Spiaggia di Ponente - Tortolì

Spiaggia di Ponente extends between Arbatax’s harbour and the outlet of the Tortolì lagoon. A lighter crescent near the port gives way to the ochre-toned shore known as La Capannina, with pinewood behind the sand.

Why it matters

The beach connects the working maritime landscape of Arbatax with a coastal wetland. Its two names and contrasting sections reflect the shore’s relationship with the harbour, the lagoon channel and the longer sandy strand.

What to notice

Light sand near the port contrasts with the pebbles and shell fragments of La Capannina. The pine belt separates parts of the shore from the Baccàsara canal. Beyond it, the Tortolì lagoon supports water birds, including herons. Offshore, the Isolotto d’Ogliastra adds granite and red-toned rock to the coastal panorama.

Context and history

The beach belongs to Tortolì’s Ogliastra coastline, where Arbatax developed around its port. The sixteenth-century Torre di San Miguel recalls the earlier need to watch the sea for raids. Harbour activity, lagoon ecology and the sandy shoreline now occupy the same coastal setting, each preserving a different aspect of the area’s history.