Costa Verde – Sardinia: endless dunes, abandoned mines and sea roaring between the cliffs.
The Costa Verde extends for over 50 km along the south-western coast of Sardinia, in the territory of Medio Campidano. It is a rugged and solitary area, where nature imposes itself strongly and industrial history emerges among the rocks and dunes. It takes its name from the intense green of the Mediterranean scrub overlooking a deep and often rough sea, the scene of a landscape that excites and does not allow compromises. 🏖️ Golden dunes and wild beaches:
The beaches of the Costa Verde are among the most scenic on the island: Piscinas is famous for its dunes up to 60 meters high, among the largest in Europe. Scivu, Portu Maga, Funtanazza and Capo Pecora offer unspoilt coastlines, often almost deserted even in the height of summer. The golden sand blends with the green of the mastic tree and the gray of the granite in a unique visual symphony.
👉 Tip: Reach Piscinas in the golden hours of sunset: the dunes light up like silent fire, while the wind draws waves of sand. 🏚️ Industrial archaeology and forgotten mines:
The Costa Verde is also a land of mines. The ancient mining complexes of Montevecchio, Ingurtosu and Gennamari tell of a hard and fascinating past, made up of tunnels, wells, workers' villages and iron silences. The abandoned structures, which can now be visited, are powerful testimonies of Sardinian industrial archaeology, immersed in a landscape that has never stopped breathing.
👉 Tip: Visit Montevecchio with a local guide: you will enter the former galleries and the buildings of the executives, between human stories and vintage technologies. 🌿 Protected nature and deep silences:
The territory is crossed by paths that touch hidden canyons, wetlands, ponds and plateaus populated by Sardinian deer, peregrine falcons and eagle owls. The spring blooms paint the coast with unexpected colors, while in summer the landscape becomes essential and intense. It is a place for those looking for authenticity and space.
👉 Tip: Walk the path from Scivu to Portixeddu: kilometers of pure nature between sea, scrub and forgotten mining remains. 🍽️ Straightforward flavours and tradition of work:
The cuisine of the area reflects its soul: simple and strong ingredients. Pane civraxiu, malloreddus with wild boar sauce, aged pecorino cheese, fregula with clams, grilled lamb. The wines of Campidano di Terralba and the whites from native grapes complete a sincere table, linked to the rhythms of the past.
👉 Tip: Stop to eat in a trattoria in Arbus: you will be served more than one meal, you will be told about a land. 🎭 Discreet parties and living memory:
The local celebrations are intimate, heartfelt, without fuss. The patron saint festivals and rural festivals take place in the small villages of the interior, with traditional music, local products and a strong identity component. Here folklore is not a show, but continuity of memory.
👉 Tip: Attend a festival in Arbus or Guspini in spring: the courtyards open, the stories intertwine, time slows down.
On the Costa Verde, beauty is not allowed: it is conquered, step by step, where the sand speaks and the wind knows how to tell.