Remember this place - Stintino. Connoisseurs say it is a certified tourist paradise. The island of Asinara is separated from Cape Stintino, the northwestern tip of Sardinia, by a strip of water shimmering in all shades of blue-green colors.
Until 1997, there was a colony for especially dangerous criminals on the island, where the most terrible and famous mafiosi were sitting. Some, have repented, probably beauty, and in truth, saves. A beautiful place where two seas merge, and nature delights with a variety of colors and landscapes is extraordinary. People grumbled - criminals were settled in paradise, but law-abiding citizens were denied access there. And they got their way - the prison was closed, the island was declared a national reserve, and now excursions are held here.
There are tourists who always want something new. Russians are well aware of the secular Costa Smeralda and the south of Sardinia, but Stintino and the Gulf of Asinara, where the most beautiful beaches are located (in general, all the beaches of Sardinia are very good, and are considered almost the best in the world) are still known by few.
Stintino is home to the famous La Peloza beach with white sand, stunning views of the island of Asinara and the 11th century Aragonese tower. Nearby - the beaches of Le Saline (it was named after the salt mines preserved nearby), Pazzone, Ezzi Manni.. Each is beautiful in its own way, and each guest of Stintino will find a beach to his liking - sandy or pebble, on the "internal" or "external" sea.
Both lovers of privacy and those who love water sports will be satisfied. “Stintino is one of the best places for sailing, and even on the hottest days the beaches are comfortable - the bay is blown by smooth calm winds. Sailing boats with a triangular sail are still preserved here and are used by fishermen. A local highlight is the annual Vela Latina regatta, which features such boats, and is held every August and attracts a lot of fans,”says Antonio Diana, Mayor of Stintino.
The town was founded by fishermen who settled on Azinara in order to fish for tuna, and then, when the authorities set up a prison on the island, they moved to the coast. There is a tuna museum in Stintino, and every September there is a tuna festival. Fans of fishing and connoisseurs of fish gastronomy who come to visit the region like to relax in the north-west of Sardinia - local fish soup, botargo (dried tuna caviar), dishes from the freshest fish, accompanied by the famous white wine of the north of Sardinia - vermentino di Gallura. The town itself has no more than 2,000 inhabitants, but in the summer the coast comes alive. However, there are not so many hotels and guest houses in Stintino. The best chef, according to connoisseurs, works at the Cala Rosa club hotel.
Cala Rosa, offering accommodation in cozy cottages among a beautiful garden and a family atmosphere, has one more pleasant feature - Russian guests will feel comfortable here. After all, this hotel is the only one in Stintino so far that has received a PrimaCertificate. Here they are familiar with our mentality, there is the "1st channel" of television, all the information a tourist needs has been translated. “Russians come to us every year, there are not very many of them - those who know Stintino come. But we love Russian guests very much, and we hope that now that we are well prepared for their arrival, there will be more of them,”says Paola Stacca, vice director of the Cala Rosa hotel. In 2015, Stintino received the PrimaCertificate, the first growing tourist center in Sardinia, where Russians are very welcome. The great merit of the mayor of Stintino - Antonio Diana, has created comfortable conditions according to the "PrimaCertificate" certification standards and made the city a popular tourist destination among Russian tourists.
You can go on an excursion to Asinara Island, look at the buildings where the famous mafiosi were kept, enjoy the beautiful nature, and if you're lucky, even see an albino donkey that lives only here. In translation, the name of the place reads like the island of white donkeys.
From Stintino - to two large and interesting cities of western Sardinia - Alghero and Sassari 50 and 70 km, respectively. Alghero Airport receives regular flights from many European cities. Olbia airport, which can be reached in 2 hours by a comfortable and beautiful motorway, is served by direct charters from Moscow during the season. There is also a more romantic way to come to Stintino - 30 km away. from the town is the port of Porto Torres, ferries from Genoa, Naples, Rome (Civitavecchia) arrive here daily.
