Discover some of Sardinia’s most striking beaches, superb watersports and energetic nightlife in Santa Teresa di Gallura. Located on Sardinia’s northernmost point, this port town is also the island’s gateway to Corsica. Established in the early 1800s to protect the island from smugglers, today Santa Teresa di Gallura has a culture with both Sardinian and Corsican influences.
At the heart of the town is Piazza Vittorio Emanuele I. This lively central square with cafés, souvenir shops and jewellery stores is a meeting point for locals. Investigate the simplistic 19th-century Church of St. Vittorio. Stroll along Via XX Settembre to find bars, restaurants and ice cream parlors set inside colourful houses. Sample traditional food such as suppa cuata, layers of bread soaked in a meat broth with cream cheese.
A short walk from Piazza Vittorio Emanuele I is the Port of Santa Teresa di Gallura. Here spot old fishing boats and luxury yachts bobbing in the sparkling water. It’s the starting point for boat trips to Corsica and the scenic Isola Maddalena. Walk to the headland at the northern end of town to enjoy superb views of Sardinia’s coastline and across the Bonifacio Strait to Corsica. Climb to the top of the 16th-century watchtower Torre di Longonsardo for more views.
Santa Teresa di Gallura’s beaches offer golden sand and safe, clear water plus excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. Closest to the town centre is Rena Bianca Beach. Rent a car or use public buses to get to the town’s best beaches. Capo Testa has secluded bays, spectacular sunsets, impressive rock formations and the ancient Nuragic settlement of Lu Brandali. Family-friendly La Marmorata is great for snorkeling while Cala Sambuco is an unspoiled bay framed by lush Mediterranean greenery.
Reach Santa Teresa di Gallura by catching a ferry from Corsica or flying to Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport, a 1-hour drive away. Santa Teresa di Gallura’s immaculate beaches and sunny Mediterranean climate make it a favoured year-round destination for families, couples and honeymooners.
