Tour of Stintino and the Azinara Archipelago.
The island of Azinara off the north-west coast of Sardinia is one of the most picturesque in the Mediterranean Sea. Since 1997, a national park has been established on the island.
The ancient Romans called the island Aeneas and Hercules, and the name “Azinara” is also associated with the word “azinello” (“donkey”). The eastern part of the island is generous with beaches and cosy coves such as Cala Scombro and Sant’Andrea with pink granite cliffs. The western half is more characterised by high ridges, steeply sloping down to the sea, such as Cape Punta dello Scorno with its lighthouse. To this list of island landscapes should be added the oak grove of Vallombrosa, which adds variety to the usual picture of the local flora.
The bay of Cala Reale is located in the northern part of the island of Azinara. There is a small pier where boats from the Sardinian ports of Porto Torres and Stintino used to come, as well as several buildings from the time when the island was first an infirmary and then a high-security colony.
The administration of the Azinara National Park is located in the so-called Palazzo Reale. From here you can take a guided walk along the “Trail of Memory” or the “Trail of the White Donkey”, where you can meet this rare animal.
In the vicinity of the Lazzaretto pier, at a depth of about 8 metres, the hulk of a Roman cargo ship from the late 4th century BC was discovered in 1995. The ship was carrying tinned fish from Spain to Rome.
The Cala d’Arena is the northernmost and most beautiful beach on the island of Azinara. In winter, a small creek divides it in two, and a 16th-century coastal tower can be seen just beyond. Until a few decades ago, loggerhead sea turtles came here to lay their eggs and some monk seals swam in. The beach is covered in white sand and surrounded by Mediterranean shrubbery, and the water is incredibly clear.
The natural beauty of Cala d’Arenas, its azure waters and dramatic rocky shores are protected by nature conservation agencies, making it a fully protected area. Just north of here is the lighthouse at Cape Punta Scorno, the northernmost point of the island of Azinara.
The Italian town of Stintino owes its name to the narrow bay of the sea on which it sits. Translated from Sardinian, it means “guts.” Stintino is located on the north-west coast of Sardinia. This town was founded by force – fishermen from the neighbouring island of Azzinara were leaving their homes and ceding their territory for a penal colony. Stintino is known primarily for its fishing industry and white sandy beaches, which make it one of the most popular resorts on the island.
There are two ways to visit the island of Azzinara: a mini-cruise – visiting the beaches by sea or by taking a steam train around the island and swimming on the beach of La Pelosa).
A visit to the island of Azzinara is possible in two ways.
