Sardinia’s bustling capital city, with plenty of character, shops, boutiques, bars, entertainment, is almost centrally situated in the long almost unspoilt southern coastline, and is the entry point by air, at Cagliari-Elmas airport, to this region of the island. Cagliari (originally ‘Karalis’), also a large port, owes its origin to Phoenician sailors, who from the beginning of the first millennium BC founded cities along this coastal region, including Bithia, and nearby Nora. Although the Romans administered the area for several centuries, the Aragonese left a lasting cultural imprint. They and later the Spanish and Savoian kings made Cagliari Sardinia’s island capital. The post-war development or reconstruction of Cagliari after it suffered heavier bombing than any other Italian city has been impressive. The city is flanked by two large lagoons often occupied by pink flamingos and other unusual birds. The popular beach resort of Poetto, the pride of Cagliari, is the liveliest and best equipped on the island as well as being one of the longest. It is located between Cagliari and the large city on its outskirts, Quartu Sant’Elena.

The roller-coaster coastal road winds its way from Cagliari to Villasimius on the south-eastern tip of Sardinia, with its ‘Land’s End’ point being Capo Carbonara, where you gasp at the views. Villasimius is a small and popular sea side town able to indulge its visitors in sun, sea air, sandy beaches, beautiful paradisiacal bays, bathing, snorkelling, sailing, windsurfing, and invigorating cliff walks. This area provides some 30 km of stunning coast, with the beaches of Simius, Campulongu, Cala Caterina, Porto Sa Ruxi, and Porto Giunco, to name just a few. The small marina situated at the foot of the old fortress (‘Fortezza Vecchia’) is right in the heart of the protected marine area of Capo Carbonara - a vast zone in the shape of the letter ‘V’ that extends from Capo Boi in the west to the islet of Cavoli in the south, and the islet of Serpentara in the east. This marine park was set-up in 1998 to protect this extraordinary stretch of sea, with its incredible underwater world, in terms of archaeology, geology, botany and marine biology. Excursions by boat leave from the marina for Capo Boi and the nearby islets. In terms of night life the lively resort of Villasimius has a lot to offer in the main season: from bars, restaurants, and gelaterias to discos. It is quieter at the beginning and end of the season and is well worth a visit then, not only to admire the beautiful beaches but to enjoy the unspoilt surrounding countryside and the archaeology remains which are preserved in the Archaeological Museum of Villasimius. Villasimius has much to offer for families and young people alike.

The south-eastern coastal cliff-edge highway from Cagliari to the small beach resort of Solanus, is one of the most panoramic and undulating stretches of road on the whole island, with photogenic views of the beautiful coastline encompassing sandy and rocky beaches. The Spiaggia di Solanus is a large sandy beach almost a kilometre long between Punta Portu Perdosa and Capo Boi, a promontory with an ancient tower of the same name. The beach is ideal for children because of its clear shallow waters and large expanse of golden sand. Sheep graze in a field behind the beach where there is a spacious newly built parking area. There is a restaurant and bar on the beachfront as well as plenty of other choices nearby - both in Solanus and the surrounding area. Continuing further along the scenic seaside route soon takes you to Villasimius and the hills and beaches of Torre delle Stelle are a short drive in the other direction.

Pula is a lively small town that is obviously cared for and loved by its residents. The long high street is not without a good assortment of cafes, bars and restaurants, but venture further through the winding maze of streets and you will happen upon a hidden gem full of atmosphere, charm and vitality. The streets are cobbled and nicely paved and many of the buildings are coloured in bright pastel shades. Cafes with outdoor seating line many of the curving streets - which can have the effect of making the town seem larger than it really is. There are two main squares, one of which has a church which has unusual bell chimes and is brightly illuminated at night. As you so often see in Italian squares, the older men of the town gather to sit out chatting in the afternoon. Pula, with all its essential amenities, is a great place to have on your doorstep: there is a good choice of cafes, bars and restaurants as well as a couple of supermarkets, wine and cheese shops and several chic boutiques. All this and there are plenty of nearby beaches too, in both Nora and Santa Margherita di Pula, a beautiful area backed by pine woods featuring the little port of Calaverde.

Next to Pula on a promontory of land, Nora is famous for its impressive Punic-Roman archaeological site, with well preserved mosaics, theatre and Roman baths. It is thought to be founded by either the Carthaginians or Phoenicians between the 9th and 7th centuries B.C. and was later developed by the Romans, when it became the capital of the Roman province of Sardinia. While exploring the ruins of this ancient city you can enjoy its beautiful location with sweeping views back across the bays, a mountain backdrop and the old Spanish tower, Torre del Coltelazzo, dominating the headland of Capo di Pula. We recommend an organised snorkelling excursion in order to see the traces of the ancient Roman civilisation at the bottom of the bay. Before you get to the site, on one side are two lovely sandy beaches, between which stands the 11th century church of Sant’Efisio, and on the other side is a wonderful lagoon protected from the sea by a small peninsula that is rich in fossils and covered with macchia. Paddle through the waters by canoe to discover its natural habitat of marine and bird life - the lagoon is the most important breeding ground of the Corsican gull. Also worth a visit is the aquarium and rescue-centre where you can learn about whales, dolphins and sea turtles.

The small hamlet of Chia set amongst orchards is a popular destination because of its sheer number of amazingly beautiful beaches, renowned for their high dunes, their transparent turquoise waters and fine soft sands. These gently shelving beaches, with shallow waters are great for families with children and there are enough of them in the area to try out a different one every day of your holiday. Some of the beaches have water sports facilities and other amenities like bars and others are free beaches surrounded by beautiful nature. Many of the beaches have small lagoons behind the dunes, which are rich in bird life. The Baia di Chia beach is considered one of Sardinia’s best and has the added attraction that it extends to the Phoenician archaeological remains of Bithia at the foot of the ancient watchtower. Cala Cipolla, which you can only get to on foot, is one of our favourite beaches and is perfectly protected against the wind. Continuing from here leads to the steep cliff of Capo Spartivento that boasts a lighthouse of the same name and a small fort with panoramic views of the bay. This is an excellent area for snorkelling as there is a rich variety of marine life including large sea bass. Further round is the promontory of Capo Malfatano and the unusually shaped Tuarredda beach with ultra-white sands and clear shallow waters between the shore and Tuarredda Island, another great snorkelling spot. Chia has a few restaurants and a couple minimarkets and is around 15 km from the charming town of Pula.

Porto Pino is a small and sweet seaside resort renowned for its pine woods and fabulous long sandy beaches. The main Porto Pino beach, backed by incredible sand dunes, is often noted as one of the best beaches on the island. However, the far east of the beach in Porto Pino where the highest dunes are along to the enchanting beach at Porto Zafferano is unfortunately a restricted zone belonging to the military based in Teulada. The charming centre of Porto Pino is host to a handful of beach bars and restaurants as well a picturesque bridge over the narrow canal, which is filled with colourful little boats. The promontory of Punta Menga is great for walks amongst bushes, junipers and Aleppo pines that hide the remains of a small World War II fort as well as the entrance to the Grotta dei Baci (Cave of Kisses). The other side of Punta Menga are several sheltered sandy bays. This is a beautiful holiday destination especially suited to families with children for its soft sandy beaches with shallow clear waters but also to those who wish to explore the stunning natural surroundings or relax under the prevalent pines.