We are in Sardinia where we've spent the day exploring the largest stone ruins we've seen outside of Peru.
Su Nuraxi di Barumini is one of the largest of Sardinia's archeological digs dating back to the 14th century BC. The intricate stone work and narrow passageways are very reminiscent of the much later Incan remains at Machu Picchu in Peru. The Sardinian site can be visited only with a tour guide and we had the good fortune of having only two other people in the English group today while there were more than 30 people on the Italian tour.
The archeological site is located just a few kilometers from our luxurious agriturismo, Il Borgo dell'Arcangelo in Tuilli.
Sardinia is best known for its spectacular beaches and we are back in large part to enjoy the crystal clear water, but we wanted to go off the beaten path. After flying from Rome to Cagliari in the southern part of the island, we rented a car and drove north into the foothills of the mountains for an hour and a quarter. The Lugas family has farmed olives and vineyards for several generations and are the most amiable hosts imaginable. The pride they take in their Sardo heritage makes their guests wish they were Sardinian too. Luigi, the patriarch, spent more than an hour after dinner tonight telling us tales of Sardinian sailors helping an Egyptian Pharaoh fight naval battles and many more local stories. All the food served at dinner was grown organically on the farm - from the cheese to the peaches and wine - and it was delicious. The family owns more than 200 hectares of land stretching up the mountainside where their sheep graze and their olive groves and vineyards thrive. It's an oasis of tranquility for a food lover wanting to stray off the beaten path comfortably.
