|
The small Sardinian coastal resort of Stintino is located on the northwest peninsular
of Sardinia and is some 50km north of Alghero. Travel time to the town by car from
Alghero is approximately one hour.
Town
The resort of Stintino was founded just over one hundred years ago when the state
requisitioned the island of Asinara for use as a prison and relocated the resident
fishing families to the current site located conveniently between two natural inlets.
The town is essentially a compact grid of largely residential streets sandwiched between
the two harbours that were built on the inlets. The harbours, Porto Nuovo to the north
and Porto Vecchio to the south, are the main focal points for tourist activity as the
town does not have the usual central piazza. Needless to say this means that the
restaurants in Stintino are well known for their seafood.
Beaches
The rocky peninsular boasts one of the top beaches in Sardinia at La Pelosa. Situated to the north of the town, just short of Capo Falcone with the watchtower of Torre Facone
in view, the fine white sands are lapped by the shallow, warm, tranquil waters that
stretch the short distance across to the Island of Piana.
Of course its popularity means crowds at all but the lowest times of the season and as this is not the largest beach in Sardinia, room on the sand is at an absolute premium in July and August. There is a car park opposite the beach and more parking available on the approach road. Expect to pay around one euro an hour to stop here.
One kilometre to the south is the beach of Le Saline so named after the salt works
located here that was run by the monks of Santa Maria di Tergu. As well as a Spanish
bastion the salt lagoon often attracts flocks of flamingos.
Islands
It is possible to take a boat trip from Stintino and sometimes La Pelosa to the nearby
Islands of Piana and Asinara. The tiny Island of Piana is home to a solitary watchtower
whilst the larger Asinara was granted national park status at the end of the 1990s in an
effort to allow wildlife to flourish and so has restricted access.
|
