Rada di Nora

The Anchorage of Nora is in the southern part of Sardinia in the province of Cagliari. The bay is protected from mistral and sirocco winds and has beautiful seabeds of rocks and posidonia that are quite shallow. The sea is the typical Sardinian transparent and crystal clear sea and special attention should be paid to some rocks outcropping in the middle of the bay not far from the shore.

The depth varies from 6 to 8 meters, and the shoreline ashore has the Rada di Sant’Efisio to the northeast and the Peschiera di Nora on the opposite side of the narrow isthmus where there is a famous archaeological site. The bay is bordered to the north by theisland of San Macario, overlooked by a 29-meter-high tower that can be seen from the sea to the northeast, and to the south by theislet of Coltellazzo originating in the 17th century and dominated by the 32-meter-high tower of Sant’Efisio built by the Spanish.

The name comes from the saint venerated in Cagliari and throughout Sardinia, where he suffered martyrdom and died at Nora on January 15, 303. At the archaeological excavations there is also a church dedicated to him dating back to 1089 preceded by a portico where pilgrims used to stop and where a traditional procession takes place every year.

Nora was founded by the Phoenicians and later inhabited by the Punics, and Nuragic traces have been found there that testify to human presence since the Bronze Age. The city is located on a promontory called Capo di Pula connected to land by an isthmus that ends in two points immersed in a beautiful sea.

Nora Beach has a bottom of grainy white sand enclosed by a cliff; the water is shallow for a long stretch and is very popular with families with children. Even on days during which a strong mistral wind blows, the coast is sheltered from the wind so it is often crowded.

One part is free and one part is managed by a cooperative that rents out umbrellas and sunbeds and offers toilets and showers for a fee. There is ample parking, and the anchorage is also known by scuba diving enthusiasts because it has clear, changing seabed. The most interesting area ashore is the archaeological area, which seems to be the oldest and most famous in all of Sardinia.

The area is very well-maintained and well-managed. The anchorage is also famous because every year on August 15 there is a procession at sea followed by fireworks that attracts tourists from all over.