Best Guide To Calasetta, Sardinia: 7 Beaches + Attractions

Calasetta – or Cala di Seta, as we once called it – is one of the most charming small towns in Sardinia. Located in Sant’Antioco island, a small island off the southwestern coast of Sardinia, you can visit it on a day trip from Cagliari (it’s about 1.5 hours to get there by car).

However, if you are exploring the south of the island you should make it a point to visit Calasetta and the nearby Sant’Antioco for at least a couple of days.

This small town features bright white buildings; colorful balconies decorated with flowers; cobbled alleys with the odd sleepy cat: it is simply picture perfect. Add a handful of gorgeous beaches; a fantastic Museum of Contemporary Art; a scenic lighthouse and a fantastic winery, and you will want to visit.

I have just returned from yet another trip to Calasetta Sardinia – this time I visited with my sister, and it was just a quick visit before we boarded the Calasetta-Carloforte ferry. It was an incredibly windy day too. This part of Sant’Antioco Island is very exposed to the mistral winds that blow from northwest. But this made it all the more scenic, and we truly enjoyed it.

Curious to find out more about it? Read on as I am about to share everything you should know about the lovely Calasetta Italy.

The History Of Calasetta Sardinia

You will find Calasetta on Sant’Antioco island in the Sulcis Archipelago, in Southwestern Sardinia. This is a small coastal town that was founded in 1769 when 38 families of coral fishermen from the Tunisian island of Tabarka (who had originally settled there from Genoa) moved there.

In this, it shares a story similar to that of nearby Carloforte, the only town in the nearby San Pietro Island. Later on, tuna fishermen arrived, as well as settlers from Piedmont who brought grapes with them. 

Today, the language spoken in Calasetta is Tabarkian – an interesting Ligurian/Genoese dialect, completely different from Sardinian, the minority language spoken on the main island and of which there are many different dialets.

Calasetta town remains one of the prettiest small towns in south Sardinia, unique in it being completely white with touches of colors in the flower pots that decorate the balconies, and in the window shutters.

The Best Beaches In Calasetta

There are three sandy beaches in Calasetta, whereas the rest are small rocky coves, jagged cliff formations and scenic fjords. Each Calasetta beach is worth exploring, and it’s a pleasant place to spend some relaxing time with family and friends.

Sottotorre

You can easily get to this Calasetta beach from the village. It has incredibly fine white sand and the clearest shallow waters you could hope for. For this reason, it is a perfect place for families with small children who can safely play. It’s also a fully accessible beach.

At the beach you will find a beach club to rent umbrellas and other beach equipment and a kiosk to get food and drinks. There is parking nearby.

Spiaggia Grande

Measuring roughly 1.6 km (about one mile) in length, this is one of the largest beaches in Calasetta. It faces San Pietro Island, so you will have quite a view when you hand out there.

Spiaggia Grande is highly exposed to the winds, so a great place for windsurfing or kitesurfing. On the other hand, if you aren’t a great swimmer or a fan of the wind, it’s best you avoid this beach on windy days. If it’s not windy, it’s a great spot to swim and snorkel.

Spiaggia Grande beach is located about 4 km (2.5 miles) from Calasetta town. There is a parking spot on site, and you will find a kiosk and umbrellas and chairs for rent at the beach club on site.

Cussorgia

This Calasetta beach is located about 4 km (2.5 miles) east of Calasetta. It has incredibly fine, white sand and shallow transparent waters. What’s great about it is that it never really gets too crowded. This makes it a nice spot if you want to stay away from the chaos of the other beaches (but don’t expect to have it all to yourself!).

Cala Lunga

This beach is on a lovely fjord and as such it is incredibly sheltered from the wind. It is a great place to spend the day when all other beaches in Calasetta are swept by it. It features beautiful rock formations and shallow waters which make it a nice place for children to play safely.

The beach is about 20 minutes drive from Calasetta town. There is parking on site, but nothing else in terms of services. Also, cell phone reception is not good here: you will need to bring other forms of entertainment (if swimming and simply relaxing aren’t enough for you).

Le Saline

Le Saline is a beautiful Calasetta beach which has fine pale grey sand. It features sand dunes on which you will be able to spot beautiful marine lilies and other Mediterranean vegetation. However, keep in mind that climbing dunes is prohibited everywhere in Sardinia (as well as taking sand and shells).

The transparent water at Le Saline beach is rather shallow, so even non-experienced swimmers and children can enjoy it.

There is a large parking lot. You will find sun-beds and umbrellas for rent at the local beach club, and a kiosk for drinks and light meals. One thing to keep in mind about Le Saline Beach is that it can get very crowded in the peak months.

Cala Tuffi

Not far from Cala Lunga, Cala Tuffi is a beautiful natural pool – not exactly a beach.

To get to Cala Tuffi, you will have to drive on Strada Comunale per Cala Sapone towards Mercury Boutique Hotel. Once you park the car, it’s a nice walk downhill. Alternatively you can follow the trail that starts near Cala Lunga and will take you there in about 20 minutes. You can also get there by boat.

Cala Sapone

Located about 20 minutes drive from Calasetta town, Cala Sapone has thick grain sand mixed with small pebbles and corals, which make it very different from other beaches in Calasetta. From there, you can walk or swim to Cala della Signora – another scenic cove.

There aren’t many parking spots in Cala Sapone, so make sure to go very early in the morning or around lunch time, when families leave for lunch, to get a spot. You will find a kiosk, as well as umbrellas and sun-beds for rent at the local beach club.

What To See And Do In Calasetta Town

If you get tired of going to the beach, or if you visit off-season, Calasetta town has a lot more to offer. Here is a selection of the things you shouldn’t miss.

Go wine tasting at Cantina di Calasetta 

Cantina di Calasetta (Calasetta Winery) first opened in 1932 and is one of the oldest wineries in Sardinia.

Perched atop the island, this winery produces some fabulous wines. Covering around 200 hectares, the main production is of Carignano grapes (and Carignano wine) but you will also find Vermentino (one of Sardinia’s signature wines) and Moscato.

The winery has a wine shop and a tasting room, and you can go on guided tours (which obviously include tasting). Make sure to call ahead to book your visit.

My post The Best Wineries In Sardinia will help you pick other wineries to visit in other parts of Sardinia.

Visit the Calasetta Museum of Contemporary Art

Calasetta Museum of Contemporary Art (MACC) is one of the best museums in Sardinia. It is located in a former slaughterhouse, over two floors. The exhibit includes pieces that date from the second half of the 20th century, with a strong focus on abstract and constructivist art and art from the 1960s and 1970s.

There is a permanent exhibit on Ermanno Leinardi, a local artist; as well as temporary ones. Just make sure to check on the official website for the opening times as they may vary.

Admire the view of the Mangiabarche Lighthouse

The area where the Mangiabarche lighthouse is located is simply splendid. Visit in the summer and you will find a tiny beach with clear water perfect for snorkeling and diving. Go on a windy day – like last time I visited – and the scenery will be completely different, with the strong waves breaking on the shore on the rocks where the lighthouse is perched. 

The name, Mangiabarche (Boat Eater, in English) is clearly evocative of what has happened here – and continues happening. Despite the presence of the lighthouse, boats regularly crash there. Looking at the strong currents and the winds, it’s easy to see why!

It’s is a memorable photo location, especially at sunset. You’ll find the viewpoint about 15 minutes drive from Calasetta – it takes about 1.5 hours to get there on foot. I don’t recommend walking there in the summer as there is no shade at all along the walk.

Go to Nido dei Passeri

About 5 km (3.1 miles) from Calasetta, along the main road, there are two massive rocks emerging from the water and commonly called “Nido dei Passeri” or Bird’s Nest in English. The name refers to the fact that birds typically create their nest on those rocks.

It’s one of the most scenic spot on the island and you definitely should not miss it, especially if you are into bird watching.

Admire the Torre Sabauda

The Torre Sabauda of Calasetta was built between March 1756 and June 1757, during the Savoy kingdom and before Calasetta foundation in 1770.

Built with materials sourced locally – local stones and sand – and other materials taken from nearby places, the Torre Sabauda’s purpose was that of watching over San Pietro Channel, and of defending local tuna fisheries and the nearby Carloforte and – later on – Calasetta itself from pirates.

The tower has a cone shape, similar to that of many other towers found in Sardinia. It is about 12 meters (39.3 feet) tall, and the main entrance was 5 meters (16.4 feet) from the ground. People would access it by way of a drawbridge. Inside, there is a staircase built within the wall that goes all the way to the terrace.

At the ground level you will find a small but interesting Museum of Archeology. The terrace hosts ceremonies and temporary exhibits. 

Visit the Domu de Janas di Tupei

Domus de Janas – literally fairies or witches houses – are found throughout Sardinia, where there are around 2000. According to a local legend tiny creatures would live in these small dwellings. In reality, they were burial grounds where tombs were dug out of rocks. 

Not far from Calasetta you will find several archeological sites that testify to the ancient past of Sant’Antioco island. The Domu de Janas di Tupei is one of them, along with a few nuraghe scattered in the countryside. Pair a visit with a trip to the Archeological Museum Ferruccio Barreca (MAB) in Sant’Antioco town for a more complete experience.

My post A Guide To Domus De Janas In Sardinia will help you find more similar places to visit in other parts of the island

Visit the nearby Sant’Antioco

About 20 minutes drive from Calasetta, Sant’Antioco is the main town on Sant’Antioco Island. Only 12000 people live there, yet it is quite interesting to visit, and incredibly photogenic. 

Once a Phoenician-Punic colony, the town became a Roman city later on in history. It is a maze of alleys with colorful buildings, good restaurants along the waterfront, and a small but good museum of archeology. Other places of interest include the ethnographic museum and a fort.

Linger on for sunset, as the light descending on the fishing boats in the lagoon give it a magic aura. 

Join a sunset sailing tour

For the romantic ones, one of the best ways to experience Calasetta is on a sunset sailing tour along the coast. The tour isn’t cheap, but if you have the budget to splurge or are traveling with your family or group of friends it may not be as expensive as you may think.

This Calasetta Sunset Sailing Tour includes drinks and dinner and a professional captain that will take you to the best spots for incredible views.

Take a day trip to Carloforte

Carloforte is the main town (actually, the only town) of San Pietro Island. A direct ferry connects Calasetta to San Pietro, and the Calasetta-San Pietro ferry only takes 30 minutes in good weather conditions.

There are many daily departures so it is an easy day trip from Calasetta – though to be fair, I think Carloforte and San Pietro Island deserve more than just a day.

The small town is incredibly colorful – you can spend hours wandering the narrow alleys, photographing away. From Carloforte, you can reach a multitude of absolutely gorgeous beaches (my favorite ones are Guidi, La Bobba and La Caletta), viewpoints and places of historical interest. It’s also one of the best places for snorkeling and diving in Sardinia.

If you intend to explore the island rather than just the village, you can take advantage of the convenient rates for the car ferry.

If you have a chance, try to visit Carloforte in early June, for the Girotonno – its famous tuna festival. Otherwise, even in the peak tourist season, you’ll find a place that’s fully retained its local character.

I recommend this sailing boat tour from Calasetta that goes around Sant’Antioco Island and reaches Carloforte. You’ll get to snorkel, have lunch on board, and if you are lucky you can even spot dolphins.

My post A Complete Guide To Carloforte And Isola Di San Pietro, Sardinia highlights more places to visit and things to do in this unique island.

Practical Guide To Plan Your Trip To Calasetta Sardinia

How to get to Calasetta

Calasetta is 85 km (52.8 miles) from Cagliari, Sardinia’s capital, on Sant’Antioco Island, in the Sulcis Archipelago, which is connected to mainland Sardinia via an isthmus. You can get there by car or public transportation. 

By car

Follow SS130 all the way to Carbonia. From there you must follow SS126. The overall trip will take you around 1.5 hours

By public transport

This is a long trip, but doable: take the train from Cagliari main train station to Carbonia. Once there, take Bus 802 to Calasetta. The overall journey will take about 3 hours.

Guided tours of Calasetta

If you are short on time, you may want to opt for a guided tour that goes through Calasetta and also takes you to Sant’Antioco and Carloforte. You may want to check out this guided tour of San Pietro Island: it’s a full day tour that includes transportation from Cagliari, the ferry from Calasetta to Carloforte, and a local guide.

If you are already in Calasetta, there’s this tour that takes you to the best places to visit in town and it’s immediate surroundings.

Where to stay in Calasetta

Calasetta is a small town, so sleeping options are limited. You could opt to stay in nearby Sant’Antioco for wider choice. Having said that, here is a selection of good places to stay.

Hotel Cala di Seta – located in the heart of Calasetta, this hotel offers small but comfortable and spotless rooms. It’s pet friendly, and breakfast is included in the price of the room.

MuMA Hostel – on the waterfront of Sant’Antioco, it has budget friendly, comfortable spacious rooms. The hostel has its own art gallery, pets are allowed and breakfast is included in the price.

Where to eat and drink in Calasetta

When in town, make sure to try gallettine, a local crispy bread perfect in salads, soups or as a simple snack. 

The following are the best restaurants and bars in Calasetta:

OASI BLU – A bit outside of town, this beautiful restaurant has a strong focus on traditional local fare, but you will also find vegan and vegetarian options.

LA PERLA – One of the nicest restaurants on the waterfront where your taste buds will pop at the delicious seafood and fish. Not your thing? There are options for meat lovers and even vegetarians.

DA PASQUALINO – A good pizzeria trattoria with plain but tasty dishes. Prices are fair and service quick. 

Further Readings

Make sure to check out these posts to better plan your trip to Sardinia:

• Where Is Sardinia?
• How To Get To Sardinia: Routes From Italy And Europe
• What You Should Know Before Traveling To Sardinia
• 10 Absolutely Unmissable Things To Do In Sardinia
• The Best Islands Of Sardinia

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