Le Saline Beach - Stintino

Le Saline Beach is located in the municipality of Stintino, along the northwestern coast of Sardinia, overlooking the crystal-clear waters of the Gulf of Asinara, about 3 kilometers south of the town center. Stretching for about 3 kilometers—part of a very long coastal arc that extends southward to the beaches of Pazzona and Ezzi Mannu and northward to Le Tonnare—it is one of the widest and most open beaches in the Stintino area. The shoreline consists of a snow-white expanse of tiny, smooth white quartz pebbles—resembling grains of rice—mixed with light-colored sand. The sea features crystal-clear waters with intense shades of turquoise and emerald green and a clear seabed that slopes gently downward. Thanks to its exposure to thermal breezes, the bay is also very popular among windsurfers, kitesurfers, and sailors. Behind the beach lie the coastal salt ponds of Saline and Casaraccio, home to pink flamingos, and the remains of historic salt-harvesting basins, while the coastline is dominated by an ancient Spanish watchtower. ℹ️ Services: Unlike the nearby La Pelosa Beach, Le Saline is completely free to access with no reservation required, and thanks to its large size, it remains spacious even in the height of summer. It features ample free parking near the dune line, access walkways, snack bars, food stands, and beach establishments offering rentals of umbrellas, lounge chairs, canoes, and pedal boats. There is also a designated area along the coastline equipped for dogs (Dog Beach). 🚗 How to get there: Coming from Sassari or Porto Torres, take Provincial Road SP 34 toward Stintino. When you reach the roundabout located about 3 km before the entrance to the town, take the first exit, following the signs for "Spiaggia Le Saline," and continue along the side road that runs alongside the pond until you reach the parking areas behind the beach. 💡 Fun fact: • The ancient medieval salt flats: The beach and the wetland behind it take their name from the area’s historic salt flats, whose stone embankments are still visible today. There is documented evidence of their exploitation dating back as far as the 13th century by the Benedictine monks of the Abbey of Santa Maria di Tergu. • The Torre delle Saline and the birdlife: The ancient 16th-century Spanish coastal tower, with a circular floor plan, stands on the promontory that separates the Saline coastline from that of the Tonnare. The surrounding wetland area between the salt flats and the Casaraccio pond is an important nesting site for numerous bird species, including the greater flamingo, the black-winged stilt, the common tern, and the rare short-eared owl. • Le Tonnare in Stintino: Continuing north past the tower, the coastline is known as Le Tonnare Beach. The name derives from the imposing tuna fishing and processing facility dating back to the 18th century, historically considered one of the most important in northern Sardinia: active until the early 1970s, the historic complex was subsequently restored and converted into a lodging facility.