Sulcis Archipelago, Sant’Antioco

Sulcis Archipelago

Spanning 160 square kilometers, the Sulcis Archipelago is situated a short distance off the southern coast of the Sardinian mainland. Many of the inhabitants of the archipelago are descendants of a coral fishing colony established by Genoese immigrants in 1741, having left a previous colony in Tunisia. This is noted in the Tabarchino dialect of the Ligurian language spoken here.

Made up of just two islands, there are also several small islets dotted around, too. These include:

Sant’Antioco

With a population of just under 12,000, the municipality of Sant’Antioco boasts the largest community of the Sulcis Archipelago. It may seem relatively small at 109 square kilometers, but in the whole of Sardinia it’s second in size only to Sardinia itself, and is the fourth largest island in Italy.

You’ll find it 87 kilometers from Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia. It’s conveniently connected via bridge, meaning it’s easily accessible from the mainland. There are towns situated on the island, none quite as charming as Calasetta. Situated on the northern coast of Sant’Antioco, it’s a small fishing village with a sweeping arc of white sand beach, a quaint marina, and plenty of places to enjoy local delicacies.

Sant’Antioco boasts plenty of history, since it was first settled in the fifth millennium BC. There are mysterious nuraghe to discover, Roman bridges, a Roman fountain, and Phoenician necropolis, to name a few. There’s also a more remote coastline in the south to explore, too.