Some of the most evocative stretches of road for travelling by bike are along the western coastal road of the island: you will have an unforgettable experience cycling amidst the breathtaking views and the sounds of nature<\/p>\n
A sense of freedom, a rhythmic and relaxing pace, silence broken only by the sound of the wheels. A \u2018sweet\u2019 journey to discover the enchanting scenery of an ancient land, partly unspoiled, sometimes harsh and wild. You can circumnavigate over one third of the western and southern coast of Sardinia, from\u00a0Alghero\u00a0<\/strong>to\u00a0Cagliari<\/strong>, on your bike. The almost 400 kilometres take you through places rich in traditions, with a legacy of the past, places where you can combine your passion for cycling with a \u2018thirst\u2019 for cultural enrichment. Away from traffic and noise, you will cycle along safe roads, mostly provincial, municipal and urban secondary roads, as well as sections of state roads, cycle paths and disused railways, which are part of the western ridge and several branches of the\u00a0Sardinia cycle network<\/strong>. It is a project that brings together over 50 cycle paths and will make it possible to use them – 2700 kilometres in all. They are suitable for all types of cyclists, touching two thirds of Sardinia\u2019s municipalities and about 700 naturalistic and cultural points of interest, with focus on a connection with harbour, airport and railway\u00a0gates<\/em>.<\/p>\n A long itinerary in stages, to be \u2018experienced\u2019 in a week, making stops for cultural visits, refreshments with wholesome and delicious foods, as well as hospitality in welcoming, top-quality facilities. In spring and autumn, a mild climate will accompany you and is often favourable even in winter with \u2018different\u2019 beautiful views. The first western stretch is one of the most popular: from Alghero to\u00a0Cabras\u00a0<\/strong>(about 100 kilometres). Departure is from the \u2018capital\u2019 of the\u00a0Riviera del Corallo<\/strong>, a central hub thanks to the airport of Fertilia. The Catalan rulers left a permanent mark in\u00a0Barceloneta\u00a0<\/em>in the language and traditions. You will be captivated by the historic centre, the towers and bastions, the beaches and the\u00a0park of Porto Conte<\/strong>, dotted with cycle paths. Leaving the city, along the old walls, you take the SP 105 provincial road: this road will fill you with sensations, fragrances and colours and is one of the most panoramic on the island, a setting for car advertisements. The asphalted road runs along the coast, overlooking the sea, with bends and uphill and downhill stretches: you will feel like you are somewhere between heaven and earth. Running alongside the winding road and the turquoise sea are sheer limestone cliffs, shaped over time. From time to time, it curves inwards towards the hinterland, on slopes covered with cork oaks and holm oaks.<\/p>\n A succession of bends along the SP 105 provincial road stimulates curiosity about what will appear behind the next one. Beaches and natural oases precede the entrance (at kilometre 42) to\u00a0Bosa,\u00a0<\/strong>one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, crossed by the Temo river. From the banks of the river, you can admire the colourful houses that cling to the hillside, dominated by the\u00a0Castle of Serravalle<\/strong>, and are reflected in the water. From the port of\u00a0Bosa Marina,\u00a0<\/strong>you can take a detour, on the\u00a0Trenino Verde<\/strong>\u00a0tourist train, through Planargia and\u00a0Marghine<\/em>, towards\u00a0Macomer<\/strong>, crossroads of the Island and the end of the line for inland cycling itineraries. The coastal route, however, follows the seafront road to\u00a0Turas\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Porto Alabe<\/strong>, before taking the SP 35 provincial road to\u00a0Tresnuraghes\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Sennariolo<\/strong>, passing through the valley of\u00a0Modolo<\/strong>, dotted with Malvasia vineyards and coloured by the yellow broom plants. The next stop is\u00a0Cuglieri<\/strong>, at the top of an uphill stretch. It is the main village in the\u00a0Montiferru<\/em>\u00a0region and is filled with evidence of the past, from prehistoric times to the Byzantine period. It\u2019s all downhill from here to the sea! You will be entranced by\u00a0s\u2019Archittu<\/strong><\/em>: nature has sculpted a rocky arch over the blue sea. Wind and waves have smoothed and softened the rugged limestone coast of\u00a0Santa Caterina di\u00a0<\/strong>Pittinuri<\/strong><\/em>. From here, a change in the route will take you to\u00a0Santu Lussurgiu<\/strong>, where you will feel reborn in the\u00a0forest of San Leonardo\u00a0<\/strong>and the springs of the\u00a0Siete Fuentes park<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The route passes through\u00a0Riola Sardo\u00a0<\/strong>and touches San Vero Milis. From the SS 292 state road, you switch to the SP 8 provincial road: you are finally at\u00a0Cabras<\/strong>, located between two ponds, the habitat of pink flamingos. With a short detour, you can explore the\u00a0Sinis peninsula<\/strong>. The itinerary passes alongside beautiful beaches, from\u00a0is Arutas<\/strong>\u00a0to San Giovanni, the ancient town of\u00a0Tharros<\/strong>\u00a0and the village of San Salvatore. The lagoons dominate a territory suspended between land and sea, giving a glimpse of the authentic, unspoilt Sardinia, with its roots in a remote and glorious past, interpreted by the\u00a0Giants of Mont\u2019e Prama<\/strong>. The landscapes change continuously: the coastline is low and sandy (or with quartz grains) in places and in others there are imposing cliffs. From Cabras, through the marina of Torregrande, you will reach\u00a0Oristano<\/strong>, the starting point of various inland cycle paths. You continue towards Terralba, through Arborea and the cycle path of\u00a0Marrubiu<\/strong>. You will find yourself once more between sea and lagoons, in the village of Marcedd\u00ec. From here, leaving the Oristano area behind you, the most challenging stretch awaits you: 120 kilometres across the\u00a0Costa Verde<\/strong>, as far as\u00a0Sant\u2019Antioco<\/strong>, in the Sulcis area, with brief trips to the abandoned mining sites of\u00a0Arbus\u00a0<\/strong>and Guspini. A path to be divided into stages. Pistis and\u00a0Torre dei Corsari\u00a0<\/strong>are the first beautiful coastal locations in the Arbus area, followed by the Marina and the pearls\u00a0of\u00a0Piscinas<\/strong>\u00a0and Scivu. At Piscinas, you will move inland, along routes marked permanently by mining activity: the archaeological mining ruins will act as a frame to the coastline: from the \u2018ghost\u2019 town of\u00a0<\/em>Ingurtosu<\/strong>\u00a0to the mines of\u00a0Montevecchio<\/strong>.<\/p>\n After leaving the Costa Verde behind you, the stretches through Fluminimaggiore and\u00a0Buggerru<\/strong>\u00a0begin. Along the SS 126 state road and the SP 83 provincial road, spectacular views await you and are the same as those of the Santa Barbara mining route. One above all others is\u00a0Cala Domestica<\/strong>. You will then enter the territory of\u00a0Iglesias<\/strong>: at Masua,\u00a0<\/strong>the road begins to climb, gradually revealing unique views: from Canal Grande in Nebida\u00a0<\/strong>to the Pan di Zucchero sea stack, in front of\u00a0Porto Flavia<\/strong>. After some well-rewarded fatigue, you will continue along the coastal road of Gonnesa\u00a0<\/strong>and you will easily reach\u00a0Portoscuso<\/strong>\u00a0first and then the isthmus that connects the island of\u00a0Sant\u2019Antioco<\/strong>. Thousands of years of history of the largest island in the Sulcis area is expressed by domus de Janas, nuraghi, tombs of Giants, a Phoenician tophet, Punic necropolis and Ancient Roman remains. Along the jagged coast, unparalleled beaches and little coves stand out. There are two residential areas –\u00a0Sant\u2019Antioco\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Calasetta<\/strong>: from its port you can go by boat to visit the island of San Pietro\u00a0<\/strong>and the village of\u00a0Carloforte<\/strong>, a Ligurian enclave in Sardinia. After a tour of the archipelago, you can move into the heart of the Sulcis area, passing through San Giovanni Suergiu, as far as\u00a0Carbonia<\/strong>, along an easy cycle path, or you can continue on the coastal route towards the spectacular landscapes of the southwestern tip. The direction, between the SP 73 provincial road and the SS 195 state road, is\u00a0Tratalias<\/strong>, then Giba and lastly, after almost 40 kilometres,\u00a0Sant\u2019Anna Arresi<\/strong>, where a diversion from the cycle path towards the dunes of\u00a0Porto Pino\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Is Arenas Biancas<\/strong>\u00a0is a must.<\/p>\n Sant\u2019Anna and\u00a0Teulada\u00a0<\/strong>are separated by 13 kilometres of breathtaking scenery. Switching from the SS 195 state road to the SP 71 provincial road, the itinerary returns to the sea: you will come across dreamy beaches like\u00a0Porto Tramatzu\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Tuerredda<\/strong>\u00a0and jagged cliffs, like\u00a0Capo Malfatano<\/strong>. Through settings that look like a TV advertisement, you will reach\u00a0Chia<\/strong>, in the territory of\u00a0Domus de Maria<\/strong>, and its unparalleled beaches, among which that of\u00a0su<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0Giudeu<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0stands out. After that, you will return to the SS 195 road: an \u2018easy\u2019 stretch with two lanes, leading to\u00a0Pula<\/strong>, moving alongside the coastal road of\u00a0Santa Margherita<\/strong>. A trip to the\u00a0archaeological park of Nora<\/strong>\u00a0is a must. This town was founded by the Phoenicians, later became Punic and lastly it was the capital of the Ancient Roman province. After a well-deserved rest, the last stretch, taking you to\u00a0Cagliari<\/strong>, returns along the 35 kilometres of the\u00a0Path of Sant\u2019Efisio<\/strong>, from the church of the martyr to Nora, through the territories of\u00a0Villa San Pietro<\/strong>,\u00a0Sarroch\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Capoterra<\/strong>, alongside the forest of\u00a0is<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0Cannonneris<\/strong><\/em>–<\/strong><\/em>Pixinamanna<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0and the coastal lagoon known as the\u00a0Stagno di Cagliari<\/strong>. The inland alternative stretches along the ancient Calasetta-Giba-Siliqua railway axis, with tunnels and viaducts, through the forest of\u00a0Campanasissa\u00a0<\/em>and touching\u00a0Monte Arcosu<\/strong>. From\u00a0Siliqua<\/strong>, famous for the\u00a0Castle of Acquafredda<\/strong>, the cycle path runs parallel to the railway line as far as\u00a0Assemini<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Some of the most evocative stretches of road for travelling by bike are along the western coastal road of the island: you will have an unforgettable experience cycling amidst the breathtaking views and the sounds of nature A sense of freedom, a rhythmic and relaxing pace, silence broken only by the sound of the wheels. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2131,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2134","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-en"],"yoast_head":"\n