Sardinia insider tip in summer: Sorso, the original Sardinia

Sardinia insider tip in summer

There's this one American TV series called Hart of Dixie, in which the protagonists, along with a lot of heartbreak, are constantly busy throwing big parties in their quaint little town of Bluebell. As wonderful as it is to watch Hart of Dixie, switch off completely and immerse yourself in an ideal world, the whole scenario seems just as unrealistic to the viewer.

Sorso: A beautiful little village in northern Sardinia

Does Bluebell really exist? You know, there can't be a city like that! And then one decides to travel to Sardinia and is taught better, no much better! The city is not called Bluebell but Sip, but can not only keep up with Bluebell when it comes to partying in the summer months, but also easily surpass it. We are in the north of Sardinia, the Costa Smeralda with its beautiful beaches, luxurious villas and high society is behind us and a piece of magical summer ahead of us.

The perfect Sardinian summer in Sorso

The small town of Sorso with its 14.000 inhabitants is located near the second largest town in Sardinia, Sassari. A stone's throw from the dazzling sea of ​​the Gulf of Asinara, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, the historic town of Sorso promises a perfect Italian summer, or rather a perfect Sardinian summer, with its sumptuous and fertile landscape. Because the Sardinians don't actually see themselves as Italians. But more on that later. Sorso with its many small bars and cafés is cozy but anything but sleepy. Because there is a lot to tell over a good cup of coffee or espresso, which is why people like to meet up for a chat, which can sometimes last late into the night or into the next morning.

Loud, lively and lively: Sorso is anything but a sleepy little village

Sardinia in July is hot! Pretty hot. Sorso is only quiet from midday and seems deserted when the summer heat is at its peak, but the rest of the day and night it's loud, bustling and lively. Young and old meet, laugh, discuss and, above all, gesticulate. Yes, you feel like you've stepped into a film that doesn't leave out a single cliché about the Italian way of life. The only difference is that it feels even nicer because it's real.

Something is celebrated almost every day: be it the Melanzana (Italian for aubergine), the library festival, the holy San Pantaleo or simply grandiose dance performances by the local dance school. There is always something to celebrate. And celebrations are very important there. A festival is organized down to the last detail and everyone is involved, from adults to children. Huge clouds of candy floss, the likes of which we have never seen before, are just as much a part of it as the family pizza, which is transported on the scooter and distributed amongst colleagues.

Our accommodation in Sorso: The Bed and Breakfast Piazza San Pantaleo

And just when you think it can't get any better, you end up in a palazzo of a different but special kind. We slept and had breakfast in a bed and breakfast, which can really be described as absolutely exceptional accommodation. That Bed and Breakfast Piazza San Pantaleo is located in the heart of Sorso, right next to the famous church of San Pantaleo.

We embark on a journey through time

Even if I previously thought that time travel was impossible or at most the perfect stuff from which science fiction novels are made, I now know that it actually exists, because as soon as you enter the Art Nouveau house, you immediately feel transported back to another time . This is pure magic, but above all the individual furnishings. The rooms exude the charm of the early XNUMXs, but have been both restored and renovated. The interior design resembles a unique work of art down to the smallest detail. Nevertheless, as a guest you do not feel afraid of contact and do not feel like you are in a museum, on the contrary, you immerse yourself in a bygone era and let it come to life again. The bed and breakfast is run by the likeable and incredibly friendly couple Christina and Giovanni.

A magical breakfast with traditional Sardinian specialties

Every morning they conjure up a wonderful breakfast that you can enjoy relaxed over the roofs of Sorso. From homemade cakes to fresh fruit and delicious cheese, everything is there that you need for a successful start to a day on holiday. They are also happy to give their guests insider tips on sights that unsuspecting tourists would not find so easily and that are definitely worth a visit. On our road trip, we quickly realized that the clocks tick differently in Sardinia or can simply be forgotten. And that feels really good! But that could also be due to the hot weather. Because Sardinia has high temperatures in summer.

And what we also noticed is the Sardinian flag, which is often displayed, whether on parasols or beach towels. As already mentioned, the Sardinians do not see themselves as Italians. The Sardinians would like to retain a certain degree of autonomy. This is reflected in many conversations with locals, but also, for example, in the Sardinian language, which is not an Italian dialect but an independent language that is spoken by over 80% of the Sardinian population, but is still not considered an official language . Sardinia was cut off from the Italian mainland for a long time.

Sardinia - a piece of history

In the 1960's there were not many ferries to the mainland and the crossings were extremely arduous and not pleasant. Much of Sardinia's original villages were very poor. "Forty-five years ago, many children had to play in the streets without shoes, not because they liked to go barefoot, but simply because they were so poor that they didn't have shoes," Giovanni tells us about Sassari. Even today, the island is struggling with problems, but enjoys steadily growing tourism. We experience Sardinia in July as warm, hospitable, colourful, barren, deserted in some places, alive again in others, noisy and completely silent and simply beautiful. It is precisely these contrasts that make up the flair of this fascinating island.

The Caribbean of Europe: It's the simplicity that feels like luxury

The evening walk when you can pick fresh figs straight from the tree, the meeting of adults and children on the promenade of Sorso Marina, from which you look together at the sea and it is the stray, harmless German shepherd with the sad expression on his face. Pictures that only life can paint. In the small towns of the island, no avocados are sold or fruit mixes that call themselves superfood. There are typical fruit and vegetables, fresh fish, meat from the butcher and cheese. The selection is manageable, but there are no limits to creativity when preparing the dishes.

Sardinian food

Memories of the particularly difficult times on the island lead to the almost ritual attitude towards eating. And the collective enthusiasm for special vegetables and fruits, be it the small prickly artichokes or the cactus fruits, is indeed contagious. What could be nicer than celebrating the simple but elementary things in life with a full-bodied wine with a picturesque view of Castel Sardo or one of the many heavenly bays? Sardinia is rightly referred to as the Caribbean of Europe. Here Caribbean atmosphere meets a unique Mediterranean way of life full of history and tradition.

Sardinia: An island with history

But the history of the island is far from over. Every new year brings new adventures, change and the odd new enthusiastic holidaymaker who will eventually return but has lost a part of his heart to Sardinia. Because Sardinia triggers a wanderlust that feels like home. Sardinia in July was an unforgettable experience for me. I finally found my Bluebell, not the one on the screen but a real one and even better.

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