Italy, as a nation-state, has existed in its current form for about a century and a half – no more. Regular visitors, travellers and property owners will be fully aware that this nation-state is in fact an amalgamation of many similar but different regions and peoples, who eat differently, live diverse lifestyles, and often – at home at least – speak really quite divergent dialects that, had it not been for the Risorgimento, might well be classed as distinct languages. Go to Sardinia or Sicily, for example, with your formal Italian, and you may find that your linguistic talents are not quite up to conversing freely with your neighbours at the local bar!

Sardinia
Sardinia’s most densely populated areas are around Olbia, Cagliari and Alghero. There are flights from the UK to each of these three destinations. It is quieter on the western and eastern coasts, and inland it gets much more rural. The island’s biggest draws are its sandy beaches and sapphire sea.