Calasetta (Sant' Antioco) SW Sardinia

Calasetta, is based on the island Sant' Antioco and is connected to the mainland by a causeway from where you see flamingos feeding. Calasetta offers a perfect base from which to visit the superb beaches and towns along the south coast. It has a very friendly community and the main street is alive with local families and visitors until midnight and beyond. Its own beaches are easily accessible and you can take a 20 min ferry crossing to Carloforte on the island of San Pietro to spend a day exploring its shops, beaches and restaurants.

The Zona Archeologica in the town of Sant'Antioco has an interesting Punic necropolis, burial site, museums and views of the mainland. A forty five minute drive, including a stop for farm fresh fruit, will take you to Porto Pino and its incredible beaches and dunes, as the photograph below shows. Following the coast road further east to Santa Margherita di Pula takes you along some of the exclusive beach resorts such as Forte Village.

Nora is home to the remains of Punic and Phoenician sanctuaries, a magnificent Roman villa, amphitheatre and stately forum. Returning over the mountain route provides a glimpse of the islands more rugged, but equally spectacular, environment. Accommodation in Calasetta was a small country house/bungalow with a garden that included vines, fig trees and other assorted fruit. See acommodation for more details.

Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, is a 90 minute drive from Calasetta and well worth a visit. It has an archaeological museum, the Santa Maria Cathedral (Duomo), an old hilltop citadel Castello with narrow streets and medieval towers, and also a Roman amphitheatre. Check with the Opera and Theatre House to see what operas or concerts may be performing during your visit.

Our return flight was from Cagliari where we also left the car. An alternative is to return to the North by coast roads to enjoy the scenary and even more beaches before catching a flight back from Olbia or Alghero. Although our visit covered many of the main tourist locations there are many other places to experience, some of which are included in other places to visit.

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