NATURE
In this part of the island, everything is a few steps away from the village: thus, exploring the territory becomes both a wonderful and simple experience at the same time.
You can visit one of the beautiful beaches with white soft sand, such as Sottotorre (“under tower”), with shallow and clear water all the way out to the sea, or La Salina, a long and stretched beach of dunes not far from the impressive pond where it’s possible to spot the elegant pink flamingos. Yet, the most appreciated beach is without a doubt Spiaggia Grande (Great beach): with its colours, you must pay a visit here at sunset! A few steps from here you’ll find Nido dei Passeri, a breathtaking sea stack swarming with brave divers.
It is impossible not to be mesmerised by the Mangiabarche lighthouse, so evocative that it was included in the top 10 list of lighthouses in the world; an even more alluring way of discovering this place is to reach it by boat, being carried by the powerful waves around it.
Wishing for a bucolic holiday? Nothing better than to cycle, walk or go for a horse ride to discover the several nuraghes scattered among the fields, through Carignano vineyards and bushes of myrtle, rosemary and Italian strawflower.
The territory
Calasetta is located in the top northwestern corner of the island of Sant’Antioco, composed by low hills and cliffs overlooking the sea in the west side and a shallow gulf on the east side. It’s not by chance if two out of the three theories on the place name are relative to its geographical peculiarities: “Calasetta” might be coming from Calasèda “little cove”, or Cal’e Sedda “bay of the saddle” – the third hypothesis is that it comes from Cà de Seda “bay of silk”, a reference to byssus, the sea silk obtained from pinna nobilis. The urban setting is characterised by typical chalk white and blue houses (from which it gets the name “la bianca”, the white one), on roads perfectly aligned as designed by the Piedmontese engineer Pietro Belly in his wish to recreate a little Turin.
The countryside leading inland hosts prosperous sweep of mostly ungrafted vines on sandy and salty lands.
Active tourism
For outdoors lovers, surrounded by the scents and colours of the Mediterranean maquis, horse rides, walks, quad or bike tours are perfect, alone or in group: the structure of the territory in Calasetta is such that any of these experiences will be spectacular. Urban trekking is especially interesting, with the discovery of monuments but also of the peculiar views offered by every corner of the village. The sea lovers will be spoiled for choice: there’s snorkeling on the coast and fishing, deep-sea or not, other than sailing, surf and windsurf, thanks to the ever-present wind.
The beaches
Calasetta “only” has three beaches, but very evocative ones and well known in all of south Sardinia.
Sottotorre
This is a clear sand cove directly under the tower of House Savoy, next to the village: this, along with the fact that it has every service possible, makes it very convenient if you want to go to the beach without taking the car.
Spiaggia La Salina
Tall dunes separate it from the salt marshes (where you can find pink flamingos) and help protect it from the northwest wind. This is why is the favourite destination of families and, because of its crystal clear waters, of snorkeling lovers.
Spiaggia grande
As its name (“great beach”) suggests, it’s the largest beach in Calasetta, part of which equipped (bar and rental of beach umbrellas, sunbeds, etc.) and part free, to guarantee a perfect relaxation. The fine white sand meets the shallow waters turquoise sea.
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