Cea Beach - Tortolì - Ogliastra

Cea Beach is located along the central-eastern coast of Sardinia, in the historical-geographical region of Ogliastra. The beach stretches for over one kilometer into the bay of the same name and is administratively divided between the municipality of Tortolì (for the central-northern portion) and the municipality of Bari Sardo (for the southern section). The beach consists of soft, fine white sand, interspersed in some places with flat, smooth rocks near the shore. The sea, crystal-clear with shades of turquoise, has a shallow, sandy seabed that slopes very gently out to sea. The iconic feature of the coastline is the famous red porphyry sea stacks, known in Sardinian as "Is Scoglius Arrubius," which rise from the sea a short distance from the shoreline and reach a height of 20 meters. Behind the beach lie Mediterranean scrub, a cool pine forest, and small ponds behind the dunes. Thanks to the purity of its waters and the quality of its hospitality, the beach has been awarded the Blue Flag. ℹ️ Services: The beach features ample parking (both free and paid), accessible entry points, and beach clubs offering rentals of umbrellas, lounge chairs, pedal boats, SUPs, and canoes, interspersed with long stretches of public beach. Along the coastline, there are kiosk-style bars, seaside restaurants, and RV parking areas in the immediate vicinity. Thanks to its shallow, sandy seabed, it is particularly well-suited for families with children, as well as for snorkelers and divers exploring the sea stacks. 🚗 How to get there: The beach is located about 10 kilometers south of Tortolì and about 8 kilometers north of Bari Sardo. It is easily accessible by car via the SS125 Orientale Sarda: • From Tortolì / Arbatax: Head south along State Route 125 or along the scenic coastal road at Lido di Orrì, following the signs for Cea. • From Bari Sardo / Cardedu: Take State Route 125 north until you reach the signposted junction for Cea / Punta Niedda, then drive down to the parking lots located just behind the beach. 💡 Fun fact: • Is Scoglius Arrubius (The Red Faraglioni): The two imposing red porphyry sea stacks are located about 300 meters from the shore in the southern part of the bay and can be easily reached by swimming, canoe, or pedal boat to go snorkeling among the fish-rich seabed. • The geological contrast at Punta Niedda: At the southern end of Cea Beach, in the Bari Sardo area, the red porphyry gives way to the black volcanic cliffs of Punta Niedda (“Punta Nera”), creating a rare color contrast between white sand, red rocks, and dark basalt. • Between Lido di Orrì and Torre di Barì: Cea is located in the heart of one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in Ogliastra: to the north, it borders the numerous sandy coves of Lido di Orrì, while a few kilometers further south stands the historic Torre di Barì, built during the Spanish era to defend the coastline.