to 4 May, the festival in honour of the Sardinian saint par excellence, Saint Ephisius, is held. Every year since 1657, the community has renewed the vow made in 1652 to the warrior saint, who, according to legend, freed the island from the plague. The festival focuses on a sacred procession that lasts four days, passing through various locations in the south-western part of the island, starting from Cagliari and arriving in Pula, before returning to the small church dedicated to the saint in Cagliari's Stampace district. The procession covers an itinerary of over 65 kilometres, all on foot and with the aid of ‘traccas’, traditional ox-drawn carts, decorated with flowers, everyday items and fine fabrics. Folk groups in traditional dress from all over Sardinia participate, creating an explosion of colour and dance accompanied by the sound of the ‘launeddas’.

On the third Sunday in May, Sassari celebrates the Cavalcata Sarda, an event that since 1899 commemorates the town's homage to the visiting King of Italy Umberto I accompanied by Queen Margherita of Savoy. Sassari has since then hosted numerous folkloristic groups from all over the island, who wear traditional costumes and parade on horseback accompanied by launeddas and drums. Unlike the festival of Sant'Efisio, this event is secular in character.

A pleasant climate and more affordable costs. During the summer months, temperatures of up to 38 degrees can be reached, but the air is cooled by the wind. In spring, the climate is perfect for a relaxing holiday, with temperatures ranging between 18 and 28 degrees. Beach enthusiasts can also enjoy beautiful days in clear waters as early as April, avoiding the overcrowding of the high season. Popular seaside resorts such as Villasimius, Costa Rei, Santa Margherita, Chia, Teulada and many others offer enchanting views in spring, with white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, wildlife and colourful, flower-filled landscapes that are rarely seen in July and August. The lower turnout also translates into lower prices, which tend to be very high in summer, while they drop significantly in spring. This affects not only transport costs, but also accommodation and restaurants. The end result is a warmer welcome and a relaxing holiday away from the chaos of the summer months.

4. TEMPERATE CLIMATE AND LOWER PRICES.

While temperatures of 38 degrees can be reached during the summer period, all mitigated by the breeze, in spring there are perfect conditions for a peaceful escape. Temperatures range between 18 and 28 degrees, and for those who love the sea, the idea of diving into crystal-clear waters even in April, without the crowds typical of the central months, should not be discarded. Locations such as Villasimius, Costa Rei, Santa Margherita, Chia, Teulada and many others renowned for beach tourism offer an enchanting panorama in spring: wide white sandy beaches and clear waters, wildlife and vibrant, flower-filled landscapes that are difficult to admire in July and August. A lower turnout is also reflected in prices, which, while very high in summer, drop considerably in spring. This concerns not only transport costs, but also those for hospitality and catering. What is the result? A warmer welcome and a peaceful holiday away from the summer hustle and bustle.

5. NATURE IN BLOOM.

Starting at the end of March, the Mediterranean macchia emanates new aromas and enriches the coastal landscape with the wonderful colours of myrtle, broom, hawthorn and juniper. The plants in the fields also come to life with the arrival of April. The meadows bloom and are filled with bright green, dotted with daisies, poppies and tulips. If the winter has been particularly wet, the waterfalls offer a breathtaking spectacle and the fields come alive with distinctive natural marshes known as ‘paulis’. Discovering Sardinia in spring means coming into contact with a lush nature that has not yet been dried out by the sun, capable of surprising you just as much as the wonderful beaches. It means visiting the Giara plateau and enjoying an extraordinary ecosystem where animals and plants coexist in harmonious balance. It means exploring ‘Sa Spendula’, the famous Villacidro waterfall celebrated in the famous words of Gabriele D'Annunzio, who spent time here in the spring of 1882.

And, of course, to end on a high note, visiting Sardinia means discovering the land of fairies and giants, who have left traces of their legendary journey: menhirs, domus de janas, nuraghi, sacred wells and tombs of giants will enchant and surprise you, making you realise that here in Sardinia, slowness, the past and hospitality are not just values, but real necessities.

Buon viaggio!

Want to visit Cagliari and its surroundings? Take part in Roberta Carboni's guided tours!

Roberta Carboni has been a tourist guide and art historian for more than 10 years. She lives in Cagliari and is passionate about Sardinia, which she has loved so much, all her life, which is why she has chosen to tell its story through exclusive thematic tours. In this way, she contributes to making the island known not only to those who do not yet know it, but also to the Sardinians themselves. The tours take place both within Cagliari, i.e. in the historic centre and other parts of the city, and in the surroundings of the city, going also to the south and centre of Sardinia.

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