
Credit foto: Ramon Espiña Fernandez · CC BY-SA 3.0
Beach · Quartu Sant'Elena
Mari Pintau
Mari Pintau is one of the best-known beaches along the scenic coastal road between Cagliari and Villasimius. Its name means “painted sea”, a fitting description of the colours created by clear water over pale pebbles and sand.
The “painted sea”
On calm days the water quickly shifts from transparent to turquoise and deep blue. The pale pebbles help create the bright appearance of the seabed.
The beach
The beach is not especially wide and mixes pebbles with finer material. Its limited size means it can become crowded during the busiest summer months.
Access and parking
The beach lies along the coastal provincial road. Before visiting, check current parking areas and restrictions and avoid unsafe roadside parking.
Geremeas and the coast
Mari Pintau belongs to the Geremeas coastal area, characterised by bays, headlands and Mediterranean scrub. It is easy to include during a transfer between Cagliari and Villasimius.
In the Trip Planner
Mari Pintau is a strong but relatively small beach stop. It should be treated as the main beach or a short scenic stop rather than combined with numerous other bays in the same day.