Capo San Marco‘s ridge is located in the south part of Sinis peninsula and bolts the Oristano’s gulf on the north side. It takes 40 minutes by boat to get there, and Capo San Marco is one of the locations included in A.M.P (Marine Protected Area of “Penisola del Sinis – Isola di Mal di Ventre). The lighthouse towers above the top of the cliff. It is about 4 miles from Oristano’s harbour.
On the south-east side of the ridge, not exposed to the northwest wind, we can find wonderful small beaches where it is allowed to berth the boats in A.M.P. marker fields.


This particular area is known for her several ancient settlements. One of the most famous is Tharros, a phoenician-punic town founded in the VIIIth Century, in the vicinity of a nuragic village of the Bronze Age.
Later, under the Carthaginian domination, it grew bigger and stronger and experienced a period of great economical welfare thanks to the intense commercial tradings with Spain and Africa.

Mal di Ventre, (Malu Entu in Sardinia’s language), it’s an island located in front of Sinis Peninsula, and it is about 14 nautical miles from Oristano’s harbour and 5 miles to the nearest shore, Putzu Idu. Mal di Ventre is also part of the Protected Marine Area, it has an area of 1 square kilometre, it is mainly flat and is characterized by the natural vegetation of the scrubland, modelled by the north-west wind. During the flowering period, you can really feel the pure essence and perfume of its vegetation. Its eastern shore is sandy, and it has a few small beaches that make the landing easier. Its seabeds are mainly rocky, and rich in flora and fauna. That’s why they are particularly appreciated by snorkelers and diving lovers. For its wild look and the beauty of its beaches, Mal di Ventre is a well-loved location by tourists.
Even if uninhabited, a pool of fresh water allows the surviving of some species of mammals, birds and reptiles.

In this area you can find a few A.M.P.’s mark fields.

“Seu” Oasis is about 100 acres, but it is known for her precious natural interest. You can find beaches of quartz grains, beautiful paths through the scrubland, cliffs, rocks and islets, nuragic remanis, a spanish tower, and also foxes, partridges, rabbits and turtles.  On the south-west side of Seu’s park, you can see some shipwreck’s remains. Its stern emerges about 100 metres from the shore.

In this area you can find a few A.M.P.’s mark fields.

Quartz beaches of the Marine Protected Area

These beaches amaze all the visitors for their beauty and peculiar look. These are beaches made of white, green, light yellow, pink and black quartz grains.
They have been created by the slow erosion of Maldiventre or Malu Entu. The marine currents carry the crumbled grains ashore, and that’s how these amazing beaches come to life.


Is Arutas, located in the central part of A.M.P, it is one of A.M.P.’s most precious gems and one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. the crystal-clear water and the finest quartz grains form this amazing and colorful hundreds-kms-long beach.

Mari Ermi is another gem set between Is Arutas and Porto Suedda, a strip of land made of multi-faceted rocks. It is 2 kilometres long.


Maimoi. It is located on the south part of the coast, and adjacent to the better known Is Arutas, therefore it has the same characteristics. Maimoi is a large and long coastal area, that shines thanks to her white, pink and rounded quartz grains. The seabed is sandy and pleasently phased. The water is turquoise and crystal clear. Behind it, you can find amazing portions of scrubland.


Localities reachable from Oristano’s harbour

Bosa

Bosa can be reached by sea, sailing about 30 miles northbound. Around the 22th mile, another wonderful locality deserves a stop: Rio Salighes Falls (40 meters high), that flows directly into the sea. After 4 miles, there’s archipelago Corona Niedda, a set of basaltic stones and one of the rarest ecological Oasis of Sardinia, that the experts call “Galapagos of Sardinia”.

Bosa is a nice small town full of history and tradition and it is located on the western coast of North-central Sardinia.The only navigable river of Sardinia, Temo, crosses the small town.
Bosa has a small fluvial harbour fully equipped.


The natural reserve of Badde Aggiosu, Marrargiu e Monte Mannu and the marin park of Monte Mannu are another traditional carny, from which is possible to observe a natural colony of griffins, birds of prey that have a wingspan of about 280cm. This colony is the only native colony of the western Mediterranean Basin.

Alghero is a beautiful town in the north-west of Sardinia, and it is located in the namesake roadstead surrounded by Capo Caccia, Punta Giglio and Monte Doglia. It is about 50 nautical miles from Oristano.

Alghero’s territory is really wide, you can find fine sand beaches, cliffs, a wide range of vegetation (from the scrubland to the pine forest) and fauna. Alghero’s town is particularly important from an historical and linguistic point of view, where the Catalan language is still very common since the Catalan domination in the XIVth Century. Alghero has an equipped harbour. It is known for its coral goods craft industry. Its seabeds were rich of corals, that’s why they now call Alghero “Corallo’s Riviera”.


Capo Caccia, Piana Island and Porto Conte Gulf are an important naturalistic area of Sardinia: the protected Marine area of Capo Caccia – Piana Island. The country’s geology of karstic origin has led to the creation of many caves and inner reaches, partly unexplored. “Grotte di Nettuno” are the most famous caves of the area, that can be reached both by sea and by land, thanks to the well-known staircase “Escala del Cabirol” of 656 steps. Grotta dei Ricami and Grotta Verde are located on the eastern side of Capo Caccia and can be reached only by sea.

Porto Conte’s gulf is composed by many small beaches, with crystal clear water and sandy beaches.


Carloforte

Carloforte is about 48 nautical miles from Oristano, floating towards south. The route runs along a wild and pristine coast, composed at times by large sandy dune (Torre dei Corsari, Piscinas etc), long beaches and big cliffs. Once you get past Capo Frasca, you sail in the direction of Capo Pecora, and San Pietro’s Island and then you finally reach Carloforte. On the way there, there’s “Faraglione Pan di Zucchero”, one of the highest cliff in Europe, and Porto Flavia’s cliffs, an ancient minerary area.


Carloforte’s town has a fully equipped harbour, also used by the ferries that connect the island with Portoscuso and Calasetta.Sailing clockwise around the island, we find many beautiful beaches, such as Guidi, la Bobba, Punta delle Colonne, Geniò’s beach, Mezzaluna’s Gulf, Spalmatore, Capo Sandalo, Cala Fico, Cala Vinagra, Punta delle Oche, Punta della Tonnara, Piana’s Island.

Between Capo Sandalo and Cala Vinagra it is possible to observe the amazing evolutions of the Regina Hawk. This birds’ colony is one of the most important of the western part of the Mediterranean Sea.


During tunas’ migration (May and June), Carloforte and Capo Altano’s traps are made. During this time, Girotonno takes place, a very important event that includes culture, art, musica, food and wine.