SRTThe Italian radioastronomical facilities of the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (INAF) are operated by the Istituto di Radioastronomia (IRA) at two different sites, one in Medicina near Bologna (Emilia-Romagna), the other in Noto near Siracusa (Sicily), both hosting 32-m single-dish telescopes.
 In collaboration with the observatories of Cagliari and Florence, the IRA is currently constructing the Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT) in the location of San Basilio (about 35 km north of Cagliari, Sardinia). Operations are due to start in 2012 with the first-light receivers. The SRT is a parabolic dish of 64 m diameter with the following characteristics at its final stage of completion:
The SRT site is reasonably dry during the winter season (600 m altitude) and located in an orographic depression which acts as a natural wind-screen and reduces radio frequency interference, The expertise for design and construction of the SRT is largely based on the institute's long-standing experience with its two 32-m dishes. The simultaneous operation of three observatories is facilitated by the intrinsic redundancy related with two almost equal, albeit smaller, radio telescopes (antennas, receivers, backends, and driving software). The SRT builds on developments prototyped at the Medicina and Noto antennas and will in many aspects represent the most advanced radio single-dish telescope in Europe. It will be able to offer opportunities to the astronomical community by 2012. The SRT will be among the largest five fully steerable single-dish radio telescopes in Europe and the largest one with an active primary surface (world-wide second only to the 100-m GBT). Because of its excellent metrology it will be particularly competitive above 20 GHz. Consequently, one of the first-light receivers will be a new 7-feed array for observations between 18 and 26 GHz, unique at this frequency in Europe.
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