"It has been dreamt of since Roman times, and plans have repeatedly sketched out on the drawing board only to be torn up because of cost, bureaucratic obstacles and fears of earthquakes and Mafia involvement.
But today the new centre Right goverment of Silvio Berlusconi declared that an historic two-mile bridge from the mainland to Sicily over the Straits of Messina - the longest single span suspension bridge in the world - was an “urgent priority” and that work on it would start 'soon'”.
Read the full report on The Times site
Friday 23 May 2008
Italian government to build bridge to Sicily
Thursday 22 May 2008
The Times reveal Sardinia's best beaches (in their opinion)
"Sardinia has some of the world’s most idyllic beaches. Mile upon mile of pearly-white sands dip into waters of dazzling shades of aquamarine and emerald green. Elsewhere, rugged cliffs plunge into the sea and tiny coves and picturesque harbours beg to be explored. The waters really are swimming-pool-blue — and the sandy coves are often deserted.
Locals say that God created Sardinia by stepping on it with his sandal — and ‘Sandalyon’ (sandal) was the ancient name given to it by the Greeks and Phoenicians. The coastline of almost 1250 miles (2000 km) equates with a quarter of the total Italian coast, indented by tiny coves and picturesque harbours."
Tuesday 20 May 2008
Italy announce squad for Euro 2008
Italy coach Roberto Donadoni has announced his team for Euro 2008.
The provisional 24-man squad is:
Amelia (Livorno), Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Sevilla); Barzagli (Palermo), Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Chiellini (Juventus), Grosso (Lyon), Materazzi (Internazionale), Panucci (Roma), Zambrotta (Barcelona); Ambrosini (AC Milan), Aquilani (Roma), Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Gattuso (AC Milan), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Perrotta (Roma), Pirlo (AC Milan); Borriello (Genoa), Cassano (Real Madrid); Del Piero (Juventus), Di Natale (Udinese), Quagliarella (Udinese), Toni (Bayern Munich).
The provisional 24-man squad is:
Amelia (Livorno), Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Sevilla); Barzagli (Palermo), Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Chiellini (Juventus), Grosso (Lyon), Materazzi (Internazionale), Panucci (Roma), Zambrotta (Barcelona); Ambrosini (AC Milan), Aquilani (Roma), Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Gattuso (AC Milan), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Perrotta (Roma), Pirlo (AC Milan); Borriello (Genoa), Cassano (Real Madrid); Del Piero (Juventus), Di Natale (Udinese), Quagliarella (Udinese), Toni (Bayern Munich).
Loeb takes Rally of Sardinia title
Sébastien Loeb, the four-time World Rally Champion won the Rally of Sardinia last Sunday the 40th win of his career.
The French driver beat Mikko Hirvonen of Finland who still heads the drivers' standings on 43 points, three in front of him.
The French driver beat Mikko Hirvonen of Finland who still heads the drivers' standings on 43 points, three in front of him.
Monday 19 May 2008
Expensive tastes
Sardinian saffron could soon become the most expensive spice in the world.
The Italian government have asked the European Commisssion to give the product, first introduced to Sardinia by Phoenician traders, PDO (Protected Desination of Origin) status.
The spice which is gathered from the stigma of the crocus flower is incredibly labour intensive and can command prices of up to 7,500 euros a kilo.
Italy claims the special properties of its Sardinian saffron - its colouring power and aroma - stem directly from the soil and climate of the Meditterranean island.
If the application is successful the spice will be marketed with a specific label bearing the PDO logo.
The Italian government have asked the European Commisssion to give the product, first introduced to Sardinia by Phoenician traders, PDO (Protected Desination of Origin) status.
The spice which is gathered from the stigma of the crocus flower is incredibly labour intensive and can command prices of up to 7,500 euros a kilo.
Italy claims the special properties of its Sardinian saffron - its colouring power and aroma - stem directly from the soil and climate of the Meditterranean island.
If the application is successful the spice will be marketed with a specific label bearing the PDO logo.
Friday 16 May 2008
Rally d'Italia
The World Rally Championship moves to Sardinia for the the Rally d’Italia with Australian Chris Atkinson looking for a top five place after four podium finishes out of five this year.
Atkinson has never placed higher than tenth in the event which takes place between 16-18 May across the north of the island.
“I’m not thinking about another podium finish, but just concentrating on our pace and fighting as high up as we can,” he said.
“It’s important to drive smoothly and without mistakes in Sardinia, as the roads are very technical and narrow, but it’s a rally I enjoy.
“I just hope I can have a good event and run competitively. No talk of podiums, but well target a top five and see how things go from there.”
Follow the action on the official site
Atkinson has never placed higher than tenth in the event which takes place between 16-18 May across the north of the island.
“I’m not thinking about another podium finish, but just concentrating on our pace and fighting as high up as we can,” he said.
“It’s important to drive smoothly and without mistakes in Sardinia, as the roads are very technical and narrow, but it’s a rally I enjoy.
“I just hope I can have a good event and run competitively. No talk of podiums, but well target a top five and see how things go from there.”
Follow the action on the official site
Thursday 8 May 2008
"No cheeses, no cheeses!"
Only a few weeks now until we head back to Sardinia and already waiters across the island are beginning to sweat.
Soon their restaurants will reverberate to the sound of my better half frantically demanding “no cheeses, no cheeses!” in their mother tongue as she orders every course.
The other half you see is a fussy eater. Of course like all fussy eaters she denies this – the “no cheeses” thing apparently a result of migraines as a child.
Strangely though on our first holiday together in Greece she developed a liking for stefado. For the uninitiated stefado is a sort of beef stew, which as you may or may not know contains goat’s cheese, an ingredient the other half insists is “optional”.
Anyhow this food aversion has recently grown to include hamburgers, eel, veal, mussels, mackerel...
Add in our two guests – combined dislikes: fish of any kind, prawns, lamb and beef – and I only hope no one suggests eating in while we’re away.
Soon their restaurants will reverberate to the sound of my better half frantically demanding “no cheeses, no cheeses!” in their mother tongue as she orders every course.
The other half you see is a fussy eater. Of course like all fussy eaters she denies this – the “no cheeses” thing apparently a result of migraines as a child.
Strangely though on our first holiday together in Greece she developed a liking for stefado. For the uninitiated stefado is a sort of beef stew, which as you may or may not know contains goat’s cheese, an ingredient the other half insists is “optional”.
Anyhow this food aversion has recently grown to include hamburgers, eel, veal, mussels, mackerel...
Add in our two guests – combined dislikes: fish of any kind, prawns, lamb and beef – and I only hope no one suggests eating in while we’re away.
Wednesday 7 May 2008
Tax shock for mega rich
As us the world braces itself for the much-anticipated global recession spare a thought for the super rich.
Sardinia’s annual luxury tax – that’s the tax applied to private aircraft and those enormous yachts the likes of Roman Abramovich swan about on during the summer - has been changed to a weekly tax.
The tax will apply from 1 June - 30 September for pleasure craft "using any Sardinian port facility, landing stages and mooring points located in regional territory," according to a statement released by the Sardinian Joint Regional Council, though yachts moored out will are exempt from the tax.
Yachting web site The Triton reported that, “one week of the new rate is equal to a quarter of the old seasonal tax, so for a megayacht between 30 and 60 meters, the new weekly rate is 2,500 euros compared to 10,000 euros for the season last year.”
Bad news - and an extra ten grand – if you're spending the summer on the island.
Not that it seems to bother most people.
"When I was there, I never paid it," said one captain - who presumably wished to remain anonymous.
"I didn’t volunteer it and nobody every came around to collect it.”
Sardinia’s annual luxury tax – that’s the tax applied to private aircraft and those enormous yachts the likes of Roman Abramovich swan about on during the summer - has been changed to a weekly tax.
The tax will apply from 1 June - 30 September for pleasure craft "using any Sardinian port facility, landing stages and mooring points located in regional territory," according to a statement released by the Sardinian Joint Regional Council, though yachts moored out will are exempt from the tax.
Yachting web site The Triton reported that, “one week of the new rate is equal to a quarter of the old seasonal tax, so for a megayacht between 30 and 60 meters, the new weekly rate is 2,500 euros compared to 10,000 euros for the season last year.”
Bad news - and an extra ten grand – if you're spending the summer on the island.
Not that it seems to bother most people.
"When I was there, I never paid it," said one captain - who presumably wished to remain anonymous.
"I didn’t volunteer it and nobody every came around to collect it.”
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