Best Guide To Sant’Antioco Sardinia: 10 Places To Visit

Sant’Antioco Island is located on the southwest of Sardinia and is the fourth biggest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily, Sardinia itself, and Elba Island. Part of the Sulcis Archipelago to which also San Pietro Island belongs, it’s famous because of its astounding beaches, but it has a lot more to offer than that!

It has been inhabited since very ancient times and it has always been a rich, prosperous land, especially thanks to the lead and silver mines in the area and to the abundance of fish which made its economy flourish.

Despite being an island, Sant’Antioco is quite easy to reach by car: it is, in fact, connected to the main island by an isthmus and an artificial bridge, and it is only little over one hour drive from Cagliari. Because it is fairly close, some people visit on day trips from Cagliari – but I honestly recommend staying a bit longer as there’s a lot to see and do here.

There are two main villages in Sant’Antioco Island: the homonymous Sant’Antioco, and Calasetta.

Sant’Antioco Sardinia is a place suitable for every kind of tourist. It has everything you may possibly desire for a wonderful holiday: from heavenly beaches to clubs, from a nice shopping street to numerous museums and archaeological sites.

I have just gotten back from yet another trip to Sant’Antioco Island, so I am ready to share all my knowledge with you. Continue reading for all the information you’ll need to plan your visit.

A Short History Of Sant’Antioco Sardinia

The numerous Nuraghes and Domus de Janas on Sant’Antioco Island witness that the place was already inhabited during prehistoric times, but Sant’Antioco really flourished under the Phoenicians.

The Phoenicians called the city Sulky. Founded in 770 BC, this was a prosperous harbor that thrived thanks to various businesses, like the mines in the Sulcis area and the rare byssus weaving.

Some historic papers and findings suggest Sant’Antioco was founded at about the same time Carthage was, supposedly making it the first Sardinian town to be ever founded and among Italy’s most ancient ones!

The city was eventually “inherited” by Carthage from their motherland at the end of the 6th century BC, and remained as a strong colony until the end of the Punic wars when it was invaded and annexed by Rome.

Under the Roman rule, the city (now called Sulci to reflect the softer sound of Latin compared to Phoenician) kept flourishing and was considered the richest city in Sardinia together with Caralis (Cagliari).

It was so rich that, when the civil war between Caesar and Pompey started and the village supported Pompey, it had virtually no issue with paying the huge fine Caesar imposed after winning the war.

Sant’Antioco kept its head up and continued being an important Roman colony until the fall of the Empire in 476 AD, when the Vandals took control of the Island.

Like many other coastal areas of Sardinia, Sant’Antioco was abandoned during the Middle Ages in order to escape the pirates’ invasions and robberies and started to be inhabited again only around the 18th century, under the Savoy, when a huge population of miners from the Iglesias area started to move to Sant’Antioco with their families.

Best Places To Visit In Sant’Antioco

Nuragic Ruins, Domus de Janas and Giants’ Tombs

There are about 30 nuraghes (and several other ancient ruins) in Sant’Antioco Island, but the most important ones are the Grutti ‘e Acqua Complex, the S’Ega Marteddu Nuraghe, and the Sa Cipudditta Nuraghe.

These three sites are all located on the coast and served as both watchtowers and settlements.

The largest among them is the Grutti ‘e Acqua which is a complete village with roads, temples, and commoners’ houses, in which several relics have been found (and from which many others have been stolen). The site is located very close to another prehistoric ruin: the Su Niu ‘e su Crobu Giants’ Tomb.

Another (supposedly) important Nuraghe was located close to where now is the Sant’Antioco city center, but it has long been demolished and its stones used to build the Su Pisu Savoy fort.

You will also be able to visit a prime example of domus de janas in Sardinia – called Is Pruinis; and Sa Mongia and Sa Para Menhirs.

Punic and Roman Ruins

The Punic remains of the ancient Sulky are all very close to the modern Sant’Antioco. What can still be seen and visited, however, is limited to the necropolis (which was used during Roman times as well and later turned into catacombs: more about it below) and the Tophet (children’s cemetery).

The majority of urns that were found there have been replaced with copies and safely stored in Sant’Antioco Archeological Museum to save them from the grave robbers’ greed. Not much is left of the Roman ruins as well because the modern city just evolved from the oldest one.

It is known there were several beautiful mosaics which have been disassembled to decorate other places, and given the importance of Sulci during the Roman eras, we can assume it was a big, developed city, probably resembling its sisters Nora and Tharros.

The only known “roman relic”, the fountain in Sant’Antioco’s center which was indeed built by Romans and is still called “the Roman fountain”, has been renewed so many times that there’s nothing left of its ancient material.

To take in all the sights that Sant’Antioco has to offer, I recommend joining a guided tour. For example, this e-bike tour visits the most important natural and archeological sites on the island.

Basilica di Sant’Antioco Martire Catacombs

The catacombs in Sant’Antioco are one of the most ancient Paleo-Christian remains in Sardinia, and were used by the Christians between the 2nd and 7th century. They were built over the Carthaginians tophet and necropolis from the 5th-3rd century BC.

They were created through digging and putting together the older Punic/Roman cemeteries and were meant for the worshippers to be buried as close as possible to their patron saint (Antioco), who was martyrized and buried here.

The church dedicated to the Saint was built above the catacombs, and it is possible to visit both. The church first appeared in official documents in 1089, though Sulci was a bishop seat from 484 and until the 13th century. The original church had a Byzantine cruciform layout; but today it has three naves with as many apses.

If you are interested in religious celebrations, you may want to visit Sant’Antioco just after Easter time – 15 days after that the vows to the saint are renewed during that’s known to be Sardinia’s oldest religious festival, taking place since 1615.

The Catacombs can be visited on guided tours. Opening hours vary (they are usually longer in the summer months) – make sure to enquire for guided tours on the day you wish to visit by sending an email through the official site.

Savoy “Su Pisu” Fort

This fort was built with old Nuraghe stones on a hill close to Sant’Antioco Town between 1813 and 1815. Back then, there were numerous and ferocious raids from the Tunisian-Ottoman pirates, and the small island needed to see their ships from as far as possible.

Unfortunately, despite the excellent strategical position, the fort fell in 1815 and more than a hundred persons were kidnapped and deported as slaves.

The fort is open daily during the peak season and there is a small admission fee. For information and guided tours you can send a whatsapp message to +393890505107.

Sant’Antioco Museums

There are two important museums in Sant’Antioco town, plus a few smaller exhibitions.

The most famous one is the Ferruccio Barreca Archeological Museum which exposes relics from the most ancient ages (from the Nuragic era to the Roman ones).

The museum is open daily. There is a small admission fee. For more information, visit the museum’s site here.

The other, a bit more unique, museum is the Byssus Museum. The Byssus is a particular type of fabric, weaved from the fibers of the Pinna Nobilis mollusk. This special cloth was firstly made by the Punic and, although its weaving tradition is almost nonexistent nowadays, it is still practiced in Sant’Antioco.

The museum will guide you through the history and making of this special piece of fabric, from the legends around it to the technical details about the weaving. Remember to book a tour in advance or you might have to give up the visit!

You may also want to check out the small but well curated Ethnographic Museum – called Su Magasinu de su Binu (which in Sardinian means “wine’s warehouse”). It’s an interesting place to get a better understanding of the traditional way of life on the island.

The Museo Etnografico is open daily and there is a small admission fee. For information you can send a whatsapp message to +393890505107.

Finally, there’s the MuMa, or Museo del Mare, which is located in the hostel that bares its same name.

Calasetta

Like the biggest village of Sant’Antioco, the area around Calasetta was inhabited since the prehistory and Punic era but got abandoned during the middle ages.

The peculiarity of this village is that, when it was newly founded, its inhabitants weren’t Sardinians but Genoese coming from the island of Tabarka, in Tunisia – where they had established themselves as merchants. Genoese is the dialect that’s still spoken in Calasetta, much similar to the language spoken in Carloforte in the nearby San Pietro Island.

The Genoese who founded Calasetta were actually running away from one of their Tunisian business harbors, Tabarka, because of the growing conflicts with the locals and the Ottoman Empire.

They asked the King of Sardinia for a place to stay and he gave them a deserted part of Sant’Antioco Island, which became their new home and still is such for their descendants.

Today, Calasetta remains one of the most charming small towns of Sardinia, known as Sardinia’s white town for literally each and every building there is white, and the whiteness is interrupted only by the colors of flower pots on balconies and the window shutters.

In Calasetta, you will find an interesting museum of contemporary art (MACC), a fantastic winery where you can go wine tasting, and some of the nicest Sant’Antioco beaches. It’s an overall pleasant place to walk around. This is also where the ferry Sant’Antioco-San Pietro departs from.

Capo Sperone

The southern tip of Sant’Antioco Island, from there you can enjoy incredible coastal views, is called Capo Sperone. 2 km (1.2 miles) inland from the cliffs you can visit an old lighthouse that was built in 1887 and soon became a military radio station. It was used as a radar station and as a defensive viewpoint during World War II and finally abandoned in 1957.

Arco dei Baci (Is Praneddas)

The Arco dei Baci (Kisses’ Arch, in English) is one of the most famous places to visit in Sant’Antioco Sardinia, beloved by locals and tourists alike. You will find it in the gorgeous Is Praneddas bay, on the west coast of the island.

You can easily get there via a short trail that goes through a nice pine forest and Mediterranean scrub, and eventually takes to a stunning rock formation that gives way to the clearest waters you can imagine.

There is a lovely natural pool with shallow, transparent waters where you can swim, and if you wish you can swim further to appreciate the incredible blue tones of the water.

Faro Mangiabarche

The Mangiabarche lighthouse (Faro Mangiabarche in Italian) is located just off the northwestern coast of Sant’Antioco Island, an easy drive from Calasetta. It’s one of the most scenic places to visit in Sant’Antioco.

During the summer, you can access the small beach with is a lovely place for snorkeling and even diving. You can also walk along the shore for panoramic views and lots of photo opportunities. The views are really impressive on strong mistral wind days when the waves crash on the rocks where the lighthouse is located.

The name Mangiabarche (which means Boat Eater, in English) is not by chance – despite the presence of the lighthouse, many a boat crached on the rocks in the area, often victim of the strong mistral winds that swipe this part of Sardinia.

The viewpoint is about 15 minutes drive from Calasetta – it takes about 1.5 hours to walk there. It takes about 20 minutes drive to get there from Sant’Antioco.

Sant’Antioco Beaches

Of course, what kind of Sardinian holiday would it be without some nice sunbathing? Sant’Antioco has many tiny, small beaches and inlets, so it’s the ideal place for those who want to relax and stay in a kind of private place, but that also means that there’s a lot to choose from. Here are the best Sant’Antioco beaches!

To make the most of Sant’Antioco beaches, you may want to consider joining this guided kayak tour that goes around the island’s best beaches. It lasts 5 hours, so you’ll get to see a lot!

Maladroxia and Portixeddu

Probably the most famous Sant’Antioco beaches, water here is very shallow and it is safe for children. Located close to a small village, it offers all comforts – a kiosk that serves food and drinks, a beach club where you can rent umbrella and sun beds, and more. It really had everything to please even the pickiest of tourists.

Close to Maladroxia you’ll find the tiny but gorgeous Portixeddu cove, which is a nice place to explore.

Coacuaddus

One of the longest Sant’Antioco beaches, it’s a bit less equipped with comforts compared to Maladroxia, but its exceptional, clear water makes everything worth it. It’s characterized by thick and very white sand and shallow waters, making it a good spot for families with children.

Cala Sapone

Cala Sapone is a beach divided into a group of smaller inlets that you can see one after another if you explore the area. There really is a corner for every tourist and, as usual, the water is clear and turquoise.

Cala Sapone is located about 20 minutes drive from both Calasetta and Sant’Antioco town. You will find thick grain sand mixed with pebbles and corals, offering a unique place.

Parking at Cala Sapone is limited, but you will find a kiosk and a beach club renting umbrellas and sun beds.

Cala Lunga

Cala Lunga is sandy beach on a side of the island that’s usually sheltered from the wind. It’s a nice and peaceful place to spend a relaxing day alone or with your friends or family. Here, water is very shallow and the sand is white and fine, so it’s a good place to spend the day as kids can safely play in the water.

Boat tour of Sant’Antioco Island

A boat tour around Sant’Antioco Island is a great way to appreciate this corner of southwestern Sardinia. Much of the coastline is rocky and wild, with coves and inlets that are difficult to reach by land. From the water, you get a completely different perspective of the cliffs, small beaches, and clear sea of the Sulcis coast.

I recommend this boat tour departing from Calasetta to explore the waters of Sant’Antioco Island. On a small rigid inflatable boat, a local skipper navigates along the shores of Sant’Antioco and toward nearby San Pietro Island, stopping at scenic points where the water is particularly clear. The itinerary typically includes time to swim and relax in sheltered coves.

You have the option of a half-day and full-day tour (needless to say, I recommend the latter).

Good to know: You can also rent a small dinghy and get around independently.

Practical Information To Plan Your Visit

How to get to Sant’Antioco Island

Getting to Sant’Antioco by bus from Cagliari or other places in Sardinia can be a bit of an ordeal: you’ll have to take the train to Carbonia and then bus 802 to Sant’Antioco (it also stops in Calasetta). The overall trip lasts about 2.5 hours.

My recommendation if you want to explore Sant’Antioco Island is to rent a car. I recommend Discover Cars as the best comparison engine for car rental: I have used it widely in Italy and overseas and have always found their service to be spot on.

If you are driving from Cagliari, you just need to follow SS 130 (through the hinterland) or SS 126 (coastal road) and follow the road signs: the island is about 85 kilometers (around 53 miles) from the capital and is linked to the main island by a bridge.

Sant’Antioco accommodation

There are plenty of accommodation options in Sant’Antioco. Here are some suggestions:

• Montellino’s Suite Oro – This location offers an airport shuttle bus service and is especially loved by couples. Wi-Fi and breakfast are included.
• Le case di Loris – This is a great solution for families or larger groups. It offers every comfort and is located very close to Sant’Antioco’s city center.
• Hotel del Corso – Located in the main city, this place offers an airport shuttle service and everything you might expect from a hotel. It’s close to every attraction in Sant’Antioco Town, included bars and the shopping street. It’s also pet-friendly!
• MuMa Hostel – This nice hostel, one of the very few in Sardinia, is located on the waterfront and close to the historic center of Alghero. It has dorms and private rooms and a good information desk. I have stayed there myself and truly enjoyed my stay.

Although Sant’Antioco is not that big of an island, it looks like you’ll find a lot of activities to do during your stay, right? See you there, then!

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