Porto Giunco and the Notteri lagoon, a pink-tinged sandy beach and flamingos in Villasimius

Porto Giunco is the beach that appears in the photos of Villasimius: a tongue of sand between the sea of the Capo Carbonara marine area and the Notteri lagoon, with a Spanish tower on the headland. The sand is very pale, with pinkish tones that come from fragments of granite, and the seabed is sandy and very shallow for many metres. It is the westernmost part of a long beach that begins at Simius, the town beach.

The Notteri lagoon

Behind the sand is the Notteri lagoon, where pink flamingos and other migratory birds stop. From the beach you see turquoise water on one side and flamingos in the still water on the other. Do not go into the lagoon or approach the birds: they are watched from the edge, ideally with binoculars.

The Porto Giunco tower

On the southwest headland stands the Porto Giunco tower, nine metres high, which the Spanish built in the 17th century to watch the coast for pirates. You climb to it on foot by a path from the end of the beach. From the top you see the beach with the lagoon behind it, Capo Carbonara and, opposite, the isola dei Cavoli. Wear closed shoes: the path is stony scrubland.

Getting there and parking

From the centre of Villasimius it is a few minutes by car, following the signs to the marina. There is a large car park and, from it, a path through eucalyptus trees leads down to the sand. From Cagliari it is a little over an hour by car. In August, arrive early.

Facilities

The beach has establishments with umbrellas and sunloungers, equipment hire, kiosks and bars along the shore, and hotels and apartments nearby. In the afternoon, some bars stay open for an aperitivo.

With children

It is one of the best beaches in the south for small children: the water does not get deep until very far out. Bring an umbrella if you are not hiring one, and sun cream: there is no natural shade on the sand.