Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP OF CHAPTER
Costa Rei
From Villasimius, the SP17 skirts the coast north to the Costa Rei. About 25km out of Vil-
lasimius you hit
Cala Sinzias
, a pretty sandy strand with two campgrounds. Continue for a
further 6km and you come to the Costa Rei resort, a holiday village full of villas, shops,
bars, clubs and a few indifferent eateries.
Spiaggia Costa Rei
is a dazzling-white beach
lapped by remarkably clear blue-green water.
By the resort's southern entrance and open from May to October, pine-shaded
Camping
Capo Ferrato
( 070 99 10 12;
www.campingcapoferrato.it
;
Via Cilea 98 ; camping 2 people, car & tent
€16-37.50; Apr-Oct)
has direct access to the beach.
North of the resort,
Spiaggia Piscina Rei
continues the theme of blinding-white sand and
turquoise water. A couple more beaches fill the remaining length of coast up to
Capo Fer-
rato
, beyond which drivable dirt trails lead north.
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Nora & Around
About 30km southwest of Cagliari, the archaeological zone of
Nora
(adult/reduced €5.50/4;
9am-8pm summer, to 5.30pm winter)
is what's left of a once-powerful ancient city. Founded by
Phoenicians in the 11th century BC, it passed into Carthaginian hands before being taken
over by the Romans and becoming one of the most important cities on the island. Upon
entry, you pass a single melancholy
column
from a former temple and then a small but
beautifully preserved Roman
theatre
. To the west are the substantial remains of the
Terme
al Mare
(Baths by the Sea). Four columns stand at the heart of what was a patrician villa;
the surrounding rooms retain their mosaic floor decoration.
In nearby
Pula
, the one-room
Museo Archeologico
(Corso Vittorio Emanuele 67; adult/reduced
€2.50/2, incl Nora €7.50/4.50; 9am-8pm Tue-Sun summer, to 5.30pm winter)
displays finds from
Nora, including ceramics found in Punic and Roman tombs, some gold and bone jew-
ellery, and Roman glassware. At the time of writing, the museum was closed for restora-
tion.
Accommodation tends to be expensive in these parts, but you can still find some afford-
able, locally run places. Close to the river in the heart of town, the
Marin Hotel
(
070 920
