Marritza: Beach, Coastal Paths and History

Marritza combines a distinctive coastal landscape with archaeological traces and other local features. The long beach is characterized by light grey sand; in the final section, the sand becomes darker and gives way to a pebbly area. Historic sites and a coastal route add to the picture. For planning your trip, the beach, paths and history offer different perspectives on the area.

Coast, Beach and Paths

The continuous coastal beach of Sorso stretches from Platamona to Marritza. The coastal strip reaching Marritza runs alongside the S.P. 81; from there, nine paths lead down to the sea through pine trees and junipers. The landscape is therefore shaped not only by the beach, but also by the vegetation along the coast and its access paths. The coastal route follows the coastal road and its access paths to the sea, known as “Pettini.” The stretch to Marritza can be covered by bicycle or on foot; wide sandy beaches, Mediterranean vegetation, and extensive pine forests and juniper groves characterize this route.

Cyclists have a separate route to follow: from the town center, you can use the cycle path along the provincial road on the Sorso–Marina di Sorso section, then continue along the entire coastal road. Check the route locally before setting out, as infrastructure may change.

Archaeological Traces at Santa Filitica

The Santa Filitica archaeological site lies on the coast of Marritza, on a strip of land slightly higher than the beach, about 700 meters south of the municipal boundary between Sorso and Castelsardo. It includes the remains of an imperial-era Roman villa, a Byzantine settlement and numerous traces of continuous habitation at the site from the 3rd to the 9th century AD. This period refers to the history of settlement and not to the villa alone, allowing the site's different historical layers to be distinguished.

Excavations carried out in 1980 uncovered polychrome floor mosaics depicting fish, birds, fruit and a woman's head. The excavations thus link the site's historical context with specific motifs found at the site.

The Tonnara and Coastal History

The Tonnara di Perdas de Fogu tells a different story of the coast. Its remains lie on the coast of Marritza, beside a small pebble beach; today, only an exposed section about 40 meters long is visible. The tonnara was used to catch tuna during their seasonal migrations. It therefore represents a specific seasonal use of the sea and differs from Santa Filitica, whose archaeological evidence spans several periods.

Winegrowing and Cuisine

Part of the local character is the “Cru of Marritza,” a vineyard at sea level, about 200 meters from the coastline, where Cannonau vines grow. Here, the focus is on a named grape variety and the vineyard's location in the coastal landscape. At the AKitchen restaurant, chef Mirko Pinna has created a tasting menu that varies according to product availability and is paired with wines from Tenuta Asinara. The culinary offerings have different highlights: the vineyard is defined by Cannonau and its coastal location, while the restaurant offers a product-dependent tasting menu with wine pairings.

Discover more destinations: Stintino, Tissi, Nughedu San Nicolò, La Ciaccia, Bottidda, Nulvi, Pattada, Bonorva.

For the main travel overview: Sassari.