The pretty pastel colours
of a Carloforte street

San Pietro was named after the apostle Peter, who was said to have landed on its shores during his journey to Rome. The island remained more or less uninhabited for centuries until 1738 when it was given by King Charles Emanuel III of Savoy to a colony of Genovese coral fisherman originally from the Ligurian town of Pegli, who had escaped from the Tunisian island of Tabarca. They founded the only town on the island, Carloforte, and later they built Calasetta on Sant’Antioco island too. The islanders proudly preserve their heritage and customs and speak an old-fashioned Ligurian dialect. Their cuisine is a mix of Ligurian, Arab and Sardinian tastes, with couscous a firm speciality. The economy revolves around the Carloforte port, tourism and fishing and the island is well known for its high quality of tuna. To celebrate their long tradition of tuna fishing, the islanders organise a special yearly festival called the Girotonno, similar to the famous Mattanza of Favignana. The wealth of marine life also makes San Pietro an excellent destination for scuba diving. Carloforte is reachable in little more than half an hour by ferry from Calasetta on Sant’Antioco or from Portovesme on the Sardinian mainland.

One of the island's sandy beaches

The gulf and grottoes of Mezzaluna

As a result of its open position in the Mediterranea sea this small island of 51 sq. km is mostly rugged with beautiful wind-whipped rock formations and beaches wedged in between. To best appreciate the striking beauty of the dramatic coastline we recommend a boat trip round the island - look out for the towering rock columns, Le Colonne, at the southern tip. San Pietro’s South East coast is lined with lovely sandy beaches as well as dunes and bird-rich lagoons, while the west coast is a continuous rocky lava cliff, rich in grottoes, where many species of birds nest, including kestrels, buzzards, Peregrine falcons and Corsican gulls.

Carloforte's picturesque port

On top of the cliffs in the North West sits the Capo Sandalo lighthouse and it is this area along with Cala Fico and Cala Vinagra that is renowned amongst birdwatchers for its thriving pocarlofortetion of Eleonora’s Falcons. The flora is as rich as the bird fauna and there are more than 500 varieties of plants and flowers. Small white houses are dotted around the rural parts of the island and the beautiful interior boasts exceptional natural scenery of Mediterranean macchia, fields and pine woods.

This is a picturesque island of rural tranquillity, perfect for nature lovers who can immerse themselves in the peace of the countryside. To complete the experience are delightful sandy beaches with transparent waters as well as excellent restaurants and bars in the smart, elegant and lively town of Carloforte.