Arzachena

The heart of the Costa Smeralda

Until the 17th century, Arzachena was a small group of houses surrounding the church of Santa Maria, but today it is the beating heart of the Costa Smeralda. Nearby is Porto Cervo, Sardinia’s most exclusive resort.

Around Arzachena you can admire wild scenery, including the Capo Ferro Lighthouse, the Cala Granu and Grande Pevero beaches, the Nibani islands, the bay of Romazzino and Poltu di li Cogghj beach. The 90-kilometre-long coastline is dotted with beautiful beaches. The Marina of Poltu Quatu is an extraordinary fjord-like inlet.

A short walk from the centre is the Monti Incappiddatu, a mushroom-shaped rock sculpted by the wind. Don’t miss the colourful stairs of Santa Lucia and the La Scatola del Tempo, which tells the history of the town and is among the smallest museums in Italy.

The surrounding countryside boasts numerous archaeological sites, including the Li Muri necropolis, the Albucciu nuraghe, the small temple of Malchittu, the village of La Prisgiona and the Tombs of the Giants.

To reach the villages of Cannigione and La Conia, you can take the Micalosu scenic road through broom and wind-shaped rocks, admiring the Gulf of Arzachena, the Maddalena archipelago and the Saloni pond protected area.