The most beautiful natural sites to discover Sardinia

Of all the caves hidden in the cliffs of Cape Caccia, Neptune's cave is the most famous. It is one of the most beautiful sights in Alghero and one of the most precious geological wonders of the Mediterranean basin. The complexity of this vast cave, 2,500 metres long, is due to the many rooms that make it up, its vast galleries and its lakes with clear water. Among them, the 100-metre-long Lake La Marmora is one of the largest salt lakes in Europe. The part of the cave open to the public is accessible by boat from Alghero when the sea is calm. Many operators will lure you to the port. The cave can also be reached on foot from the cape by a picturesque 654-step staircase clinging to the cliffside. Count on 20 minutes with a good rhythm and think about the ascent... A visit not to be missed!

Good to know. In case of bad weather, the cave may close. So as not to travel for nothing, call the tourist office beforehand and they will give you information. Make sure you have enough cash to pay for the entrance tickets, as credit cards are not accepted. It is not easy to park near the site when it is busy. Park along the road leading to the cave as soon as possible. The site is also very crowded in the summer, and guided tours can be very crowded. Come as soon as it opens or for the last visit and, if you can, choose to visit out of season.

Perda Liana is one of Sardinia's most attractive geomorphological formations. Its resemblance to the peaks of Monument Valley or Devil's Tower is quite striking. It's a natural monument in the shape of a large vertical tower, known as a tacco (heel). With its impressive height of 1,293 metres, it is one of the island's best-known natural monuments, due to the strangeness of its elegant, slender form. Erosion has gradually isolated the "tower" and shaped its base. At its highest point, the "tower" is around 100 m wide, with vertical walls some 50 m high. Its base is shaped like a truncated cone. In the Ogliastra region, the Perda Liana tower is one of the most important remnants of the erosion of an extensive limestone cover dating from the Jurassic period. Not only did it dominate this part of the island for tens of millions of years, but above all, being visible from a great distance, it provided a landmark for people travelling through this mountainous region. It is thought to have been a gathering place for peoples since the dawn of time. Perla Liana remains a place of mystery, fantasy and legend. It rises from the earth like a giant finger reaching for the sky, in the midst of a wild and sparsely inhabited nature. Perda Liana has to be earned, and the road is winding, but this monument is one of our top picks for hikes between Ogliastra and Barbagia.

This 20 km-long limestone bastion, stretching north-south between Siniscola and Galtelli, is also known as the Sardinian Dolomites. It is characterized by vertical slopes carved by deep gorges, whose limestone whiteness can be seen from afar, hence the name "white mountain". The massif is criss-crossed by trekking itineraries that are the heirs of the charcoal-burning trails. It is a protected area for both flora and fauna. The view of the nearby sea, at an altitude of over 900 m, is breathtaking.

The beach of Piscinas could be a corner of Africa venté by the mistral on Costa Verde of Sardinia. Sand dunes on the beach are more than 50 m high and are surrounded by green vegetation. Until the 1950 s, the beach was the place of loading of the mining operation in Montevecchio (Cagliari). Near the charming hotel Le Dune, built in the former mining depot, now national monument, we can still see rails with rusty trolleys. The beach is about 25 km from Arbus. Very extensive, it is never too crowded, even in August.