Holidays in Porto San Paolo

Marinas

As well as the Porto San Paolo jetty where ferries depart for Tavolara Island, there are two other marinas in this area. To the north of Porto San Paolo, reachable also on foot from the village centre, is the Costa Corallina marina, while to the south, in a sheltered inlet surrounded by granite rocks and Mediterranean scrub, is Cala Finanza. Just a suggestion – take a walk at dawn or at sunset, when the boats are suffused with the multicoloured light so typical of Sardinia, and maybe extend the walk as far as the beaches near the marinas and enjoy an aperitif at one of the kiosks.

Porto San Paolo street markets

The weekly market, located among the shops and cafes in the centre of the town, delights tourists with its picturesque stalls selling fruit and vegetables, cured meats and cheeses, as well as local crafts. The market is an additional shopping opportunity in a town which truly has everything, from a bank to a pharmacy, bakery, greengrocer, and shops for homeware, sporting and fishing goods, photography and toys, jewellery and Sardinian crafts.

In the evening, as well as a little market which is always present during the summer months, craft markets held by Sardinian artists often add interest to the strolls of customers of Porto San Paolo’s numerous bars, restaurants and ice-cream shops.

Tavolara Film Festival

The Tavolara Film Festival, a celebration of Italian cinema at its best, takes place every year in July. Actors, directors and film industry insiders take part in this event which is held in Porto San Paolo and on Tavolara Island, involving residents and tourists in nothing less than a full immersion. Very interesting is the film editing course for kids held during the week-long festival.

Small town and country churches

There are no less than eight churches located in various small towns and villages. Worthy of note are the medieval country Church of Santa Giusta in the hamlet of the same name, and the parish church of San Nicola di Bari in Loiri, which features a granite stone facade and a portal surmounted by an architrave with a bas relief depicting a scene from the life of the saint. The Loiri choir performs in the churches on the feast days of their patron saints – St. Nicola at the end of August, and St. Anthony of Padua in mid-June.