The Restaurant
The most beautiful beaches
Itineraries according to the wind …and the weather!
The secret to enjoying the sea in Sulcis is to follow the wind. The shape of Sant’Antioco island allows you to always find a calm side: when the Mistral whips up the western coast, the eastern one becomes a mirror, and vice versa.
Following these variations is the simplest way to always choose the right side of the island and experience the sea naturally. Here are two itineraries + one, so you always know what to do.
Reading the wind
With the Mistral
Eastern side, Sant'Antioco
When the wind blows from the North-West, the Calasetta side is exposed and wild.
It’s time to move to the eastern side of the island, naturally protected.
From the hotel, cross Calasetta and take the SP126 towards Sant’Antioco. Just before entering the town, follow the signs for Maladroxia: the coastal road will guide you through all the stops.
📍Su Portixeddu Accuau: this is the first cove you’ll encounter along the coast. Hidden and wild, it’s perfect for a quick swim away from the crowds before continuing south.
📍Maladroxia: continuing along the coastal road for a couple of kilometers, you’ll reach this wide, sheltered bay. It’s the ideal stop for relaxation, suitable for the whole family: shallow seabed, beach equipped for people with reduced mobility, and plenty of kiosks for a delicious break.
📍Co’e Quaddus: continuing south for just a few more minutes, the road ends at this beach, one of the most scenic. Light sand, shallow waters, and volcanic rocks, perfect for a sunset aperitif with the sound of waves in the background. A curiosity: “Co’e Quaddus” in Sardinian means Horse’s Tail.
Reading the wind
With southern winds
Calasetta and west coast
If the Sirocco or Libeccio blows, the Calasetta coast becomes a paradise of flat waters. On these days, the best sea is the one “at home”. You can move directly on foot from the hotel or with very short car trips to the south-western coast.
📍Mangiabarche Cliffs: starting from the hotel, you can reach one of the most iconic points on the coast on foot in just a few minutes. On clear days, the sea is pristine: just a mask and rubber shoes are enough to dive effortlessly among the rocks below the lighthouse.
📍Spiaggia Grande: continuing on foot or just two minutes by car, you’ll reach the island’s largest beach. Here you can choose to spread your towel freely or rent a sunbed at the beach establishment, to spend the entire day, between focaccia and ice cream, until aperitif time at the Shardana kiosk, facing the spectacular sunset in the strait between Calasetta and Carloforte.
📍Cala Lunga and Cala Sapone: If you wish to extend your route, you can continue by car south along the coast. These coves are particularly evocative at sunset, ideal for ending the day with a seaside dinner with your feet in the sand at the kiosks open for lunch and dinner.
Reading the wind
With strong wind and clouds
Calasetta and Sant'Antioco
When the wind changes or conditions aren’t ideal for the beach, it’s the perfect time to dedicate yourself to a slower discovery of the area. Start on foot from the hotel to explore the village of Calasetta, then take the car and drive along the SP126 for ten minutes, towards Sant’Antioco.
📍The heart of Calasetta: stroll among the typical white houses of Tabarkine origin. Recommended stops: Piazza Belly for an aperitif at the historic bars, the small, authentic harbor with its fishing boats, and the Savoyard Tower, an eighteenth-century fortification with panoramic views. If it’s Wednesday, the market, with its stalls overlooking Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo, brings life to the harbor area.
📍Culture and memory: if you want to add an interesting touch to your visit, don’t miss the MACC (Museum of Contemporary Art), an essential and well-curated space, and the RAIXE ethnographic museum, which tells the story of the Tabarkine people through images and documents.
📍Gastronomic stop: Stop for a sweet break at the historic Il Pinguino ice cream parlor or choose one of the many seafood restaurants between the harbor and via Roma, the main pedestrian street full of venues and small shops.
📍The soul of Sant’Antioco: once here, experience the fascinating contrast between past and present. On one side, the ancient Punic necropolises and the hypogeum village; on the other, the liveliness of the waterfront, where the walk among the harbor docks and fishing boats opens onto the flat calm of the lagoon. If you happen to be there on Tuesday, Piazzale Sandro Pertini comes alive with the stalls of the town market.
