Spiaggia di Piscinas

There is something ironic about a beach known as “Sardinia’s desert” is set in the Costa Verde (Green Coast) on the island’s west coast. Despite this the name is apt as this wide sandy beach is equally deep and backed by dunes reaching up to 60 metres high. Created by the relentless Mistral wind which blows off the Mediterranean, Spiaggia di Piscinas’ dunes are dotted with equally sculpted juniper bushes and macchia. During the Spring flowers such as violacciocca, the sea lily and the sand poppies improbably bloom amongst the sand.

This is one of the very best beaches in Sardinia and its special natural beauty has been acknowledged by international organisations such as UNESCO and National Geographic. It is hard to disagree; acres of fine golden sand with the deep blues of the Mediterranean to one side and towering dunes and verdant countryside the other. Nature is still in charge here and wild deer paying the occasional visit to the beach and sea turtles laying their eggs on the beach.

You will find the obligatory sun loungers and umbrellas on Spiaggia di Piscinas beach, but this is also a place for the more adventurous. The dependable breezes make it popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers, whilst the wide fetch of deep water provide the surfers with winter waves.

Piscinas beach is also a great spot for divers as the bottom drops away rapidly from the shore. Around 200 metres off the beach is the wreck of an 18th century English ship which makes for great scuba, along with a plethora of fish.

It isn’t just the sea that invites exploring - nearby is the old, deserted mining village of Ingurtosu and valley of Is Animas. These places have something of an air of the Wild West about them with deserted miners cottages, and an abonded church and hospital.