16 Oct - Bellissima Cagliari
Map of Ulassai - 18 Oct
 
 
 
 
 
The road to Ulassai
17 Oct 2019
The road to Ulassai    17 Oct 2019
  Sardinia, Ulassai, Italy   
S M L
 
 
 
 
 

We checked out of our apartment in Cagliari, took the train to the airport, picked up a rental car, then drove north for a few hours to the small (1,400 pop) town of Ulassai.

Ulassai

Driving in Sardinia is not that different from Canada. Good roads and signage. More rotaries. Lots of tunnels between Cagliari and Ulassai so I guess Italians go through not over. The drivers are more aggressive than I'm accustomed to.

Ulassai's setting, a hillside with limestone and dolomite cliffs that tower over head, turns an architecturally uninteresting town into something beautiful.

We arrived in Ulassai about half past two which is mid siesta in every small Italian town. The town looked abandoned, the stores and cafes all closed, an occasional car. The bar was open so we ate a rather sad bar sandwich. This is the "need food between 2 and 5 in a small Italian town" challenge which can be addressed by either planning ahead or lowering your food standards. Today we lowered.

Later in the afternoon the shops opened and we soon observed two types of people out and about, young people who hike/climb during the day and are commonly living out of an RV, and old people. Sardinians are reputed to be long lived. Which reminds me of the place that is said to be home to "the newly wed and the nearly dead".

 
 
 
 
Jerzu  
 
We passed the town of Jerzu on the way to Ulassai. Jerzu is known for its full-bodied Cannonau red wine, which I happen to be drinking at this moment and which I find to be very good.
 
 
 
 
Jerzu  
 
We passed the town of Jerzu on the way to Ulassai. Jerzu is known for its full-bodied Cannonau red wine, which I happen to be drinking at this moment and which I find to be very good.
 
 
 
 
Jerzu  
 
We passed the town of Jerzu on the way to Ulassai. Jerzu is known for its full-bodied Cannonau red wine, which I happen to be drinking at this moment and which I find to be very good.
 
 
 
Ulassai  
 
The limestone and dolomite cliffs that surround Ulassai make this a popular hiking and climbing destination.
 
 
 
 
Ulassai  
 
The limestone and dolomite cliffs that surround Ulassai make this a popular hiking and climbing destination.
 
 
 
 
Ulassai  
 
The limestone and dolomite cliffs that surround Ulassai make this a popular hiking and climbing destination.
 
 
 
Ulassai  
 
The narrow street skirting the ambulance and mounting the hillside is the recommended route to our b&b.
 
 
 
 
Ulassai  
 
The narrow street skirting the ambulance and mounting the hillside is the recommended route to our b&b.
 
 
 
 
Ulassai  
 
The narrow street skirting the ambulance and mounting the hillside is the recommended route to our b&b.
 
 
 
Ulassai  
 
Much of Ulassai hugs the side of a mountain and features narrow and winding streets.
 
 
 
 
Ulassai  
 
Much of Ulassai hugs the side of a mountain and features narrow and winding streets.
 
 
 
 
Ulassai  
 
Much of Ulassai hugs the side of a mountain and features narrow and winding streets.
 
 
 
 
16 Oct - Bellissima Cagliari
Map of Ulassai - 18 Oct