Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A TRIP
THE BEACHES OF THE SINIS PENINSULA
The Sinis Peninsula's beaches are among the best on the island. One of the most famous is
Is Aruttas
, whose prized white quartz sand was for years carted off to be used in aquariums and on beaches on
the Costa Smeralda. However, it's now illegal to take any. The beach is signposted and is 5km west
off the main road north from San Salvatore.
Within walking distance of the beach,
Camping Is Aruttas
( 0783 192 54 61;
www.campingisaruttas.it
;
Loc Marina; camping 2 people, car & tent €27-36;
May-Sep;
) has
modest camping facilities set amid olive trees and Mediterranean shrubbery.
At the north of the peninsula, the popular surfing beach of
Putzu Idu
is backed by a motley set of
holiday homes, beach bars and surfing outlets. One such, the
Capo Mannu Kite School
( 347 007
70 35;
www.capomannukiteschool.it
) , runs kitesurfing lessons for all levels. For underwater thrills,
9511 Diving
( 335 605 94 12;
www.9511.it
) runs dives and snorkelling trips, as well as excursions
to the eloquently named
Isola di Mal di Ventre
(Stomach-ache Island), 10km off the coast. As a
rough guide, reckon on €35 to €40+ for a standard dive and about €50 for an excursion over to Isola di
Male di Ventre.
Two weekday buses run to Putzu Idu from Oristano (€2.50, 55 minutes). In July and August, there
are four additional services.
Tharros & Around
The blue choppy waters of the Golfo di Oristano form the ideal backdrop to the ruins of
ancient
Tharros
(adult/reduced €7/4; 9am-8pm summer, to 5pm winter)
. Founded by the Phoen-
icians in the 8th century BC, Tharros thrived as a Carthaginian naval base and was later
taken over by the Romans. Much of what you see today dates from the 2nd and 3rd cen-
turies AD, when the basalt streets were laid and the aqueduct, baths and other major
monuments were built.
On the side of the road just before Tharros, you'll see the 6th-century
Chiesa di San Gio-
vanni di Sinis
( 9am-7pm summer, to 5pm winter)
, one of oldest churches in Sardinia.
Some 4km north, the weird village of
San Salvatore
is worth a quick look. Used as a
spaghetti-western film set during the 1960s, it is centred on a dusty town square surroun-
ded by rows of tiny terraced houses, known as
cumbessias
. In the piazza, the 16th-cen-
tury
Chiesa di San Salvatore
( 9.30am-1pm year-round, 3.30-6pm Mon-Sat summer)
is built over a
pagan sanctuary dating from the
nuraghic
period.
A fantastic place to eat nearby is
Peschiera Pontis
( 0783 39 17 74; Strada Provinciale 6;
menus €25-30)
a restaurant fronting the Pontis fishing cooperative, on the road between
