Porto Istana

Porto Istana is a four-cove bay on Olbia’s southern coast, at the foot of Capo Ceraso. Pink granite and Mediterranean scrub frame its sandy shore, while Tavolara rises across the water. The bay lies at the northern edge of the Tavolara and Punta Coda Cavallo marine protected area.

Why it matters

The four coves of Porto Istana form a distinctive stretch of Olbia’s coastline. Low rocky ridges divide the beaches, and the setting combines pale sand, granite outcrops and Mediterranean vegetation. Its position at the northern edge of the Tavolara and Punta Coda Cavallo marine protected area links the bay with a larger landscape of protected coastal and marine habitats.

What to notice

The shoreline alternates between sandy coves and low rocky divisions. The regional tourism authority describes pink granite and Mediterranean scrub around the bay, with views across the water to Tavolara. Beneath the surface, the protected area includes marine habitats and recognised dive sites, among them Tedja Liscia, Secca del Papa, the Molara wreck and Scoglio di Molarotto.

Context and history

Porto Istana lies in the Olbia locality of Murta Maria, at the foot of Capo Ceraso. The neighbouring marine protected area covers about 15,357 hectares of sea and more than 76 kilometres of coastline. It is managed by a consortium based in Olbia, with Olbia, Loiri Porto San Paolo and San Teodoro among its partner municipalities. The consortium’s work includes zoning, conservation, research and environmental education.