Travel:Driving East along the South Coast. From Sant'Antioco IL to Pula Oct 6/2024
- Lili Naveh
- Oct 7, 2024
- 5 min read
A continuation of a trip which started on Sept 10th with a visit to the UK, then Corsica
Corsica to Sardinia 9/29 (here)
Pula 9/30 - 10/3. (here)
Temple Antas/Dunes. 10/4 (here)
Sant'Anticio/San Pietro 10/5-6/(here)
Maladroxia Beach on Sant'Anticico
Following the 2 days visit to Sant'Anticio and San Pietro islands, we departed the Maladroxia coast (where the Lu" Hotel -we stayed at Santa'Anticio is), and after
a short stop at the stunning Cala Sapone, we left the island and crossed back to Sardinia's main land .
Cala Sapone - Sant'Anticio
The sea can no longer be seen for about 10km when. driving on the island's east coast south, through low hills covered with Mediterranean greenery and cultivated fields.. And then the stunning cove of Cala Sapone appears.
This crescent-shaped bay, with its sides protected by two promontories and by offshore islets, is a famous place on the southwest coast on Sant'Antioco,
The sandy stretch, has coarse, amber-colored sand, mixed with shells and coral fragments, and the northern stretch has reefs and flat rocks tinged with white,
Departing Sant'Anticio
The Salt Pans extends over the pericoastal strip, which connects existing coastal lagoons, are a natural oasis for shorebirds,/flamingos, and favorite biking route.
Beavers enjoying their tranquil water habitat, at the enchanting water channels,
a true attraction for the incidental bikers and drive by cars.
Sant'Anticio -view from the coastal connecting strip
Road SS195, the southern route along the coast, lead us through San Giovanni Suergiu, to Sant'Anna Arresi to Porto Pino, Porto di Teulada
A small town of 6000inhabitants, situated in the Sulcis plain near the lagoons of Porto Botte and Sant'Antioco at south-west of Sardinia, of Byzantine origin (9th C)
Made up of 4 main villages (San Giovanni, Palmas, Is Urigus and Matzaccara) It offers ancient buildings, beautiful beaches and archaeological sites
Inside the the village of Palmas , there are many ruins of old military refuge buildings from the 2nd World War, Military architecture. Military bunker refuge, and many other military structures along the road we drove on, can be seen for several kilometers.
Another small attractive village of 3000 inhabitants, further south-west (an independent municipality since 1965) which was once a nuraghe center, and offers stretches of beautiful coast, a tourist destination much sought-after, for its placid lagoons, lush greenery, fine white sand dunes clear, turquoise sea., and its cultural attractions includes also food and wine.
The area stretches across a hill that dominates a plain rich with coastal ponds that are the home to black-winged stilts and flamingos.
Porto Pino, Beach
On the Sulcis coast, the beach of Porto Pino in Sant'Anna Arresi, named so, as the area is covered by an enormous pine forest, and is blessed with a spectacular stretch of coastline - a 'pearl' of the Mediterranean, Porto Pino is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and best beaches in south Sardinia
In addition to some villas and bungalows of the small town, it mainly reveals a marvelous beauty and harmonious ecosystem between sea, dunes, vegetation and lagoons.
The Porto Pino beach is about 4 km long, divided in two parts by an old sea outlet for the ponds. The “first beach”, (close to) the parking area), features grayish sand while the “second”, nestled between lagoon and pine grove,
Along the Arresi coast, between little coves of pinkish sand, long 'desert-like' beaches reefs and seabeds, in between the pure white tall dunes - Arenas Biancas,
The lagoon area is delimited by the Porto Pino, promontory and is covered by a vast pine forest, oaks, ancient juniper trees and very rare Aleppo pines – according to legend, the wood favored by the Phoenicians to build their ships, with as well as Mediterranean scrub
Another corner of paradise, is a stretch of fine, white, super-soft sand protected by dunes covered in junipers is. Cala Zafferano, situated inside a military base and accessible by sea in July and August.
Further driving southwest along the coast of the territory of Teulada.
Porto di Tuelada
This small harbor, called also "Marina di Teulada" is located in an uncontaminated natural environment close to the town of Teulada,
It is considered a desired starting point to explore the beautiful 40 km coastline of southern Sardinia, characterized by stunning panoramic views, a succession of naturalistic oases with small bays and promontories, and dotted with pristine beaches, and secluded coves .
The challenging area's tracks attract many mountainous cycleres, who love to stop at this enchanting small harbor spot
The map below offers the area's routs.
Teulada is small town of 3,500 inhabitants in the lower Sulcis sub region, famous for its coastal scenery of amazing beauty, consisting of stunning panoramic views, overhanging cliffs with coves and beaches of light and soft sand.
Another gem is Porto Tramatzu - with fine white sand, green and turquoise waters, a clear and very low basin extending right to the facing islet
Nearby is also the beautiful s’Ottixeddu (called ‘degli americani’ – ‘of the Americans’), which a limited number of visitors may explore during the summer.
Another pictorial beach - Sa Canna, much loved by scuba divers and located in the town of Teulada, is best recognized for its breathtaking natural beauty, pristine white sands and crystal-clear turquoise waters that are teeming with abundant marine life.
Domus de Maria Beach
This long stretch of coastline is dotted with sand dunes, centuries-old junipers, imposing granite peaks with lush forests and hills covered with Mediterranean shrub
It takes its name from the mighty, tall tower of Piscinnì, which can be reached by a pathway and was probably built between the 16th and 17th by the Spanish
The current Domus de Maria village of 1,700,. dates back to the 18c but the area has a more ancient tradition, dating back to the Nuragic age (bronze age) and then to the Phoenician, Punic, and Roman ages.
The town is nestled between mountainous and wooded backlands and a crystal clear sea, and comes to life each year during the food fairs (dedicated to goat, wild boar, figs and fish) and local festivals.
The scenery from Porto de Teulada and until Chia which I already mentioned and posted (here) is dramatic with amazing centenary of small islands, in the bluish water by the white beaches. protected by historical defense towers.
Swimming, diving in the, pristine water as well as walking and biking the hilly trails are all much desired activities in the enchanting Southwestern coastal shores.
Also mentioned in my my previous post, is the visit to Tuerredda, one of the ten most beautiful beaches on the island, with fine sand and crystalline seas that recall Caribbean,
and the splendid coves of Capo Malfatano dominated by a Spanish tower, back dropped by a pond, and a bay , which was the chosen landing place of the Phoenicians as of the 6th BC (here).
Sant Efi's Hotel Beach
That fabulous coastal drive, highly recommended, ended when we reached Pula (here), late afternoon, and checked in, again, for additional 2 nights (before continuing to Cagliari) at the wonderful Sant Efis Hotel (more on the hotel)
To Be Continued
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