Claudia Tavani, a Sardinian travel writer and founder of Strictly Sardinia, has revealed her favourite Italian island - and it is not Sardinia, where she was born and raised.
Having visited more than nine Italian islands, including Sicily, Sardinia, San Pietro, Sant'Antioco, La Maddalena, Caprera, Tavolara, Stromboli and Vulcano, she says San Pietro, off the southwest coast of Sardinia, is the one she keeps returning to.
Why San Pietro stands out
San Pietro is little known to foreigners but beloved by Sardinians, according to Tavani. Culturally, it feels distinct from Sardinia. Its main town, Carloforte, was founded in the 18th century by the Tabarchini - Ligurian families whose ancestors had settled on the Tunisian island of Tabarka.
Locals speak Tabarchino, an old Ligurian dialect, and the island's food blends Ligurian, Sardinian and North African influences. The town resembles Genoa, with scenic caruggi (narrow alleys lined with colourful buildings).
Food and atmosphere
Tavani says food is one of her main reasons for returning. Carloforte is known for its tuna-fishing tradition, particularly the mattanza in June, a centuries-old ritual for trapping and harvesting Mediterranean blue-fin tuna. The town also has excellent seafood restaurants, and during tuna season many offer dishes featuring tuna as the main ingredient. Other local specialities include cascà, the Carloforte version of couscous.
The island's atmosphere shifts dramatically with the seasons. In summer, Carloforte is lively and popular with holidaymakers from southern Sardinia, yet it remains surprisingly unknown to international visitors. Tavani visited in early August this year and took a boat tour around the island, seeing only a fraction of the boats one would encounter around heavily visited places like La Maddalena.
Practical advice for visitors
Beyond food and culture, San Pietro offers beautiful beaches, impressive cliffs, salt pans and spectacular sunset viewpoints. Strong winds are common and part of the experience, so Tavani recommends giving yourself plenty of time on the island. She only managed the boat tour after years of trying, with previous attempts cancelled due to wind.
San Pietro lies off the south-western coast of mainland Sardinia, about 50 miles from Cagliari. Ferries to Carloforte depart from Portovesme and Calasetta, with the first taking about 40 minutes and the second 30 minutes. There are several daytime sailings, approximately every hour, with a night service only from Calasetta.
