Cala Tramariglio

In the northwestern part of Sardinia in the province of Sassari opens the beautiful bay of Porto Conte, 6 km deep and 2 wide enclosed by the two promontories of Punta Giglio and Capo Caccia. The whole area is part of the Porto Conte Regional Natural Park, a protected natural area of about 5300 hectares located in the municipality of Alghero.

The park takes its name from the natural inlet of Porto Conte, which is part of the Coral Riviera and faces the anchorage of Alghero, from which it is about 20 kilometers away. The structure of the gulf is very varied, with inlets, cliffs, white sandy beaches and expanses of flat rocks.

In the eastern area there are a number of marinas including Cala Tramariglio, where until 1961 there was a penal colony whose inmates were used to reclaim the marshy and unhealthy land in this part of Sardinia.

Currently inland is the site of a research center and high above is the Tramariglio tower, which towers imposingly over the top of the promontory and was built by the Spanish in medieval times to protect the coast from Arab and barbarian raids. On the opposite side of the bay is a twin tower built for the same purpose, and from the tops of these promontories a spectacular view can be seen.

The marina at Cala Tramariglio is on the western shore of the gulf and is run by the Capo Caccia nautical club. There are a number of 90-, 80-, and 65-meter-long docks reserved for members of the nautical club, but if there are places available, boats in transit can also be moored. In case there is no room, the whole bay is dotted with anchorages and private ports that can offer mooring.

Near the nautical club there is a diving center, because diving is popular in these parts since the seabed is full of wonderful natural caves and coves and the subject of continuous visits by organized groups of tourists. The caves are all along the coast and the most famous are those of Neptune, located 24 km from Alghero on the southern part of Capo Caccia.

Access to the caves, and more generally to the entire northwestern area of the Sardinian coast, is possible only when the marine weather conditions are favorable; if there is a lot of wind, it is impossible to navigate or get out of the many anchorages and coves that line the entire coast. To be sure of finding a place at the ports of Cala Tramariglio, it is advisable to contact the sailing club by phone.