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Sardinia: The Mediterranean isle where hikers stay for free
An enticing new programme is seeking to transform a rugged corner of the Italian island into an outdoor lover's paradise.
Renowned for its pristine beaches and dramatic granite cliffs, the Italian island of Sardinia has long been known as a jet-setters' paradise. But away from the mega yachts and glitterati of its glamorous Costa Smeralda resort, much of the Mediterranean's second-largest island remains a rugged, unspoiled wilderness waiting to be explored.
Now, a group of hikers and former miners are hoping to lure adventure-seekers to Sardinia's seldom-visited south-west coast by offering free lodging along the island's stunning 500km Santa Barbara Mining Route.
Named for the patron saint of miners, the 30-stage route passes through towering sand dunes, lush forests, craggy outcrops and nearly 150 abandoned mines. It also allows travellers plenty of opportunities to get to know local Sardinians and enjoy the island's famous gastronomy.
"Before my trip, I didn't know anything about the history of that part of Sardinia," said Giorgio Pedulla, a 26-year-old data analyst from Milan who spent five days hiking the trail in March. "On this hike, you really manage to get into the culture and the life of the people who live there."
Pedulla was taking advantage of the trail's new Leg's Go In Cammino initiative, which launched in October 2023 and offers visitors younger than 35 up to three consecutive nights' accommodation for free. When hikers register, they're granted vouchers to use in local inns, campsites and bed and breakfasts. After the free stays, they pay the standard rates of €20 a night at posadas (small family-style inns) and €28 a night at private accommodations.
"We wanted to decrease the average age of our visitors, from retired people to people in their 20s and 30s. It's also very important for us to let people know about the history of this trail," said 30-year-old Margherita Concu, the association's secretary and a hiker who has trekked all 500km of the trail. "We want people to learn about this community, a place that even some Sardinians don't know about."
The area's jaw-dropping beauty and budget accommodations have proven a powerful draw. In 2023, 1,199 hikers set off on the trail. So far this year, 1,521 have come, trekking along mule tracks dating to 800 BCE, stone bridges built by the ancient Romans and 19th-Century rail lines. To date, 196 hikers completed the entire trail since it opened in 2017, often taking a month to do so. In addition to bragging rights, finishers receive a trophy made by a local artisan depicting a ceramic tower with three windows – the symbol of Santa Barbara.
In contrast to life in Milan, Pedulla says that the small Sardinian villages he and his friends visited were full of people ready to welcome them and make them feel like a part of the community.
Renowned for its pristine beaches and dramatic granite cliffs, the Italian island of Sardinia has long been known as a jet-setters' paradise. But away from the mega yachts and glitterati of its glamorous Costa Smeralda resort, much of the Mediterranean's second-largest island remains a rugged, unspoiled wilderness waiting to be explored.
Now, a group of hikers and former miners are hoping to lure adventure-seekers to Sardinia's seldom-visited south-west coast by offering free lodging along the island's stunning 500km Santa Barbara Mining Route.
Named for the patron saint of miners, the 30-stage route passes through towering sand dunes, lush forests, craggy outcrops and nearly 150 abandoned mines. It also allows travellers plenty of opportunities to get to know local Sardinians and enjoy the island's famous gastronomy.
"Before my trip, I didn't know anything about the history of that part of Sardinia," said Giorgio Pedulla, a 26-year-old data analyst from Milan who spent five days hiking the trail in March. "On this hike, you really manage to get into the culture and the life of the people who live there."
Pedulla was taking advantage of the trail's new Leg's Go In Cammino initiative, which launched in October 2023 and offers visitors younger than 35 up to three consecutive nights' accommodation for free. When hikers register, they're granted vouchers to use in local inns, campsites and bed and breakfasts. After the free stays, they pay the standard rates of €20 a night at posadas (small family-style inns) and €28 a night at private accommodations.
"We wanted to decrease the average age of our visitors, from retired people to people in their 20s and 30s. It's also very important for us to let people know about the history of this trail," said 30-year-old Margherita Concu, the association's secretary and a hiker who has trekked all 500km of the trail. "We want people to learn about this community, a place that even some Sardinians don't know about."
The area's jaw-dropping beauty and budget accommodations have proven a powerful draw. In 2023, 1,199 hikers set off on the trail. So far this year, 1,521 have come, trekking along mule tracks dating to 800 BCE, stone bridges built by the ancient Romans and 19th-Century rail lines. To date, 196 hikers completed the entire trail since it opened in 2017, often taking a month to do so. In addition to bragging rights, finishers receive a trophy made by a local artisan depicting a ceramic tower with three windows – the symbol of Santa Barbara.
In contrast to life in Milan, Pedulla says that the small Sardinian villages he and his friends visited were full of people ready to welcome them and make them feel like a part of the community.
Source: BBC
