Asinara National Park – Sardinia: ancient solitude, intact nature and wind that tells forgotten stories. The Asinara National Park, established in 1997, protects the entire island of the same name, located in the extreme north-west of Sardinia. Long closed to the public due to the presence of a prison, today it is one of the purest natural areas in the Mediterranean, accessible only by controlled and regulated means. A place out of time, where nature had space to breathe. 🌿 Wild nature and deep silences: Asinara is home to lush Mediterranean scrub, holm oak woods, white beaches and sheer cliffs. The landscape alternates between rolling hills, stony plains and protected coves. The undisputed symbol is the white donkey, an endemic breed that moves freely between the clearings, but there is no shortage of peregrine falcons, bee-eaters, Sardinian deer and rare reptiles. 👉 Tip: Take part in an off-road or bike excursion with an environmental guide: you will be able to access the most remote and evocative areas of the island. 🌊 Indented coastline and transparent sea: The beaches of Cala Sabina, Cala Sant'Andrea (integral protection area), Cala Arena and Cala Reale offer turquoise waters and extraordinary seabeds. The Asinara sea is protected by integral reserves that preserve meadows of posidonia, sponges, corals and exceptional marine biodiversity. Perfect for mindful snorkeling. 👉 Tip: Bring only what you need with you and respect the rules of visit: every cove is fragile and precious. 🏛️ An island of memory and isolation: For over a century, Asinara has been a place of isolation: first a lazaret, then an agricultural penal colony, and finally a maximum security prison. Today you can visit the abandoned structures such as the Fornelli prison and the village of Cala d'Oliva, where Totò Riina was also detained. The bare architecture blends with nature, evoking complex and never banal stories. 👉 Tip: Take a guided tour of the prison – a powerful tale that helps you understand the island's recent past. 🚶 Slow experiences between nature and awareness: The park promotes sustainable and controlled tourism: it can be visited on foot, by bike, with electric shuttles, authorized off-road vehicles or by boat. There are no invasive tourist facilities: you can sleep in a few accommodations, including the hostel in Cala d'Oliva. The island is perfect for day trips, wildlife observation and moments of absolute connection with the environment. 👉 Tip: Let yourself be guided by the rhythm of the island: everything moves more slowly here, and this is part of its value. At Asinara, time is not still: it is just deeper.