BUDONI Budoni, a touristic town 36 km south from Olbia airport, is a famous locality for tourists of all age groups, mainly because of its white beaches, crystal clear water and beautiful nature. The city centre offers all services, from restaurants, bars, pastry shops and shops to the services of doctors, pharmacies, hairdressers, cosmetics, massages, etc. The number of inhabitants is around 5100, according to official sources, and they are best known for their hospitality. The town of Budoni was founded already in the Pre-Nuragic period, when the area was settled mainly thanks to the Salamanghe River. There are only a few remains left from the Nuragic and Roman period, the most important is the Domus de Janas di L’Agliola. Due to barbarian invasions, however, the original population was forced to leave for the mountains, and the area was not settled again until the Middle Age by shepherds and peasants. For a long time, Budoni belonged to the Giudicato di Gallura (Judiciary of Gallura), later it came under the rule of the Pisans, the Aragonese and the Spanish. The patron saint of the town is San Giovanni Battista, celebrated on August 29th right in the main square, where there is the market and you can get to know there the local traditions, folklore and culinary specialties. The coast of Budoni consists of a long beach of fine white sand, which is surrounded by a pine forest. A romantic walk, at sunrise or sunset, will take you to the local port of Ottiolu. The surrounding pine forests are a refuge for the Sardinian squirrel, the Sardinian cat, but also a number of different bird species. There are also natural lakes with fresh and salt water nearby, which provide home to pink flamingos, herons and cormorants. This makes the area an attractive destination for birdwatching enthusiasts and nature lovers. In the past, the locals devoted themselves to raising cattle and growing various crops, especially citrus, olives, aromatic plants and flowers. Today, the tourism prevails. The most famous beaches in the area are: Cucutti (with white sand, surrounded by dunes and a pine forest), Sant’Anna (convenient for snorkelling and picnics), Spiaggia di Budoni (the main one, near the city centre), Spiaggia di Porto Ainu (with great windsurfing conditions and wonderful sea of all shades). Only 8 km north there is San Teodoro, a town famous for its nightly markets and nightlife. You can also visit there the Museo del Mare – a marine museum divided into 3 exhibitions: underwater archaeology, a collection of shells from various seas and a library. And just a little bit more to the north there is the protected marine area of Tavolara. The area with three different levels of protection consists of 3 main islands (Tavolara, Molara and Molarotto) and offers amazing natural scenery, underwater caves, cliffs, colourful corals and a multitude of animal species. In the surroundings of Budoni, you can moreover use the services of Agrustos riding stables and visit lagoons with pink flamingos, swing in the saddle while riding along the coast, or get the private horse riding lessons. Agriturismo Su Nuraghe will offer you a proper gastronomic experience, where only homemade products are served, such as cheeses, hams, olives, roast pork or lamb, homemade wines and local Mirto liqueur.