“In Sardinia, light pollution hasn't won yet. The sky is still ours.”
Between Stintino, Asinara and Sardinia's north-west coast lies one of the corners of Italy where the Milky Way can still be seen clearly with the naked eye. Away from the lights of Sassari and Alghero, some spots on the coast reach Bortle class 2 — a sky that city dwellers almost never see.
Asinara National Park makes this advantage even greater: at night the island is almost uninhabited and without lights. You can only get there on boats licensed by the Park authority, from Stintino and Porto Torres, which usually return in the afternoon: to see the stars from the island you have to sleep on the island, for example at the hostel in Cala d'Oliva. New-moon nights between July and September offer the best conditions.
The areas with the darkest skies are far from towns and villages, often on roads not served by public transport.
Hire a car and reach true darkness →
From July to September, peaking in August with the Perseids. New-moon nights offer the best conditions. In summer most nights in Sardinia are clear — a huge advantage over northern Italy or northern Europe.
The darkest sky is on Asinara, but you only see it if you sleep on the island. On the mainland, the Capo Falcone headland and the Le Saline area, away from the village lights, have a very dark sky on moonless nights (around Bortle 2–3 according to light-pollution maps): enough to see the Milky Way and photograph it without professional equipment.
No. With the naked eye it's already spectacular, with just a towel to lie on and 20 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark. For photography, a recent smartphone in night mode or a DSLR on a tripod is enough. With 7×50 or 10×50 binoculars you can already see the Double Cluster in Perseus and the brightest nebulae.
It's one of the experiences best suited to children. All it takes is a little care in the dark, no equipment is required, and the visual impact is instant. Children are genuinely amazed by the Milky Way — many have never seen it. Bring blankets, something warm for the small hours and a red torch so you don't lose your night vision.
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