Sardinia: A Trail Where History and Nature Greet Travelers
In the southwest of Sardinia, far from the glamour of Costa Smeralda’s yacht clubs and luxury resorts, a new movement is taking root: reviving a forgotten region through active tourism. Amid dunes, cliffs, and dense forests lies the 500-kilometer Santa Barbara trail—a route that immerses visitors in stunning nature while offering them free accommodation.
An Idea Born in the Heart of the Mines
Named after the patron saint of miners, the trail winds past nearly 150 abandoned mining sites. The “Leg’s Go In Cammino” initiative, launched in 2023, invites travelers under 35 to stay up to three nights for free using vouchers for family-run hotels, campgrounds, and B&Bs. All that’s needed is registration, a symbolic donation, and a €5 “hiking passport.”
Landscapes and Culture Beyond Google Maps
The scenery is strikingly diverse: sandy dunes give way to forests and rocky outcrops, while Roman bridges, ancient stone paths, and Bronze Age mines dot the route. But the true highlight lies in the connections with locals. Travelers gain insights into the region’s layered history—from Roman mining to 20th-century workers’ protests—told firsthand.
Local guides, many of them former miners, offer tours and share personal stories that bring emotional depth to the journey. “These people don’t just tell history—they are part of it,” says Giorgio Pedullà, a young traveler from Milan.
A Culinary Journey Through Sardinia
Each village along the trail offers a gastronomic experience. Carloforte serves pasta with bluefin tuna, Masainas is known for its artichokes, San Giovanni Suergiu for sweet onions, and in Villasor, visitors can enjoy local cherries and oranges. The cuisine is as authentic as the people who prepare it.
Rediscovering the True Sardinia
Since the trail opened in 2017, nearly 200 people have completed the full route—often taking a month to do so. Finishers receive a handmade ceramic trophy representing a tower with three windows, the symbol of Santa Barbara.
Even Italians familiar with Sardinia find this route to be a revelation. “I’d only seen the touristy beaches before—this is the real Sardinia,” says Pedullà, who discovered the free-stay initiative while scrolling through Instagram. Along with friends, he felt warmly welcomed by villagers who treated them like family.