Climbing: walls overlooking the sea

Due to its geological diversity, Sardinia is a sought-after destination for athletes of all levels and experienced climbers, so the island is no secret to them. Groups of enthusiasts are attracted every year by Selvaggio Blu route, perhaps the best-known and most impressive in the east of the island, often referred to as the most beautiful in Italy and at the same time one of the most difficult in the Mediterranean. A few-day hike over the Gulf of Orosei combines mountain peaks with breathtaking sea bays. There are in total around 1,500 climbing routes on the eastern side of the island. Most of them are concentrated around Cala Gonone and Baunei, with one of the most popular spots being Punta Carrodi, the distinctive pointed rock above the bay of Cala Goloritze. In the uninhabited areas of the Supramonte range, there are many panoramic, fascinating itineraries, including the extremely difficult wall in the canyon of Su Gorropu and the mountains of Punta Cosidore and Bruncu Nieddu. More and more popular is getting the area around the village of Ulassai, where there are more than 25 routes on the high walls or in the vicinity of Monteleone Rocca Doria near Alghero where there are over a hundred climbing itineraries. Free climbing enthusiasts will appreciate the Sulcis region in the southwest, either inland, around Domusnovas, or near the coastal areas of Buggerru and Masua. Canyoning is gaining popularity lately, where a group of adventurers abseil through gorges and wade through natural pools. Among favourite destinations there are Rio Pitrusconi in the northeast, Sa Spendula in the southwest, Bau Mela in Ogliastra and the gorges near Cala Gonone. A very similar discipline is coasteering, which is practiced on coastal rocks and is technically a combination of mountain climbing and canyoning. Those in favour of this adrenaline sport you can meet most often in the south, in Pula and Chia area, in the east near Marina Cardedu and Cala Gonone, or in the northwest in the protected landscape area of Porto Conte. A separate category is via ferrata, a high-altitude sport that combines the basics of climbing with hiking. One of the most impressive routes is located on the island of Tavolara, where reaching its top you can admire a truly unique view of the entire northeastern coast. Several other routes are located above the bays of the Golfo di Orosei or there are fascinating inland routes around Oliena, Monteleone Rocca Doria, Sassari and in the district of Igleasias.