Mangiabarche Lighthouse

Mangiabarche Lighthouse stands offshore from Sant’Antioco, in the territory of Calasetta, where smooth pale rock drops into deep blue sea. The small beacon and exposed coastline create one of the island’s most photographed maritime scenes.

The lighthouse rises on Punta Mangiabarche, a rocky outcrop whose name literally evokes a “boat-eater”. Its purpose is to warn vessels away from the dangerous rocks just below the surface, a feature that has long given this stretch of sea a dramatic reputation.

Reflections on the water and the unusual offshore lighthouse make Mangiabarche worth visiting throughout the year. In summer it can be combined with the nearby coast, while autumn and winter sunsets often give the exposed landscape an especially atmospheric character.

There are services and accommodation options near the coast. Further south on the western side of Calasetta of the island lies Cala Lunga, a sheltered inlet of emerald water surrounded by Mediterranean scrub.

The wild nature of Sant’Antioco

Elsewhere in the territory of Sant’Antioco, Coacuaddus is one of the larger beaches, while Is Praneddas offers a high coastal viewpoint surrounded by aromatic vegetation. Around Capo Sperone, at the southern end of the island, protected cliffs provide habitat for birds of prey including Eleonora’s falcon and the peregrine falcon.

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