south Sardinia

Cagliari

Cagliari, situated on the central south coast of the island, is Sardinia’s capital city and centre for commerce and industry. With its international airport, it provides a gateway to the beautiful, relatively unspoilt, southern coastline and is flanked by the beautiful Poetta Beach and bay, popular for international sailing events. The city is characterised by colourful medieval architecture, central Castello and atmospheric port with ‘passeggiata’. There are interesting streets lined with shops and restaurants, the National Archaeological Museum, art galleries and monuments tracing the island’s history.

Chia

Chia is a small village surrounded by fig groves, once protected against pirate raids by the Torre di Chia, an ancient stone watchtower. On the other side of the tower is the fabulous Chia beach, with a forest of Juniper trees and sand dunes as a backdrop to the beautiful white sands found here. The Is Molas golf course is nearby and Chia itself has an 18 hole Pitch and Putt course. Inland are the caves of the Grotta de s’Acqua Salia and the Grotta Is Zuddas, only recently discovered.

Costa Rei

Costa Rei is 14km north of Villasimius on the stunning south east coast, renowned for some of the most beautiful white sandy beaches in Italy and the electric aquamarine coloured sea. The landscape is set off by rolling hills covered with aromatic green Mediterranean vegetation and dramatic granite cliffs, an area which is mainly undeveloped. The small town of Costa Rei is a lovely holiday resort on a stunning 8km long white sandy beach.

Pula

Pula is a charming colourful town in south west Sardinia with a selection of shops, restaurants, gelaterias and café bars. The ancient archaeological ruins on the coast at Nora are nearby, considered one of the best examples in Sardinia of an ancient Roman provincial city, with temples, baths and mosaic floors clearly visible. The nearest beach is at Nora, there is golf at Is Molas 9/18 hole course, and there is a natural marine shelter and sea turtle rescue centre at Nora Lagoon.

Santa Margherita di Pula

Santa Margherita is situated between Pula and Chia, on a long stretch of coast fringed by pine groves and sheltered by a line of mountains, predominantly undeveloped. It is approximately 10km from the charming town of Pula and the 9/18 hole Is Molas golf course is a similar distance. The locality offers a wide range of activities including watersports from Nora and Chia, sightseeing at the ancient Roman ruins at Nora and for interest the natural marine shelter and sea turtle rescue centre at Nora Lagoon.

Villasimius

Villasimius is situated on the beautiful south eastern tip of Sardinia with stunning white sandy beaches with electric blue sea. The headland of Capo Carbonara has a harbour and old fortress and there is a double bay with fine white sand on one side and granulated sand on the other. There are boat trips out to the islands of Cavoli and Serpentara with an abundance of marine life.

The town has a selection of shops, café bars and restaurants and provides an ideal location for a beach holiday. There is a wonderful scenic coastal drive up to Costa Rei with spectacular scenery.

The Costa del Sud

The Costa del Sud stretches west from the southern tip of Capo Spartivento with a 20km scenic coastal drive to Porto Teulada. Golfo di Teulada has indented bays with Spanish watchtowers with swimming possible from the rocks or small stretches of sand. Capo Malfatano has wonderful views, Tuerredda is a popular stopping point and a corner of paradise with its soft, pure white sand and crystal clear sea. Porto Teulada has a beach and small jetty for boats with a snack bar and dinghies, canoes and pedaloes for hire.

Teulada

The small town of Teulada is about 4km inland from the Costa del Sud and has a variety of shops, supermarket, pizzeria, restaurants and café bars. There are sculptures dotted around the streets from an annual exhibition in June to September when sculptors visit the town from all over the world to create from local marble or granite. The town is known for its handicrafts including embroidery, tapestry, cork and terracotta pipes.