Today we will discover some places of the famous Costa Smeralda, one of the most known areas of Sardinia.
This is the name of the stretch of north-eastern coast that extends from the surroundings of Porto Cervo to almost Olbia. In the 60s, the name of this area was Monti di Mola; here there wasn’t tourist facilities, so the Aga Khan purchase many lands with the aim of creating a real estate consortium destined for exclusive tourism; the operation was a success from the tourist and commercial point of view, with the creation of luxury structures and resorts, villas, clubs and marinas.
Now we will tell you about one of our September visits; in our opinion the low season is the best time for a tour in this area, as it is possible to enjoy the sun and the sea, without the overcrowding of July and August. However, don’t expect beaches and deserted places, because very popular places are always frequented by tourists!
The charm of the beaches of this area is certainly related to the colors; the fine white sand contrasts strongly with the reddish shades of the rocks of Gallura. The blue sea is often crossed by many boats and, from many points along the coast, you can see islands in the distance… Not only those of La Maddalena archipelago, but also the islets of Mortorio, Soffi, Le Camere and Tavolara.
Views of Costa Smeralda
The panoramic road of Costa Smeralda (provincial 94 of Olbia Tempio) is extremely fascinating and allows, in some points, to admire a large part of the Costa Smeralda from above. The road starts north of Olbia, near the tourist resort of Portisco, in the direction of Porto Cervo.
To welcome us along the road, we find a writing engraved on a boulder with the words “Costa Smeralda”.
After a first fairly flat stretch, the route moves away from the coast, going up on the hill slopes until reaching a wide lookout; here, near a small bar with a terrace, there is free parking; be careful, because even in September it can be difficult to find a free place, due to the many tourists passing through.
The place allows us to admire an exciting panorama… The slopes covered by thick vegetation descend to a coast dotted with small coves; we can see many islands, including the wonderful shape of Tavolara to the south.
The beach of Capriccioli
After enjoying the view over the entire coast, it’s time to reach the sea!
We know that there are many known beaches that would deserve a visit; among these we choose the beach of Capriccioli, which is located near the homonymous tourist resort, in the municipality of Arzachena.
Capriccioli (whose name means “goats” in Gallurese dialect) is located on a small peninsula, surrounded by many coves; we leave the car in the large parking lot (the rates are quite high) and we reach the nearby beach.
Despite the month (September), we have some difficult to find some free space for towel and parasol; but the landscape and the sea are fantastic!
Capriccioli beach is composed of two coves surrounded by vegetation and separated by a small rocky stretch; this is a very suggestive corner for taking pictures…
Although we are practically in the heart of the seaside resort, the buildings rise amidst lush greenery and the eye can see so much nature.
The sea today is quite calm and the sandy bottoms allow us to swim without difficulty; in the clear waters there are many fishes to observe, especially near the rocks at the edge of the cove…
In case of more agitated waters it is however possible to move to one of the other coves around the Capriccioli peninsula.
