The coast to north of Olbia, from the Gulf of Marinella to Porto Rotondo

After the detour into the Gallura, at this stage of our journey we visit the coast north of Olbia, beginning with a visit to the Gulf of Marinella Porto Rotondo, cugnana and Porto. Then we will go from here in the Emerald Coast where we will visit the main beaches and past the Gulf Pevero, arrive in Porto Cervo, considered the capital of the Costa Smeralda.

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The Gulf of Marinella

To reach the Gulf of Marinella, Olbia we leave on the SS125 north to Palau. After 7.2 km turn right onto the SP73 to San Pantaleo, which we follow for 1.8 miles, then turn right onto the SP99 towards Porto Rotondo and Marinella. We follow this road past the turnoff for Porto Rotondo and after 3.9 km, we find the indication for Gulf of Marinella Very beautiful but with an exaggerated tourist exploitation that threatens to ruin all the beauty of the landscape.

Follow the signs to the hotel The Abi d'Oru and turned right, a dirt road 300 meters wide leads Marinella beach, white sand surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation that contrasts with the transparency of the emerald green sea.

The beach is closed right from Marinella promontory of Punta Marana, on whose western side, toward the beach, the port is the same name, situated in a very sheltered and can accommodate up to 300 vessels of not more than twelve meters. The Port offers all the facilities at the wharf.

Opposite the beach along the coast that dates back to Porto Rotondo, about two kilometers from the latter in places Palumbalza, is the Gold Harbour, a private marina circular for only thirty boats with no fuel pump, connected to the sea through a channel 50 meters long and 15 wide. It too is well protected from the wind.

The tourist resort Porto Rotondo

Back to the detour, but we continue to Porto Rotondo that we reach after 3.2 km. We are not yet on the Costa Smeralda in Porto Rotondo, but already one begins to breathe air. Porto Rotondo is an important tourist resort built in the town of Olbia in the mid 60s on the success of the Costa Smeralda, in an area then called Poltu Ridundu, which are at the center of the peninsula Rudalza, in an area tafoni (rock quarry) which were recently found prehistoric pottery of extraordinary interest. Born originally in imitation of the village of Porto Cervo, porto Rotondo has failed to develop in the next decade growing up in a disorderly manner and occupying much of the headland of Punta of Volpe, between granite rocks and Mediterranean vegetation. Porto Rotondo has been made several trendy clubs such as Black Moon and Black Sun, charro Cafe, country Club, mantra, repentance, rha, the Turtle.

For visit the town, we enter the village tourism is developed on the left side of the road leading to Punta Volpe. It is built around the square round which is the main meeting point for locals and tourists alike, surrounded by a garden. We go then to visit the harbor filled with pleasure boats, made in the large round creek which gives its name to Porto Rotondo. It is a busy port and has 634 berths, with the possibility of water supply and fuel dock.

If, instead of entering the village, continue straight in the 1.4 km that separate us from Punta Volpe, are on either side of the road on the left Beach Stones and on the right Beach ALGAE. Then, just below the promontory of Punta Volpe, we find Beach Punta Volpe, white sand with rocky shores of the Mediterranean. In front you see the island and Mortorio to blows, and from the headland you can admire the bays and coves that run along the coast.

At the entrance of Porto Rotondo, where instead of going straight to Punta Volpe take left towards Rudargia, after 1.2 km to arrive Ira beaches Two more great beaches on the right and the other smaller left, both sandy and rocky shores of the Mediterranean on a beautiful turquoise sea. Ira beaches overlooking the southern Gulf of Cugnana, as the Gulf of Olbia, which consists of a wide valley submerged Gallura (RIA).

Following the success of the settlement tourist resort of Costa Smeralda, many entrepreneurs assault began to focus their speculation on Sardinia and in particular the coast of the town of Olbia. He still remembers the failed plans to build a tourist village called Olbia two '80s, a terrible story of friendships and dangerous speculation between Freemasonry and brothels. It is from that project that enters the availability of Silvio Berlusconi a 60-hectare land at Punta Lada, on the eastern side of the headland on which stands the town of Porto Rotondo, which will be built on the famous Villa La Certosa, subject to numerous complaints in recent years for allegedly abusive work conducted in an area subject to environmental protection, on which it was not possible even to the judiciary to make inquiries as Berlusconi's government has protected them with state secrets.

Cugnana and Marina Cugnana

Let's go back on the SP73, the resume to San Pantaleo and after about four kilometers away statement that leads us to Cugnana, fraction of Olbia. Here lies the port of Cugnana, which overlooks the Beach Marina Cugnana. A Cugnana there is a night owl, one of the most fashionable place for young olbiesi.

Ports and Marinas Portisco

Continuing on the SP73, after about three kilometers away on the left fork continuing the SP73 to San Pantaleo. Here we take, instead, on the right SP94, also known as the Costa Smeralda scenic road, and after 100 meters is an indication for Portisco. Turn right,100 meters and turn left, another 300 meters and left again to arrive Marine Portisco, fraction of Olbia with a beautiful sandy beach overlooking the small bay with rocky coves and Mediterranean vegetation. There is also a private dock can accommodate 300 boats from all major services, conveniently placed right at the entrance of the fjord that forms the Gulf of Cugnana.

The next leg of our journey

In the next stage of our journey, visiting the eastern coast of Arzachena. We will enter the Costa Smeralda, the most famous stretch of coast of Sardinia, and we will visit different beaches and coves that make this unforgettable resort. Then we visit its capital, porto Cervo and the last beaches on the Costa Smeralda.