Discover Sardinia's Hidden Gem: The Trenino Verde Scenic Railway

Mention the Italian island of Sardinia to anyone and many will talk of the white sand beaches or that famous scene in the James Bond  movie “The Spy Who Loved me” (1977,  this was Capriccioli Beach, where Bond’s white Lotus Esprit dramatically emerges from an aquamarine sea) or possibility the luxury resort on the island’s east coast created by the Aga Khan in the 1960’s and which became known as The Costa Smeralda or “Emerald Coast”.

Some might comment about the ease of short flights from the UK to three Sardinian  airports (Cagliari, Olbia, Alghero), the crystal clear seas, superb seafood and surprisingly good island wines, and a few might talk of the lovely town of Alghero where Catalan Spanish is still spoken due to a quirk of history.

And railways? Really? How many people would know about these?

Visitors arriving on Sardinia, would soon learn about the “Trentino Verde” train as the islanders are very proud of it and promotions for it can be seen often.

Named “Trenino Verde” which means “little green train”, there are actually several of them plying different routes on scenic, narrow-gauge lines. They cross the islands through untouched nature and with an enchanting feel of a bygone era.  These little trains are very special and the carriages have been meticulously restored. In addition to skilled, professional staff, hundreds of volunteers help with the maintenance and running of the trains.

What, where, when?

There are three main routes (the longest takes five hours!) with many derivations of them, and special tickets also allow visits and stops to places en route, sometimes to tiny villages or including a local, traditional meal. They run from mid June to mid September exploring Sardinia’s wild mountainous interior, sometimes descending to the sea.

From Mandas

Through the green mountains of Ogliastra and on the route to Lacomi, there are excellent views of the ancient Nuraghe structures, stone towers that were built during the Bronze Age by the native Nuraghi civilisation

From Macomer

The lovely traditional pastoral route to the coast, some offer wine tasting stop at a local vineyard on the way

From Sassari

Traversing the beautiful Gallura region (featured on BBC Television Great ‘Continental Rail Journeys’ with Michael Portillo)

On many of the routes, travellers can spot wild mouflon, even bears sometimes (usually May-mid June), tiny hamlets, villages, and vineyards while crossing deep gorges and breathtaking bridges.

In 1921 the famous writer D.H Lawrence wrote a travelogue called “Sea and Sardinia” based on a nine day trip when he used these amazing little trains each day. He wrote “it’s a strange railway. It shoots uphill and down into valleys and races around sudden curves with the greatest nonchalance”.

A Sardinian holiday featuring beautiful sea, great food and wine, culture and beauty – and heritage train journeys with “nonchalance”. Just perfect!

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