Porto Corallo

In the region of Gerrei located in the south-west of Sardinia, part of the municipality of Villaputzu, is Porto Corallo named like this around the sixteenth century because its sea bottom was rich in coral formations.

The white beach of Porto Corallo is reached from the town in a few minutes. It is dominated, like many other ports and maritime locations of the island, by a warning Spanish tower built in stone and surrounded by Mediterranean scrub. To the north, about 25 km, are the town of Quirra and its homonymous beach, whereas to the south the beautiful beaches of Costa Rei: Foce of Flumendosa, beach of San Giovanni, a few miles from Muravera: beaches Le Saline, Cristolaxedu, Colostrie and Ferraxi.

Close to Porto Corallo, beyond the charming landscape, there are many interesting sites of archaeological and historical importance. During the Nuragic era the place was part of Cagliari, and became property of Visconti in the Early Middle Ages until the arrival of the Pisans who settled in the nearby castle of Quirra and reigned on all the surrounding territories. Built around the year 1200 on a formation of limestone, the Castle of Quirra had indeed served to protect the area from attacks. At his feet it is still possible to see the church of San Nicola in late-Romanesque style dating from the thirteenth century, and to the east, the ruins of the castle of Gibas.

Diving into the depths of Ogliastra

Ogliastrine coasts are rich in interesting sites for fans of diving with and without cylinder; sports called respectively Diving and Snorkelling (from "snorkel", the respirator tube that is used together with a mask).
Among the interesting "treasures", natural or otherwise, that can be admired in these depths, there are many varied species of fish, underwater caves, coral red benches, walls, dried, genuine archaeological sites and some wrecks now the habitat of fish and shellfish. The Italian merchant "Nasello", sunk during the Second World War, lying about 30 meters deep, facing the beach of Cala Luna, in the Gulf of Orosei. While in Portu Cuau thare is the wreck of the "Levante", merchant sunk in the '60s.
In Ogliastra there are several centres equipped for Diving: Cala Gonone, Orosei, Santa Maria Navarrese, Tortolì-Arbatax and Barisardo are some of localities where you can also do courses and obtain patents of various levels.
Finally, the neophytes are recommended to have caution even if they decide to immerse themselves with the help of a qualified instructor, and note that in all depths there is always the risk of dangerous bump into fishes such as Weevers, Redfish and Murene, all those can cause from a puncture to an extremely painful bite. Certainly less dangerous but equally important to avoid contact with are the jellyfish and wounds from sea urchins and corals.