Places in Porto San Paolo, Sardinia

Porto San Paolo is a holiday resort in the Province of Olbia-Tempio located about 7 km south of Olbia. Driving south of Olbia, you are struck by the view of Tavolara, a limestone island with impressive steep cliffs which is now, together with the surrounding area, part of Tavolara and Capo Coda Cavallo Marine Park.

Among its beautiful pink granite rocks you can see junipers, strawberry trees, myrtle and olive trees, all safe burrows of wild boars, hares, hawks, owls and barn owls. Reachable only by boat to enjoy its cove and beach, the island is inhabited by a few proud people including King Tonino, who runs the only restaurant on the island, located right on the beach.

The island of Tavolara is reachable by a short boat trip departing from the small fishermen village of Porto San Paolo. The other two minor islands of Molara and Molarotto are just nearby. Further south, Capo Coda Cavallo, San Teodoro and Porto Ottiolu boast solitary coves and imposing promontories looking out on the sea as well as kilometres of wide sandy beaches like Cala d'Ambra, Brandinchi Beach or La Cinta.

About 5 kilometres long and set between the sea and the lagoon, it is edged by thick forest of rosemary and junipers, permanent home to pink flamingos, cormorants, sea-gulls and ducks. And then, further down the white strips of Budoni and Agrustos as if in an endless duplication of beauty.

Days can be spent on those beaches with the deep green bush in your background, the soft sand underneath your feet and the cool breeze restlessly blowing, no other sound to be heard except that of the waives.

Lagoons, bush and thick pinewoods alternate along the coast setting the boundaries between the land and the sea, between nature and men, in awe in front of such unspoken beauty.