Santa Maria Coghinas: River Landscape, Thermal Springs and History

Santa Maria Coghinas is shaped by the hills along the Coghinas, Mediterranean maquis and traces of medieval architectural history. Thermal springs and the Li Caldani river beach add further points of interest. When planning your trip, you can therefore look at the town from different perspectives: as a riverside landscape, a thermal area or a destination with historic buildings.

Maquis, River and Thermal Springs

The hills around the Coghinas River are covered in lush Mediterranean maquis. The predominant plants include wild olive trees and cork oaks, as well as mastic shrubs, phillyrea and rockroses. The vegetation gives the landscape its distinctive character: alongside the river itself, various trees and shrubs are among the defining features of the surroundings.

At Li Caldani, the hot springs of Casteldoria meet the Coghinas River. The Li Caldani thermal springs near the Terme di Casteldoria are saline and contain bromine and iodine; their temperature ranges from 65 °C to 72 °C. Their composition and temperature describe two different properties of the spring water. This makes the thermal area a distinct point of interest alongside the vegetated river landscape.

Li Caldani river beach lies near Santa Maria Coghinas, on the left bank of the Coghinas. A wooden footbridge connects it to the nature park and the opposite bank in the Viddalba area. These geographical details help you get your bearings among the beach, the riverbank and the link to the other side of the river.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

The route in is via the SS672 Sassari–Tempio state road; then turn towards Perfugas. After taking the exit towards Perfugas, the SP92 continues for about 13 kilometres to Santa Maria Coghinas.

Medieval Architectural History

The parish church of Madonna delle Grazie in Santa Maria Coghinas was built in the ancient “villa Kokinas,” which is mentioned in the “Condaghe di San Michele di Salvenero” from the 12th to 13th century. The church itself dates from the second half of the 12th century. Only the façade survives from the medieval construction phase; it was rebuilt in the first quarter of the 14th century.

The Doria Tower is the best-preserved part of the medieval Castello dei Doria. Another castle in the vicinity of Santa Maria Coghinas is Castelsardo Castle. These references offer different historical points of interest: at Castello dei Doria, the focus is on the state of preservation of a particular structure, while Castelsardo is identified as a castle in the surrounding area.

Which Focus Suits Your Trip?

If you are looking for a hotel in Santa Maria Coghinas, the focus you want can help you decide whether the destination is right for you. Are you most interested in the Mediterranean vegetation along the Coghinas, the interplay of river and thermal springs, or medieval architectural history? These themes offer different starting points for planning your trip and give the destination more character than a single attraction.

Discover more destinations: Ossi, Chiaramonti, Villa Gorizia, Mores, Valledoria, Tissi, Martis, Fertilia

For the broader travel overview: Sassari.