Notteri: Discover the beach and lagoon

Stagno di Notteri: Lagoon behind the beach

The Stagno di Notteri lies behind Notteri Beach. As an ecosystem between land and sea, it is associated with the marine area of Capo Carbonara, although it has no outflows or connections to the sea itself. The lagoon is about half a metre deep. Its shallow depth and ecological classification provide two different points of reference for understanding the body of water. To find your way around Notteri, the beach and the Stagno are distinct landscape features: the beach forms the coastline, while the lagoon lies behind it.

The Stagno di Notteri provides a refuge for pink flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) during their migrations. The lagoon thus adds a distinct nature aspect to the beach landscape. If you are looking at Notteri from a nature perspective, the difference is clear: the beach is defined by the coastline and the beach scenery, while the Stagno is defined by its shallow waters and the flamingos during their migrations.

Porto Giunco: Dunes and beach

If you are more interested in wildlife than vegetation, the Stagno offers an opportunity to see pink flamingos, while the dunes of Porto Giunco draw attention to juniper, mastic shrubs and Mediterranean maquis. These two nature perspectives can therefore be distinguished by wildlife and vegetation.

The dunes at Porto Giunco Beach are covered with juniper, mastic shrubs and Mediterranean maquis. Together with the sand, this vegetation shapes the stretch of coast and makes the dune plants a visible part of the landscape. Two further aspects to consider when planning your visit relate to the water: the seabed is shallow and sandy, making it suitable for families with children; there are also opportunities for snorkelling. One feature concerns the seabed and its suitability for families, while the other relates to an activity in the water. When weighing up these features, you can consider the seabed conditions and your interest in snorkelling separately.

Footpath and Sentiero delle cave

A footpath leads from Porto Giunco’s large car park through a eucalyptus grove to the beach. This describes the route as a sequence of car park, grove and beach. The Sentiero delle cave also starts at the beach, but continues from there to the tower. The distinction is useful when planning your visit: the footpath describes how to reach the beach from the car park, while the Sentiero starts at the beach and has its own destination. This keeps access to the beach and the onward route as two separate route questions.

From the tower, the Sentiero delle cave continues towards Cala Burroni on the west side of the Capo Carbonara headland. Directional and information signs make it easier to follow the route and provide interesting information about its history and ecological features. The beach, the tower and the direction of Cala Burroni help you find your way along the sections of the route described here; the signs add historical and ecological context.

Discover more destinations: Siliqua, Armungia, Villasimius, Escalaplano, Torre Delle Stelle, Orroli, Quartu Sant'elena, Porto Tramatzu

For the overview of the wider area: Cagliari.