Here is me introducing to you a perfect base for your next Sardinia holiday. Sure many towns and areas are great to book your accommodation in, but each is perfect for a reason, while I think Ghilarza is a fantastic home base in Sardinia for more than a reason. Seven, in fact.
Of course, being my hometown is not one of them, even though it’s one of the reasons why I’m moving back there myself after almost 30 years of living in Rome on and off.
Strategically located, culturally vibrant and with all the services and infrastructures one needs, Ghilarza is just that little hidden gem that might as well be your next Sardinian home. Whether you are planning a holiday or looking to buy a property on the island.
Without further ado, let’s find out why I think Ghilarza is your perfect base in Sardinia!
Ghilarza is central
If you draw an imaginary cross over Sardinia’s map, Ghilarza is right in the middle. This means that from here, you can easily reach the north, the south, the east, and the west of the island.
This also means that the beautiful towns of Bosa or Alghero can be a day trip, and so can be the important nuraghe of Barumini. Even Cagliari, the island’s capital, can be a day trip from Ghilarza, even though in this case, I suggest spending a few days in Cagliari because it’s a very important city.
As I mentioned in the introduction, for this reason, Ghilarza is perfect whether you want to book your accommodation for a short stay or are considering buying a property in Sardinia.
It’s easy to reach
Ghilarza is right off the main highway of the island, SS131, which is not even a highway. Sardinia, in fact, doesn’t have paid toll highways and Strada Statale 131 is the artery that connects the north and the south of the island.
I always suggest renting a car when traveling around Sardinia, but Ghilarza is also reachable by train as there is a train station in the nearby town of Abbasanta. This being said, once you get to Abbasanta, you either need to walk to Ghilarza (some 2km to the town’s center) or wait for a local bus (a few daily).
Also, if you are using public transport, it won’t be easy to visit the surroundings and the other towns because buses are not very frequent. Unless you book local tour guides who can also arrange private transport (which I highly recommend). Let me know if you need a local guide and I will put you in contact.
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It’s more affordable than the coast
This is quite obvious and straightforward. Being a town inland, booking your accommodation in Ghilarza will turn out much cheaper than along the coast. This applies to both summer and winter, but in the high season, so from May through October, even more so.
Adding to that, since in Sardinia having your own car is quite mandatory, from Ghilarza, many beaches are a short drive away so you can explore more of the coast than if you have rented a house on the seafront and go always to the same beach.
This is obviously a matter of preference because if you are always looking for relaxation and don’t care about trying different beaches, then a seaside resort might be your favorite place to rent your Sardinia accommodation.
It’s very walkable
Ghilarza is mostly flat so walking around its streets, alleys, and historic center and going about discovering its churches will be easy and a pleasure. Also, Ghilarza is quite small so really pretty much everything is within easy walking reach.
On top of that, you can stop at any of the local coffee shops for a nice break.
Check out all the accommodation options in Ghilarza
It’s surrounded by sights to visit
I wrote plenty about Ghilarza so you know there are many places to visit and things to do. But one of the reasons why setting Ghilarza as your base for your next Sardinia trip is a great idea is that there are many landmarks to see all around.
The wonderful Sacred Well of Santa Cristina, the important Nuraghe Losa of Abbasanta, and the Iloi Archaeological Park in Sedilo are the most famous but by far not the only ones in the area.
Towns like Sorradile, Zuri, and San Serafino novenario hide important historical sights blessed by the beautiful view of the Omodeo Lake.
You can shop for genuine ingredients
Being a small town with a rich farming and agricultural economy as well as in its surrounding towns, in Ghilarza, finding genuine ingredients and natural produce is easier than in larger cities.
You will find small veggie shops, butchers where to buy local meat, the fisherman coming from the fishing town of Cabras a few times a week, selling their fresh products. The larger stores, too, always sell regional products.
There are all types of stores and services
In Ghilarza you can find pretty much everything food-wise as well as clothes, shoes, and services. In fact, most of the stores in Ghilarza sell high-quality goods rather than cheap stuff that tears out after a week.
Apart from shoes, clothes, and accessories, I’m also talking about homeware, hardware, and furniture, as well as professional printing services, builders, carpenters, blacksmiths, and all types of services you can think of. Ghilarza is a city with the size of a town.
Check out all the accommodation options in Ghilarza
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