Experiences

What can you do and see along the Chia coast? Obviously first and foremost the many beaches, all different from each other, but also small coves, cliffs and breathtaking views.
Let's start with the beaches. Some very large ones characterized by golden sand and crystal clear water such as Su Giudeu / Capo Spartivento, Sa Colonia, Porto Campana, Cala Cipolla, all with large areas of free beach but also with beach clubs where you can rent sunbeds and umbrellas, and with large parking areas a few steps from the beach.
There are also smaller, more intimate coves such as the spiaggetta del Morto and Su Cardolinu beach, or the Porticciolo beach.
You will be able to observe the Chia ponds where the beautiful pink flamingos stop, and if you love the views from above you cannot miss the walk from Cala Cipolla to the Capo Spartivento lighthouse from which you can enjoy a breathtaking view, especially at sunset (a long path to be followed obviously during the day, leads to the coves of Perdalonga). Another panoramic point is the Spanish tower on the promontory that separates the Porticciolo beach from Sa Colonia beach.
The Chia area also has an archaeological importance as a settlement dating back to the Phoenician-Punic age.
If we move inland we can visit the splendid forest of Is Cannoneris, with the largest holm oak forest in the Mediterranean. This area is the most important for the protection of Sardinian deer, but hawks and golden eagles also live here, as well as wild boars, foxes and wild cats.
Returning to the coast, if we continue on Viale Chia (SP 71) towards Teulada (splendid panoramic road) we find the coves of Perdalonga, the beautiful beach of Tuerredda, Capo Malfatano, Piscinnì and numerous other small coves, until we reach Teulada with the the beach of Porto Tramatzu and from which excursions by boat or dinghy depart to visit the splendid beach of Porto Zafferano and the other beaches in the military area open to the public only for a couple of months a year.
Continuing beyond Teulada you arrive at the town of Sant'Anna Arresi and its enormous beach of Porto Pino, famous for its dunes.

Heading back from Chia towards Cagliari we find Santa Margherita with its very long beach; Pula, a typical tourist town with its sheltered beaches and the famous archaeological area of Nora, the first Phoenician city in Sardinia (8th century BC), a commercial port hub. In 238 BC. it was conquered by the Romans and in the 1st AD. it became a municipium. In the following two centuries, it experienced its maximum splendor, reaching eight thousand inhabitants, and became caput viae, kilometer zero of all the roads on the island. Absolutely worth a visit. Today there remain fascinating ruins, and numerous finds exhibited in the Patroni museum. A few steps from Nora there is also a small aquarium and shelter for sea turtles.

Obviously if you are in Chia it is absolutely worth dedicating a day to visiting the capital Cagliari, from the Marina area overlooking the port, with its narrow streets crowded with restaurants, going up to the Castello district and the Bastion of Saint Remy from which you can it enjoys a splendid panoramic view of the city and the gulf of Cagliari. In the Bastion and Castello area you can visit the Elephant Tower, the Santa Croce bastion, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Santa Cecilia, the Royal Palace, the Cittadela dei Musei with the National Archaeological Museum, absolutely not to be missed if you are passionate of archaeology. Another panoramic area is the Monte Urpino hill from which it is possible to see the entire gulf of Poetto beach.

If instead, from Chia we want to make a slightly more demanding trip in terms of hours by car, we can move to the west coast, arrive at the large beach of Fontanamare, continue on a beautiful and panoramic coastal road up to the Nebiba viewpoint (beautiful at sunset) , reach the beach of Masua with its Pan di Zucchero, see the famous mines, or continue to Cala Domestica, Buggerru. While continuing further you can reach the beaches of Scivu and the suggestive Piscinas.

As for excursions in Chia and its surroundings, it is possible to rent dinghies, bikes, go fishing tourism on fishing boats, quad excursions, horseback, off-road vehicles. While for restaurants, pizzerias and bars you will be spoiled for choice, both in Chia, Pula, Cagliari etc.