Villasimius

Villasimius sits at the base of Capo Carbonara, a granite headland with beaches on both sides: Punta Molentis, Porto Giunco, Simius and Campulongu among them, most with pale sand and shallow water. The Capo Carbonara marine protected area, established in 1998, covers the surrounding sea in zones, some closed, others restricting anchoring, fishing and access; wrecks and a posidonia meadow are within it. Behind Porto Giunco a salt pond holds flamingos through much of the year. A Spanish fortress of the sixteenth century stands on the point above, restored and open in summer.

What you actually see

• The twin-sided cape - beaches on both flanks of Capo Carbonara.
• The marine reserve - zoned water with restrictions on anchoring and fishing.
• The salt pond - flamingos behind the Porto Giunco beach.
• The Spanish fortress - a sixteenth-century fort on the headland.

When to go

May to September; August is crowded and some beaches now cap numbers with paid parking. Reserve rules affect where boats can go and where you can swim.

Honest expectations

Several beaches limit daily numbers and charge for parking, with booking in peak weeks. Reserve zones restrict boating. Wind can close the exposed sides.

Nearby

Cagliari lies west; the Sarrabus mountains rise inland.