Yachtcharter Carloforte

Whom it pulls in the vacation to a more ursprünglicheren, Bodenständigen Italy, away from mass tourism and luxury yachting, which finds its luck südwest of Sardinia. Here lies the small island of San Pietro. On its 50 km² live just über 6000 inhabitants, most of them in the town of Carloforte. Discover the capital of Sardinia, Cagliari, from which you can also start, and on the southeast coast the long, fine sandy beaches of the island. 

Climate: Mediterranean with temperatures between 23 and 30 degrees
. Winds: Scirocco, Maestrale, thermal winds
Sailing season: April to October

Yacht charter Carloforte

While the island was important in ancient times due to the mining of ochre, it later remained uninhabited for a long time and was then settled in 1738 by Ligurian fishermen on the initiative of the king. Therefore, Genoese dialect is still spoken here today. The island also has a Tunisian influence, for example couscous is used in the traditional cuisine.

Carloforte: Starting far away from mass tourism

To get to the island of San Pietro, you can take the shuttle from the airport in Cagliari to Portovesme and take the ferry to Carloforte. The marina is right next to the ferry station. Here you will also find a bar and a secured parking lot. In the immediate vicinity of the marina are smaller supermarkets, cafes and restaurants. A walk through the old town leads through small alleys to the Piazza Repubblica and along the old city wall (Porta Leone). In the old town you will always pass small typical Italian churches, where you should take a look.

The landscape of San Pietro is characterized by beautiful rocky coasts with grottos, small bays with sandy beaches, and flatter coastal strips around Carloforte, also with sandy beaches. The interior of the island is rather hilly and suitable for hiking tours. The paths lead through Mediterranean maquis forest and, if you are lucky, you can see the Eleonora's falcon in the sky, which migrates here from Madagascar in the summer.

The culture of the island is characterized by the close relationship of the inhabitants to the sea. The name of the island also speaks of this, as it is named after the patron saint of fishermen, Simon Peter. In late spring, the schools of tuna pass by the island heading south. Tuna fishing has a long tradition on the island and is still an important part of the culture. At one time, the schools were caught in the traditional fishing method of mattanza through a system of multiple nets. Due to overfishing, the tuna population has decreased and so has the traditional fishing. Once a year, however, the Girotonno, the great tuna festival, still takes place in June.

After tuna in all variations, the islanders like to eat as dessert a Canestrelli alla Tabarkini, a sweet pastry, which is classically accompanied by a Moscato di Calasetta, a sweet wine. Typically Italian, the island also has its own pasta, cassuli, as well as several types of wine grown on the island, such as Nasco Aromatico, Moscato di Calasetta, Carignano, Vermentino or Bovaleddu. On the island it is possible to enjoy!

In the old town of Carloforte, small alleys with charming colorful houses await you. ©AdobeStock

Sights and activities around the island of San Pietro

It takes about half a day to sail around the island in a relaxed way. It has many small unspoiled bays accessible only from sea - a plus for yacht charterers. However, due to the rocky ground, caution is advised, but it is also easier to moor. The bays are also good for snorkeling.

South of Carloforte you can still see the salt pans that were once used for salt production. Today, flocks of flamingos flock here in search of food. On the flatter east coast, several beaches line up before the coast turns into a steep rocky coast. At the southern tip, the Faraglioni le Colonne rise out of the water like columns, and those who take a closer look at the steep cliffs will discover individual grottos. If you are looking for the most beautiful beach of the island, you will find it in the southwest of the island: Spiaggia La Caletta. Between pine trees and turquoise blue water, a fine sandy beach stretches for several kilometers. Water sports fans can go wind and kite surfing here. Another highlight is Capo Sandalo on the west coast with the westernmost lighthouse in Italy. From here you can experience beautiful sunsets. The bright basalt rock then colors itself in the colors of the sun. The small Isola del Corno is located in front of the cape. Also to the north of San Pietro are two small islets, Isola Piana and Isola die Ratti, which are waiting to be explored by boat.

From Isola di San Pietro the vacation can continue to the southern part of Sardinia, for example towards Cagliari. Tips for cruising destinations around Sardinia can be found on our area page Sardinia.

On San Pietro you are still among yourselves. While the rocky coast dominates in the west, the sandy beaches lie on the east side. ©AdobeStock

Yacht charter Carloforte - set sail with 1a Yachtcharter!