Holiday ideas: Visit the San Pietro island and Carloforte in the south-west

Of vulcanic origins the San Pietro island in the south-west of Sardinia with a surface of 51 square chilometres is 10 km long and about 8 km wide. The island in general is mountainous, especially on the western coast. The eastern part is more soft and offers some bays and sandy beaches.

What to see on the San Pietro island and in Carloforte

In the 18th century San Pietro were colonized by Ligurian fishermen which were expelled from the Tabarka, a town in Tunisia. The population achieved a certain prosperity through the caught of red Tuna fish: every year in May big shoals pass by and are caught with an traditional method called the Mattanza.

Carloforte is a lively and pittoresque comune located directly on the sea with a nice esplanade, narrow roads and a central main place. There are a lot of shops which offer local potteries and other handicrafts, groceries, bars and restaurants. The cuisine of Carloforte is very tasty and a type of Mediterranean cross-over: the main ingredients are Genoese Pesto sauce, Trofie (a twisted pasta of Ligurian origin), Couscous and obviously Tuna. Every year the people of San Pietro celebrates the ancient tradition and millenary culture of tuna with the Girotonno festival, an international food, wine  and cultural event, which takes place at the end of May.

The coast stretch of San Pietro benefits from stupendous beaches of very white sand alternating with marvellous inlets with coves and very high rocks, perpendicular to the sea. Certainly, the least spoiled and most beautiful part of the coast is the western side, where the lighthouse of Capo Sandalo, Italy’s furthest west lighthouse, is located.

Sardinia Natour offers in Carloforte the charming hotel Riviera, for longer stays and shorter trips to discover the fascinating south-west part of Sardinia.

Text and photo: SardiniaNatour