This neglected nook of Sardinia is made for household holidays

Closer to Africa than Italy, Sardinia’s heat waters, dependable climate and knockout shoreline have lengthy made it successful with households. Lesser recognized are its historic treasures — and there are sufficient right here to rival these of Rome.

The island’s south makes the very best base for adventures into its historic panorama. Begin on the Nora Archaeological Park, perched on a windswept peninsula, which has a remarkably intact Roman theatre, well-preserved mosaiced bathtub advanced and temple. Kids will love the virtual-reality tour whereas, from spring, a brand new museum will show artefacts found on web site. Afterwards, swing by the charming city of Pula close by. It’s particularly full of life come dusk, when households descend on Piazza del Popolo for pizza, pasta and gelato.

(Related: The Mediterranean’s most family-friendly islands to go to now)

Drive 20 minutes south and also you’ll attain a prized stretch of Sardinian shoreline. Try Su Giudeu, a protracted sweep of sand with an off-shore island that stronger swimmers will love aiming for. Meanwhile, smaller Tuerredda has the very best beach club, with a diverse lunch menu and ample seating within the shade. The space can be dwelling to the Forte Village resort, which sits on the sands of Santa Margherita di Pula and gives a variety of family-friendly lodging, services and eating places, all surrounded by lushly planted gardens. Kids can enrol in expert-led academies in all the pieces from chess to soccer, or head to the resort’s new nature park, dwelling to Sardinian donkeys and a vegetable backyard dedicated to sustainable farming. Here, junior guests can participate in academic workshops and themed evenings below the celebs.

Keep your eyes peeled for flamingos throughout the hour’s drive north to Cagliari, the island’s underrated capital. Start with a wander across the walled Quartiere Castello neighbourhood, stopping at Framento for a cut price pizza — simply €8.50 (£7.50) for a margherita. At the port, Marina Piccola, E-Boats Sardinia rents out self-drive vessels that are perfect for exploring the encompassing coast — swim secret seashores and sea caves comparable to Grotta dei Colombi.

Unesco-listed Su Nuraxi di Barumini is an hour’s drive north, in Sardinia’s atmospheric inside, its undulating hills coated by maquis shrubland. The construction is certainly one of greater than 7,000 nuraghes — beehive-shaped Bronze Age towers — that dot the island, offering the chance for household archaeological subject journeys. Nearby, reserve a desk on the agriturismo Is Perdas, which has its personal reproduction nuraghe and an infinity pool, and gives bike rental plus child-friendly cooking courses. The Ollanu household who personal the restaurant are passionate advocates of Sardinia’s little-known heritage and can proudly present their nuraghe to company earlier than or after a meal of native dishes comparable to culurgiones (wheat-shaped stuffed pasta) and seadas (pecorino-filled pastry, drizzled with honey).