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A desert of ochre dunes between turquoise water and the greenery of the Mediterranean scrub.
Piscinas is the jewel of the Costa Verde, in southwestern Sardinia, still unknown to many.
A wonderful beach that enchants with its imposing fine sand dunes, shaped by the Mistral, which stretch for several kilometers from the inland to dive into the blue and transparent sea.
The dunes of Piscinas, which can reach a height of 100 meters over an area of 5 square kilometers, constitute a true desert, nicknamed "the Italian Sahara," declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Dunes of Piscinas
According to National Geographic, Piscinas is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, yet oddly it remains unknown to mass tourism.
Probably because Piscinas is difficult to reach and offers very few services and accommodations nearby.
But it is precisely this wild aspect and its remoteness from the glamorous beaches of the northern coast that are some of its most alluring features.
Piscinas beach extends for 7 km and is largely free, but you will find areas where it is possible to rent loungers and umbrellas, along with two scenic kiosks-restaurants.
An 800-meter stretch is dedicated to naturists, making Piscinas one of the largest naturist beaches in Europe.
The water is deep and drops quickly from two to ten meters, so the beach is not suitable for children.
The constant wind makes it ideal for surfing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing. Diving enthusiasts can explore the site of an English shipwreck that has been there for three centuries, just 200 meters from the shore. Finally, reaching Piscinas will already be an experience.
The road leading to the beach falls within the territory of the Sardinian geo-mining park, so you will see the remains of abandoned mining settlements like carts and pieces of disused railway.
How to Reach the Dunes of Piscinas
The nearest airport is Cagliari. Piscinas is 90 km away, and it is necessary to rent a car as the area is not served by public transport.
Even if traveling by ferry, Cagliari is the best city to reach Piscinas. Once you arrive in Sardinia, you can reach Piscinas by car in two ways.
The easiest and shortest route goes through Arbus, drive towards Fluminimaggiore and then turn for Ingurtosu-Piscinas.
After Ingurtosu, a ghost town and part of the Sardinian geo-mining park, which for over a century was the management center of the nearby mines, the paved road ends.
You will then need to proceed for about 10 km on a dirt road that is easily traversable with any car.
You will cross the Valley of the Souls among the remains of mining settlements: the director's residence and the management building, church and hospital, ruins of housing and construction sites with wells, plants, and laundries.
The road descends steeply between waste materials, rusty carts, and abandoned train cars used to transport minerals to the beach landing.
The alternative route consists of following the coastal road of the Costa Verde and the dirt road that takes you past Portu Maga beach.
Before reaching the dunes, however, you must cross two streams that in the summer are dry and thus easily passable with any car. It is a scenic and evocative route, but more demanding.