Bari Sardo: Coast, History and Sardinian Cuisine
Accommodation in Bari Sardo
Bari Sardo brings together coast, nature, history and Sardinian food culture in several clearly distinct travel experiences. A coastal landscape with striking rock formations stands alongside prehistoric evidence and festivals that showcase local traditions, crafts and typical foods. Depending on your interests, you can therefore view the town as a destination for relaxing days on the beach, cultural discoveries or enjoyable insights into Sardinia.
File:Rough sea at the beach in Bari Sardo, Sardinia, Italy.jpg
Photo: Fabio Pani via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Beach, tower and coastal landscape
Spiaggia di Barì is approximately 8 kilometres long and 100 metres wide. A rocky promontory with Torre di Barì divides the sandy beach into two sections and gives the coast a distinctive spatial structure. Torre di Barì itself is made of local granite and basalt, has a truncated-cone shape and is approximately 13 metres high. The construction of Torre di Barì was recommended in 1572 by Marco Antonio Camos, captain of Iglesias, because the site was frequently visited by corsairs.
The coastal section at the volcanic basalt plateau of Teccu also has its own distinct character. There, the plateau meets the sea; the Region of Sardinia has recognised this area as one of significant naturalistic interest, as an Area di Rilevante Interesse Naturalistico, or R.I.N. for short. For your travel planning, this part of Bari Sardo offers a natural-history perspective on the coast, without reducing the beach and landscape to the same experience.
More coasts and paths for active days
The approximately 3-kilometre-long sandy coast of Planargia stretches from the beaches of Foddini and Tramalitza between Cardedu and Bari Sardo to the section known as Sa Marina. On windy days, it becomes a destination for windsurfers and kitesurfers.
A shorter excursion leads to Nuraghe Sellersu. The route there takes approximately 15 minutes and has a low level of difficulty. Together with the different coastal sections, this makes it possible to combine a stay with short, manageable activities and longer impressions of the landscape.
Prehistoric traces and Sardinian customs
Funtana ‘e su Rettore is one of the best-known Domus de janas in Bari Sardo. The prehistoric site dates from the period between the fifth and third millennia BC.
Several festivals offer insights into the local annual cycle. Cosa Bona & Bariesa takes place annually in Bari Sardo and is dedicated to discovering the town’s culinary traditions. The programme includes experience-oriented show cooking, courses, workshops, exhibitions, excursions and guided tours of the area. In July, the Sagra de Su Nenniri is held as part of the San Giovanni festival. It recreates the preparation of vessels with wheat seedlings as an agro-pastoral tradition; at the end of a religious procession, the vessels are thrown into the sea as symbols of good luck. Luneddas, people in historical clothing, seasonal fruit and Pane pintau accompany this festival.
During the Corpus Christi procession in June, handmade blankets and rugs produced on looms are displayed on balconies and windows. In August, a culinary festival in honour of culurgiones focuses on typical products of the region as well as the culinary tradition and culture of Bari Sardo and the Sardinian coast. These events each bring together local history, crafts and Sardinian cuisine in their own way.
For further destinations in the surrounding area, you can also include Arbatax, Cardedu, Ardali, Tortoli, Gairo Sant'Elena, Urzulei, Baunei and Torre di Bari.
For the overarching travel overview: Ogliastra.
