La Bobba Beach - Carloforte - San Pietro Island - Sulcis

Bobba Beach is located in the Le Colonne area, along the southwestern coast of the island of San Pietro, about 5 kilometers from the town of Carloforte. The inlet is a beautiful cove of fine white sand, nestled between dark cliffs covered with Mediterranean scrub. The bay is well sheltered from northern winds (especially the Mistral), but remains exposed to the Scirocco. The seabed is clear, shallow, and sandy for several meters, making it ideal for families with children and for snorkelers exploring the surrounding rocks. From the beach, you can admire the famous Colonne, two striking red trachyte sea stacks that rise from the sea a short distance from the shore, separating Bobba from the nearby Lucchese Beach, opposite which lies the islet of Geniò. ℹ️ Services: The beach alternates between a long stretch of public beach and areas equipped with rentals of umbrellas, lounge chairs, pedal boats, and canoes. It features a parking lot behind the beach, a snack bar, and a food stand. 🚗 How to get there: Starting from the port of Carloforte, take the coastal provincial road (SP 104) south toward La Caletta for about 5–6 kilometers. At the distinctive boulder by the roadside with the word "Bobba" carved into it, turn left onto a small dirt road that leads to the parking lot. From here, you can easily walk a short distance along the footpath that runs alongside the houses to the beach. 💡 Fun fact: • The origin of the name: The cove’s name evokes the tiny, smooth white pebbles mixed in with the sand along the shore and refers to “Bobba,” an ancient traditional dish of Carlofortina peasant cuisine made with a purée of dried fava beans, vegetables, and wild fennel. • The island’s stone signage: Along the roads of San Pietro Island, the entrances to the various coves are not marked by standard road signs, but by large boulders of local stone placed at the edge of the road, each engraved with the name of the beach. • Carloforte and Tabarchina culture: The island of San Pietro (51 km²) has its entire population concentrated in Carloforte, the island’s only settlement. Founded in 1738 by coral divers of Ligurian origin (from Pegli) who came from the Tunisian island of Tabarka, the village still preserves the ancient Tabarchino dialect and unique culinary specialties, ranging from wild bluefin tuna to cashcà (Tabarchino vegetable couscous) to the traditional Ligurian chickpea flatbread (“fainò”).