The Island of Mal di Ventre
Off shore of the Sinis Peninsula, the Island of Mal di Ventre
A sneak preview
The island of Mal di Ventre attracted the interest of Alberto Lamarmora during the eighteen hundreds, the impressions in his writings still to a large extent perceivable today. Its name probably derives from the difficulties to navigate in its waters, once one of the most solitary places along the Sardinian western coast.
The captivating Island of Mal di Ventre, situated opposite the Sinis peninsula, has a surface area of 80 hectares, and is today protected by the Protected Marine Area Authority, which also includes the small rock-cliff Catalano or Coscia di Donna and the surrounding sea waters. The island is a flat granite expanse whose maximum height is 18 m, in the area where the lighthouse that dominates it stands. Its geologic nature is very interesting: it is, in fact, dissimilar from the overlooking coast of Sinis and displays an origin which can be categorised as being from a most ancient geologic era.
It is covered by an arid steppe sometimes interrupted by areas of Mediterranean brush with rockrose, lentisk and rosemary, and dwarf palm. Also found here are numerous undisturbed wild rabbits. And once upon a time there were probably also monk seals, if one believes what La Marmora wrote, declaring that he had seen them on a number of occasions. The western coastline presents a harsh granite bluff, while the eastern side, that looks out onto on a beautiful stretch of western Sardinian shore, is lined with enchanting little beaches, lapped by a spectacular transparent sea.
Moreover, the island is the destination for numerous migratory birds: cormorants, greater and smaller shearwater, the yellow-legged gull, Audouin’s gull, and Eleonora’s falcon who all nest here. But also of great importance are its waters, at one time teeming with fish, but still full of multicoloured fish.
How to get there
To reach the island of Mal di Ventre it is necessary to reach the town of Cabras along the SS 131.
Contacts
Municipality of Cabras
tel. 0783 3971
The island of Mal di Ventre attracted the interest of Alberto Lamarmora during the eighteen hundreds, the impressions in his writings still to a large extent perceivable today. Its name probably derives from the difficulties to navigate in its waters, once one of the most solitary places along the Sardinian western coast.
The captivating Island of Mal di Ventre, situated opposite the Sinis peninsula, has a surface area of 80 hectares, and is today protected by the Protected Marine Area Authority, which also includes the small rock-cliff Catalano or Coscia di Donna and the surrounding sea waters. The island is a flat granite expanse whose maximum height is 18 m, in the area where the lighthouse that dominates it stands. Its geologic nature is very interesting: it is, in fact, dissimilar from the overlooking coast of Sinis and displays an origin which can be categorised as being from a most ancient geologic era.
It is covered by an arid steppe sometimes interrupted by areas of Mediterranean brush with rockrose, lentisk and rosemary, and dwarf palm. Also found here are numerous undisturbed wild rabbits. And once upon a time there were probably also monk seals, if one believes what La Marmora wrote, declaring that he had seen them on a number of occasions. The western coastline presents a harsh granite bluff, while the eastern side, that looks out onto on a beautiful stretch of western Sardinian shore, is lined with enchanting little beaches, lapped by a spectacular transparent sea.
Moreover, the island is the destination for numerous migratory birds: cormorants, greater and smaller shearwater, the yellow-legged gull, Audouin’s gull, and Eleonora’s falcon who all nest here. But also of great importance are its waters, at one time teeming with fish, but still full of multicoloured fish.
How to get there
To reach the island of Mal di Ventre it is necessary to reach the town of Cabras along the SS 131.
Contacts
Municipality of Cabras
tel. 0783 3971
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