Marina di Gairo

The territory of Gairo is not only mountains, rocks and streams: it also hides beautiful corners of coastline. Its beaches are scenic, uncrowded and wonderfully wild. Marina di Gairo is ideal for travellers who value peace, close contact with nature and even the journey it takes to get there. The Ogliastra village, whose present location dates back to the relocation of the inhabitants of Gairo Vecchio, has some genuine coastal gems. Coccorrocci and Su Sirboni are among the best known: striking, unspoilt and distinctly wild.

Follow the SS 125 and, near Tertenia, take the turn for Marina di Gairo. After about eight kilometres you reach the access to Su Sirboni beach, followed by an easy, well-marked walk of around ten minutes, less than 300 metres. To reach Coccorrocci, follow the signs for Marina di Gairo, continue straight and turn right at the second junction. Drive straight for another eight kilometres to reach the beach.

Wild and atmospheric, Su Sirboni Beach looks almost painted. Red porphyry rocks frame turquoise, crystal-clear water, while Mediterranean scrub adds deep green tones around the bay. Hidden from the main routes, this is not a beach you reach by chance: you have to seek it out, and that is part of its appeal. Once you arrive, the setting repays the effort. There are few services, which helps preserve its peaceful, natural character and makes it a great choice for anyone looking to switch off completely.

Coccorrocci Beach is one of Sardinia’s most distinctive pebble beaches and the largest of its kind on the island. Its name is linked to the local “is coccorroccius”, sea snails found in the area. The rounded stones, shaped by water and weather, range from green and grey to white and pink. Red porphyry cliffs and fragrant junipers frame the beach, while the clear water reveals the seabed below. Unlike some of the wilder coves nearby, Coccorrocci also has tourist facilities, making it a good compromise between unspoilt scenery and practical services.

There are several worthwhile places to explore nearby. In Marina di Cardedu, La Spiaggetta is a small, intimate beach that is rarely crowded, with clear water, pale pebbles giving way to soft sand offshore, and Mediterranean vegetation all around. Inland, the Tacco di Perda ’e Liana is another highlight. Rising to 1,293 metres in the territory of Gairo, it is the highest of Ogliastra’s limestone “tacchi”. This imposing Jurassic rock formation was declared a Natural Monument in 1993.