Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean (Sicily is larger), characterized by a jagged and rocky coastline, interspersed with marvellous beaches of very fine sand. The nearest land masses are (clockwise from the north) the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Tunisia, and the Spanish Balearic Islands.

As a result of its isolation, Sardinia is less dependent on insularity than on the distance separating it from mainland Italy, it has conserved its own economy and traditions.

The past fifty years have seen Sardinia become a hotspot for tourism, with the Emerald Coast in the northern area becoming a favourite retreat of Italian celebrities.