Blue Flags in Sardinia

This year the Sardinian beaches awarded with Blue Flags by FEE (Foundation for Environmental Education) are six: this is an important international certification because FEE is a non-profit organization and Blue Flag criteria include stringent standards for water quality, safety, environmental education and information.

Sardinia gained the tenth position for Blue Flag beaches in Italy proving to be a really sought-after destination.

Do you want to know which are the six recommended beaches for 2014? This is a brief description of these amazing places.

This post is given to you by Delphina Hotels & Resorts staff, the local experts for holiday planning in Sardinia.

Poetto Beach – Quartu Sant’Elena

The Poetto Beach it stretches from Cagliari (precisely from the Devil’s Saddle) up to Quartu Sant’Elena coastline. The promontory that stands out of the sea is reachable by the smaller beach of Calamosca through nature trails; here you can enjoy an imposing view of the landscape.

Once arrived at Quartu Sant’Elena you can do a stroll around the town, located next to the natural park of Molentargius, where to see the pink flamingos, exotic birds that live only in Southern Sardinia and in France. From Poetto Beach you can admire the flamingos while fly above the natural reserve, a green oasis in the heart of an island.

Palau – Gallura

Palau is one of the most charming venues in the North Eastern coast of Sardinia, and is also the main port to go to La Maddalena archipelago. Bordered by pine trees, this beach is characterized by fine white sand and crystal clear water. Besides to the beach of Palau Vecchio I suggest to visit the small town of Palau, where there is a prestigious Ethnographic Museum and the ancient San Giorgio church. You can also buy a ticket of the “green train”, a tourist that crosses the inland of this beautiful corner in Sardinia.

Caprera – La Maddalena Archipelago

Caprera is the second largest island in the archipelago after La Maddalena and is an enchanting natural paradise. Once you reach La Maddalena from the port of Palau, you can get to Caprera by car, crossing the bridge Passo della Moneta (a bridge that links the two islands).

The beach of Caprera boasts a peculiar strand and a stunning landscape, due to three mountains, Monte Teialone, Poggio Stefano and Poggio Zonza. Among the other coves and beaches of the island I recommend to visit Spiaggia del Relitto, Spiaggia dei Due Mari, Cala Brigantino, Cala Coticcio, Cala Andreani, Cala Portese and, on the South, Punta Rossa.

This island is considered a protected geomarine area, and today only a few people live here, concentrated mainly in the “frazione” of Stagnali. The natural reserve of Caprera is one of the most unaltered places in the Mediterranean area. The name of the island is linked to Italian history because the Italian hero Giuseppe Garibaldi spent here the last twenty years of his life until his death in 1882; the Compendio Garibaldi and La Casa Bianca (a museum and a memorial chapel) are a must-see for travelers who want to know more about Italy.

La Rena Bianca – Santa Teresa di Gallura

La Rena Bianca is the main beach of Santa Teresa di Gallura and is very close the center so it can be reached on foot. The beach, nestled among the cliffs, is surrounded by the dense green forests typical of the Mediterranean scrub. The sand is white and very fine and the sea bottom is low, ideal if you are travelling with children.

When the sky is very clear you can enjoy a nice view of the Strait of Bonifacio, between Corsica and Sardinia, and the Archipelago of La Maddalena.

Torre Grande – Oristano

 

The popular beach of Torre Grande, in Oristano (the central-western area of the island) is characterized by golden sand and thin gravel. This beach is located at the center of the Oristano coastline, at the renowned tourist destination Marina di Torre Grande. You’ll love the palm tree-lined promenade and the Tower of Mariano II, also known as the Tower of St. Christopher, erected in 1290, is located in Piazza Roma and was one of the two main entrance doors of the ancient town.

Baia di Cea e Lido d’Orrì – Tortolì

The province of Ogliastra is rich of beautiful sights but these beaches are the best for who is looking for a relaxing holiday. Tortolì inland is also interesting and worth visiting, there is a steam train available for tourists to explore the woods and mountains of Ogliastra. My favorite place is the promontory of Capo Bellavista made of red porphyry cliffs, called “Red Rocks of Arbatax.”