With its 20 kms of coastline, Pula represents one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Southwestern Sardinia, also thanks to the town’s distance from Cagliari airport, which is only 35 kms away.
This town of 7000 inhabitants lies in a naturalistic and historical area of great interest: the area includes the archaeological site of Nora (dating back to Phoenician-Punic and Roman times) and a lagoon area.
Beaches
-Cala Brianza: This light-colored sandy beach, which is connected to the larger beach of Foxi ‘e Sali and Baia d’Agumu, is only 250 mt from the Baia delle Palme Residence. These uncrowded shores do not offer beach facilities, yet maintain their unspoilt beauty.
-Su Guventeddu: A kilometer-long beach of the finest sand, located just 5 kms from Pula. This beach features a parking lot, a café, a restaurant, and beach equipment rentals. It is perfect for families with children, thanks to its shallow sandy seabed and crystal-clear water.
-Spiaggia di Nora: The golden sand, the crystal clear sea, the Aragonese tower, and the submerged ruins of an ancient Roman quarry, that are part of the archaeological site located at the back of the beach, turn this beach into an unforgettable sight. Furthermore, within a few metres, visitors can also admire the small Romanesque church dedicated to Sant’Efisio, built exactly where the saint had previously been martyred, celebrated every year during the highly popular Saint Efisio Day.
-Is Figus: Located between Su Guventeddu and Nora beach, it is named after the fig trees growing in the nearby. Generally crowded in summer, it features beach equipment rentals.
-Litorale di Santa Margherita di Pula: The beach stretches for 5 kilometres, dotted with small coves and bays surrounded by thick pine woods. Thanks to their wind exposure and to their deep seabed, some of these inlets (especially Cala d’Ostia and Campumatta Beach) have become popular surfing, windsurfing and kitesurfing destinations. The area is also an excellent starting point for coastal hiking.
-Spiaggia Sa Colonia, spiaggia Campana e spiaggia Su Giudeu: The Baia of Chia is located in the district of Domus de Maria, at about 20 kilometres from the centre of Pula. Along this 3-km-long coastline lie three beautiful fine sandy beaches whose transparent aquamarine sea is simply breathtaking.
-Tuerredda: The area of Domus de Maria also includes the so-called pearl of southern Sardinia: the beach of Tuerredda, that stretches for more than half a kilometre with its characteristic white sand that recalls a Caribbean setting. This beach is protected by a small island in front of it and surrounded by its turquoise sea. The access to the beach is limited to protect the shoreline. Please find further details at: https://tuerredda.spacli.it/
Attractions
The area of Pula offers several activities and attractions, the most important of which is the 4-hectare archaeological site of Nora. This archaeological site includes the remains of an ancient port city, its ancient Roman baths and mosaics as well as the Phoenician-Punic necropolis. Some of the artefacts unearthed during archaeological excavations can be found in the Giovanni Patroni Museum.
Being the location of the martyrdom of Saint Ephisius, Pula is the culminating site of the evocative annual pilgrimage that takes place in the first week of May that leads the simulacrum of the saint from Cagliari to Nora, which is home to the small church dedicated to the martyr built in the 11th century.
The lagoon behind Nora beach is the perfect starting point for interesting birdwatching excursions on foot or by canoe. Here one can also find the Aquarium, an eco-aquarium whose species were accidentally trapped in fishermen’s nets and are then released after growing up to a specific size.
Hiking lovers should not miss the opportunity to visit the forests of Is Cannoneris and Piscina Manna, two protected wildlife oases with well-marked paths and thick vegetation, including one of the largest holm oak forests in Europe. The tour of the coastal towers is also an attractive route for hikers as well as for kayakers who can admire the coastline from the sea.
Typical dishes
The typical dishes of southern Sardinia served in restaurants and agritourisms located all over the area of Pula offer traditional menus.
First courses include fregola, a semolina pasta similar to cous cous, usually served with clams or seafood. As an alternative, we suggest spaghetti with mullet roe as well as malloreddus alla campidanese, served with tomato sauce and sausage.
Seafood main courses include sa cassola, a typical fish soup typical of the area around Cagliari made with squid, scorpion fish, clams, mussels and other varieties of fresh fish. Sa burrida, a dish combining dogfish in a sweet and sour sauce enriched with other ingredients such as garlic and walnuts, is also extremely popular. Naturally, meat dishes include roast suckling pig, roasted on a spit, as well as wild boar, sheep or lamb, stewed or roasted.
Gourmands will enjoy a variety of typical sweet delicacies including seadas and pardulas filled with cheese or papassinos, biscuits made with grape must and flavoured with dried fruit or wild fennel and aniseed.
Typical liqueurs such as myrtle or fil’e ferru are absolutely worth trying.
