The most beautiful drives in Sardinia

The granite coast of the north-east: from the glamorous Costa Smeralda and the artists' village of San Pantaleo to the view of the La Maddalena islets at Palau, and on to the wind-carved granite rocks of Capo Testa. The full round trip returns through the cork country of Aggius and Tempio Pausania.

1. Olbia the gateway to Gallura, with the Romanesque church of San Simplicio.
2. Porto Cervo the heart of the Costa Smeralda, marina and pastel houses.
3. San Pantaleo artists' village among the granite mountains.
4. Palau view of the La Maddalena island park and the Roccia dell'Orso.
5. Santa Teresa Gallura northern tip with the Rena Bianca beach.
6. Capo Testa jagged granite formations and a lighthouse at the cape.
7. Aggius granite mountain village by the Valle della Luna.
8. Tempio Pausania cork town in the interior, the way back to Olbia.

Short Costa Smeralda round trip: Olbia, Porto Cervo, San Pantaleo and Palau.

Sardinia's wildest coast, where the limestone mountains of the Supramonte fall straight into the sea. From the seaside town of Cala Gonone you climb the SS125, one of the finest mountain roads in Italy, over the Genna Silana pass to Baunei and the coastal village of Santa Maria Navarrese.

1. Dorgali wine and mountain town above the gulf.
2. Cala Gonone resort with boats to the hidden calas, such as Cala Luna.
3. Passo Genna Silana pass above 1,000 m, view over the Gorropu gorge.
4. Baunei village high above the sea, gateway to the Golgo plateau.
5. Santa Maria Navarrese seaside spot with an ancient olive tree and rock islets.

Short round trip: Dorgali, Cala Gonone and the Genna Silana mountain pass.

The Riviera del Corallo and Sardinia's finest coast road: from Catalan Alghero with its sea walls to the cliffs and cave of Capo Caccia, then along the near-empty coast road to Bosa, the coloured town on the river Temo.

1. Alghero Catalan-Sardinian harbour town with sea walls and an old quarter.
2. Capo Caccia high cliffs with the Grotte di Nettuno beneath the cape.
3. Bosa pastel houses in a row along the Temo, below Malaspina castle.
4. Bosa Marina beach and river mouth at the end of the coast road.

Short version: Alghero and Capo Caccia with the Grotte di Nettuno.

The sunny south, from the capital Cagliari past the Roman city of Nora and along the SP71 coast road to the dunes and towers of Chia, as far as quiet Teulada. Long white beaches and a pale-blue sea.

1. Cagliari capital with the old upper town of Castello above the harbour.
2. Nora (Pula) Roman ruined city on a spit of land in the sea.
3. Chia dunes, a Spanish watchtower and turquoise bays.
4. Teulada quiet town at the south-west point, end of the coast road.

Short version: from Cagliari straight to the beaches of Chia.