Up to 40 years ago, Sardinia was little-known outside Italy and its main concerns were a poorly developed infra-structure, unco-ordinated administration and unreliable supplies of electricity and water. Much has improved since the arrival of the Aga Khan and his major development on the Costa Smeralda. This kick-started a flow of investment and a growing awareness of the island's potential.

Sardinia is one of Italy's 21 regions but is also one of only 5 with special autonomous powers. (Regione Autonoma della Sardegna) The island is now divided into 4 Provinces - Sassari, Oristano, Nuoro and Cagliari. Sardinia's history provides clues as to why the island is not typically Italian. The Italian government recognises the Sardinians as a distinct people and "Sardo" is not a dialect of Italian but a language in its own right, with its own dialects. It is difficult to define a Sardinian identity - history and geography conspire to produce a unique contrast between modern and traditional lifestyles. Sardinians are warm and welcoming but very proud of their island and its rich cultural heritage.

Evidence of Old Stone Age inhabitants has been found in caves. Much later Neolithic remains indicate the move from caves to settled village life. Full use was made of Sardinia's natural resources, which then also included widespread forests and rich sources of obsidian, a glassy black volcanic rock used to make the hard, sharp ends of tools and weapons. 2000 "domus de janas" (fairy or witch house) tombs cut into the rock still remain from this era.

Around 1800 BC early Bronze Age inhabitants began to build mysterious conical stone towers (nuraghi). Over the next few hundred years these developed in number, size and complexity. Theories about the role of "nuraghi," including military, religious and domestic features abound, but there is no consensus.

About 30,000 were built and around 7,000 still remain in recognisable form. Why not visit one of the many preserved sites and decide for yourself?

From around 1000 BC the Phoenicians began to settle in Sardinia, later to be joined by the Carthaginians. Carthaginian attempts to use Sardinia as a springboard to attack the Romans backfired and the Romans took control around 240 BC. They applied their characteristic techniques to develop the island as a source of grain, fruit, olives and wine to feed their expanding empire. However the native Sardinians made life as difficult for the Romans as did the inhabitants of Britain!

Around the 5th Century AD the powers of Rome were waning and Sardinia came under Byzantine control, bringing the spread of Christianity to many parts of the island, and a formal administrative structure, the principles of which can still be seen in the current system. By 1000 AD the Arabs in North Africa had shown considerable interest in Sardinia and the island's four provincial rulers ("giudici") successfully appealed to the Pope for protection. During the following centuries various Italian, Spanish and French rulers attempted to take control of Sardinia. All contributed legacies which combined to create the current unique blend of cultural influences which is Sardinia.

By 1870 Sardinia was established as a region of the united kingdom of Italy. Heroic support for Italy during the First World War, notably by the renowned "Sassari Brigade," confirmed the acceptance of Sardinians as respected and valued Italians.

The native inhabitants have remained remarkably resistant to the wide ranging attempts to invade and control Sardinia. The dogged reluctance to be developed by external influences is a characteristic which remains to this day. Sardinia has an under-developed infrastructure, is comprised of large numbers of insular and disparate communities and is struggling to find a united way to respond to the pressures of modern European progress. Unemployment is very high, especially among the younger generation. The old farming and commercial traditions cannot provide a long-term solution, but Sardinians will not destroy their beloved island by selling out to the demands of the mass tourist market. Sardinians first, Italians second - invaded and exploited but never conquered.

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