Sardinia, called Sardegna in Italian, along with Tuscany, is the most important mining region in Italy. The island of Sardenia became a major trading center when the Phoenicians developed the mines. Today, cattle raising, farming in the plain of Campidano and fishing are important industries. The coastal area's sandy beaches, coves, caves and vacation resorts are a major attraction for tourists.

The legacy of the coming and goings by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Arabs, Byzantines, Spanish and Italians has left their mark. Writer DH Lawrence wrote that "the march of time has been slow here and Sardinia was left outside time and history." Of particular interest are the prehistoric nuraghe villages, temples and tombs that litter the countryside at Barumini, north of Cagliari and near Sassari. There are 7,000 or so nuraghe and they date from 1500 to 400 BC. These cone structures are built from blocks removed from extinct volcanoes. Generally small, many were fortresses, temples, tombs and even theaters.

Divided into eight provinces (Cagliari, Nuoro, Oristano, Sassari, Ogliastra, Medio Campidano, Olbia-Tempio and Carbonia-Iglesias), Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean. Major cities in the region include Sassari, Oristano, Alghero and Olbia. Olbia is arguably the most famous because of its tourism and nearness to the very exclusive hangout of billionaires -- Costa Smeralda. The shoreline was developed at the end of the 1950s by the rich and the famous, including the Aga Khan. The main town is Porto Cervo, which caters to the crowned heads and rich with high-end nightclubs, fine restaurants and luxury hotels.

Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, is a modern port and an industrial center. In World War II, Cagliari was heavily bombed due to it being the site of a submarine base. Remaining nearby are the extensive ruins of the Phoenician city of Nora. The compact old core of Cagliari is North African in character. The duomo is a 20th century replica of a Romanesque building with two 12th-century pulpits flanking the entrance, which were originally destined to be sent to the cathedral in Pisa. Other monuments include a second century Roman amphitheatre, 14th century towers of the Elefante and S. Pancrazio, and the church of SS. Cosma e Damiano.

Founded by the Genoese and Pisan merchants in the 13th century, Sassari contains the Pisan-Romanesque church of Santissima Trinita' di Saccargia (1116), which contains very early frescoes. Farther on is the Romanesque Santa Maria del Regno or "Black Cathedral." The province was once called Tathari, and was an ancient settlement that grew in importance from the 12th century on.

Alghero, located in the province of Sassari, faces the Bay of Alghero and was settled by natives from Barcelona and Valenica. They expelled the Ligurians and Sardinias and even as late as the 1990s, 60% of its inhabitants still spoke and understood the Algherese Catalan. The Torre di Porta Terra is a major attraction. The massive Jewish Tower was built in the 16th century.

The province of Nuoro is mostly covered by mountains and hills, is widely unpopulated and holds the largest remaining oak forest in Europe. Among the fresh breeze forest, Nuoro offers strange and uncommon animals and the very rare Sardinian oak trees. In late medieval times, Nuoro was inhabited by the people of Ottana who had run away from the widespread epidemic of malaria. The town of Nuoro is the birthplace of Grazia Deledda, Nobel prize winner for literature and Sebastiano Satta, a poet.

Oristano is known for its pottery and still maintains towers of medieval ages and defenses. The Torre di San Cristoforo (1291) in the Piazza Roma was once a part of these fortifications. This district was once one of four administrative divisions of Sardinia and ruled by Eleonora of Arborea (1383-1404). Her marriage to Brancaleone Doria solidified Genoese interest in Sardinia. She rallied the island to bar Spanish invaders. Her legacy includes the completion of the codified laws begun by her father. They called for community property in marriage and the right of women to seek redress from assaults.

The island of Sardinia and its enchanting islets is an ocean lover's dream. Its seaside landscapes and splendid beaches are among the most beautiful in the world. The region's history, culture and beauty make it a "must see" for anyone visiting Italy.