SEA AND COASTS
The coastline of Sulcis near Carbonia offers lots of long and short coves where, in summertime, one can find shelter from the heat of the hinterland or walk immersed in the wild environment that characterizes the coldest.
In the north of the municipal territory of Carbonia it is charming the coastline of Porto Paglia that with Funtanamare beach forms a long and wide sandy shore of more than 4 kilometres in length. On the south end, from the ancient eighteenth century "tonnara" situated about 30 metres above sea level, visitors can observe the neighbouring areas, identifying , in particular, the dune of Is Arenas behind the beach of Plag'e Mesu.
In the island of S. Antioco, near Calasetta , "Spiaggia Grande" beach is sheltered by a juniper thicket that grows on the dunes; at its south extremity there is an old "tonnara" that rises on the red trachytic rocks, characterized by fossil lava streams with, inside, roundish blocks, the so-called "bombs".
Going on along the coast, towards south, the landscape suddenly changes, a sheer coast constitutes the beautiful sight it is possible to admire from the "Nido dei Passeri" with its pillar, isolated and shaped by the powerful erosive action of the sea.
"Porto Pino" beach extends in the south coast of Carbonia: a long and large beach of a very fine sand in the shape of an half moon; behind a channel-wet dock function as a way of communication between the sea and the back-ponds. The natural landscape of the area is characterized by a thick and luxuriant pine wood of Pino d'Aleppo and the undergrowth of juniper, lentisk, cistus and rosemary. In the southern extremity of the sandy shore white stately dunes stand out. They delimit the inner wetlands inhabited by flamingos, avocets, bold-coots, stilt-birds, herons and other ornithological species.
Offshore, in the south coast of Sulcis, there are the isles of the "Vacca" (with the reef of the "Vitello") and the "Toro" respectively 5 and 12 kilometres far from the dry land. They are two wild isles of volcanic origin that preserve their original nature because of their distance from the land and the difficulties of landing there. Their importance from a naturalistic viewpoint is given by the presence of numerous species of sedentary birds (peregrine, falco della regina) and migratory birds (starlings, thrushes, turtle doves, quails, golden orioles, etc.).
