Over 2,000 kilometres of breathtaking coastline attracts visitors to the shores of ruggedly beautiful Sardinia, set off the coast of Italy in the Mediterranean Sea. The sandy beaches of the alluring Costa Smeralda are lapped by sapphire-blue waters, while its hilly interior is criss-crossed with a multitude of hiking trails. Cagliari, the capital, has winding streets and an atmospheric medieval quarter with cathedrals and palaces that date back to the 13th century.