THEAsinara prepares for a great change. This island of the Sardiniaand at our rough and wild connotations, will soon become the goal of sustainable tourism. The dream had long been in the drawer and is now preparing to become a reality. In fact, by July it could obtain the certification of europarc, a European federation that works to improve the management of protected areas through cooperation and exchange of experiences. A network united by the love for nature. Wonderful news for thisSardinian island that we all remember for the maximum security prison or to the place where they "took refuge" Falcone and Borsellino to work at the maxiprocess. The goal is ambitious: to protect and promote natural beauty, support the biodiversity and marry a holistic approach. Asinara is a wonderful place that can decline all these combinations and fully dedicate oneself to eco-sustainable tourism. In respect of that National Park which is a natural beauty to be protected and safeguarded.
Asinara aims at sustainable tourism
The island could, therefore, become the first park in Sardinia certified by Europarc. The inspection has already been carried out and pending is already working on the long-cherished project.
The idea is to transform the National Park dell'Asinara in building hotel. Sardinia has dedicated itself to this type of hospitality since 1995 in Bosa, municipality of Oristano. Now we need to start a work of enhancement of housing and redevelopment in order to ensure tourists a splendid welcome and restore life to the entire village of Cala d'Oliva. There would be 800 euros in the pipeline for 38 accommodations but it is planned to go much further, intervening on the homes in order to guarantee all the essential services to welcome the tourists to come. The village is already equipped with accommodation facilities: there is a church, a square, a cinema, a pizzeria and even a shop.
Wild nature and pristine beaches
The widespread hotel project is part of the larger one, on a national scale, of transforming the old barracks into hostels or hotel facilities.
The former maximum security prison could have a new skin and become a tourist destination. The watchword, however, is that of sustainability because the Asinara National Park, which is part of the municipality of Porto Torres in the province of Sassari, it is above all a wonderful place to enter on tiptoe while respecting the uncontaminated nature that distinguishes it. It is also aprotected sea area. The characteristics of this island of about 50 square kilometers - located between Sardinia and Corsica - are the wild landscapes, with spectacular flora and fauna. Mediterranean scrubs, animal species characteristic of this area, such as the white donkey, depths full of life. And again, rugged paths and coves that can be reached on foot and others where it is better not to go into this earthly paradise. A sea of changing colors that captures and enchants you. One hundred and ten kilometers of coastline: steep cliffs characterize the western side while the eastern one is more sandy with emerging rocks. In front of it an expanse of crystalline water.
The cetacean sanctuary
The vegetation is typical of the Mediterranean basin: low shrubs and tall trees. Lots of junipers and ferns. Along the coasts, we can find the wild fennel, lemon, gorse from the cliff.
The isolation of these areas has allowed the development of a rich fauna. The Park has approx 80 species, many of which are rare. In the Asinara Park, hares, weasels, mouflons, wild boars, horses and above all famous white donkeys living in the wild. The wetlands of the territory are home to amphibians but there are also several species of reptiles. The seabirds are the Corsican gull, the shag and the Sardinian partridge. Furthermore, the Asinara has long been part of the so-called "Cetacean sanctuary”, Classified as a Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Interest. In this sea live the whale, the sperm whale, the dolphin, the dolphin and many others.
From maximum security prison to protected island
Asinara was one penal colony and later a penitentiary in which Sardinian bandits and criminals were imprisoned. In 1975 he became a maximum security prison then closed in 1998 when the island became a National Park.
In the mid-eighties, four months before the start of the maxi-trial, the judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino they stayed there for security reasons in a building overlooking the sea and used as a guesthouse. The island is a wonderful place where nature explodes between sky and sea. Today it is preparing to become an eco-sustainable tourism destination and to redevelop the ancient village to open it to those who want to come and visit the island.
