Holidays to Santa Margherita di Pula

Santa Margherita di Pula sits on the southern coast of Sardinia, about an hour’s drive from Cagliari, and boasts some of the most beautiful beaches on the Mediterranean. A luxurious enclave of glossy mansions and villas, it’s become a popular hideaway for celebrities and the very wealthy. The spectacular beaches are the biggest draw, thanks to their Caribbean-style white sands and turquoise waters. There are all kinds of water sports available along this stretch of coast, although the wind-surfing and kite-surfing are especially good. You can also explore the Roman ruins at Nora, and enjoy some shopping and eating out in Pula or Chia, which is where you’ll find most of the local restaurants and cafés.

Santa Margherita di Pula is located on a truly breathtaking stretch of coastline, which has a virtually unbroken string of beaches that extend for around 10 kilometres. These include long swathes of sugary sand and charming little bays. The main beach stretches for more than 2 miles, and has gorgeous white sand and impossibly blue seas. It’s ideal for families with young children, thanks to the calm, shallow waters. It has lots of facilities, including sun beds and parasols for rent, plus beach bars and restaurants. It’s a great destination for a host of water sports, in particular, snorkelling, scuba diving, wind-surfing and kite-surfing.

Santa Margherita di Pula is an enclave of villas and hotels set in pine forest, and you’ll find few restaurants except those in the hotels. However, there is plenty of choice in the nearby towns of Pula and Chia, where you can enjoy some delicious Sardinian cuisine. As you might expect on an island, seafood is the focus of many menus, and includes unusual dishes such as spiced baby octopus (moscardini) and shellfish. If you not a fish fan, you’ll have plenty of other options, including some of the succulent local lamb dishes or even the tiny, stuffed snails (lumache) which are an island speciality. Sardinia is famous throughout Italy for its wonderful range of breads, cheeses and charcuterie – add a bottle of local wine, and you’ve got the fixings for a perfect picnic!

There isn’t much nightlife to speak of in Santa Margherita di Pula, although the bigger hotels usually have a couple of bars where you can enjoy a cocktail, or you could sit out at one of the beach bars with a few drinks as the sun sets. There is a wider choice of bars in the nearby towns of Pula and Chia, which are very picturesque. They are ideal for sitting out on a terrace with a bottle of wine and soaking up the laid-back island tranquillity. If you’ve spent the day sightseeing in Cagliari, it’s worth staying until after night falls to enjoy some of the Sardinian capital’s lively bars and clubs.

Santa Margherita di Pula offers the perfect beach holiday for families looking for relaxation, gorgeous beaches and a good choice of water sports. The main beach is fantastic for even the youngest kids, thanks to its fine sand and shallow seas. If you’re travelling with older kids, they will enjoy snorkelling through the crystal-clear waters or perhaps giving kite-surfing or wind-surfing a go. There are lots of convenient facilities, such as sun beds and parasols, along with beach bars for those all-important cold drinks and ice-creams. You could amble around the charming streets of Pula, which has a night market in summer, or head to even lovelier Chia, which has cute little boutiques in its picture-postcard streets.

If you’re looking for stunning beaches, a touch of luxury, and utter peace and quiet, then Santa Margherita di Pula is the perfect destination for a romantic holiday. This elegant enclave features lots of upmarket accommodation, with gorgeous villas and hotels tucked into the pine forest. The endless white sand beaches are long enough to ensure that you will always be able to find your own secluded corner. Bask in the sun and work on your tans, or give one of the many water sports a go – maybe some snorkelling or perhaps even kite-surfing or wind-surfing. The little towns of Pula and Chia have plenty of charming places for a romantic dinner and a few drinks in the evenings.    

The sea around Santa Margherita di Pula is famous for its clarity, and the snorkelling and scuba diving here are excellent. This area is one of the best places on Sardinia for kite-surfing and wind-surfing, especially on the su Guventeddu beach near Nora. There are some wonderful walks near the sea, particularly around the Nora Lagoon and the Arrieras River delta, which are home to numerous water birds, including rare species. The forests of Is Cannoneris and Pixinamanna, which are draped over the inland hills, are also fantastic for hiking, with shady trails meandering through the holm oaks and pines.

The main cultural sight in the Santa Margherita di Pula area is the Nora archaeological area, which occupies the panoramic headland of Capo Pula. These remarkable ruins encompass one of the first Phoenician settlements on Sardinia, dating back to the 8^th century BC, along with the remnants of Punic and Roman temples, baths and an amphitheatre. This is now the setting for a very atmospheric poetry festival. The finds discovered during excavations in the site are displayed in Pula’s Giovanni Patroni Museum. You can also explore a host of prehistoric monuments and sites, including the necropolis of Montessu and  the ‘Giants’ Tombs’ at Barrancu Mannu.