La Pelosa, shallow turquoise water between a 1578 tower and Isola Piana.

La Pelosa is at the end of the Stintino peninsula, 3.5 km from the town. It is a tongue of pale sand with water so shallow you can walk dozens of metres out to sea, and with two features in front that give it its shape: the islet with the La Pelosa tower, from 1578, and Isola Piana, so flat that it shelters the beach from the open sea without blocking the view of Asinara in the distance. Behind are dunes with junipers protected by wooden walkways.

Why you have to book

The beach was running out of sand because of the number of visitors, and the municipality limited access. From 15 May to 15 October only 1,500 people a day are admitted. You book on the official website, spiaggialapelosa.it, which is the only one authorised to sell tickets: there are websites that imitate the service.

Each place costs €3.50 per person per day. Children under 12 do not need a reservation. You can book for four people at most and only one reservation a day. When you choose the places you have 30 minutes to pay; otherwise they are cancelled.

When places open

• 500 places can be booked at any time, for any day of the season.
• 1,000 places open at 9:00 two days before. If you want to go on Thursday, log in on Tuesday at nine.
• Some Stintino accommodation has its own quota, within the 1,500, which they book in the early hours. Ask yours.

On the busiest days, the website puts up a virtual waiting room. Getting into it does not guarantee a place.

On the beach

They ask for the reservation's QR code at the information point or on the walkways, from 8:00 to 18:00. The rules are strict:

• A mat is compulsory under your towel, so you do not carry sand away.
• Wash your feet and equipment on leaving.
• No smoking, except in the marked areas.
• No dogs.
• Do not take away sand or stones, do not use soap or detergents and do not walk on the dunes.

Roughly half the beach is free and the other half has sunloungers and umbrellas for hire. Boats can also be hired.

Getting there

By car, along the La Pelosa road from Stintino; the car park is a few metres from the sand. There are buses and shuttles from the town, and the road can be cycled. From the beach, a walk along the shore of La Pelosetta brings you close to the tower.