Sardinia boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Italy, but there is such an enchanting that it does not seem true. We are talking about the beach of Is Arutas, in the province of Oristano, considered “the pearl of the sinis peninsula”. This long coast is of a truly dazzling beauty that has conquered international recognition when Vanity Fair Travelers experts chose it in 2013 among the most beautiful in the world.
The beach of rice beans
A dazzling scenario, completely particular characterizes is arutas. Hundreds of meters of fine and rounded quartz grains are declined in an escalation of colors ranging from white white to delicate pink, up to the shades of green and yellow. To make this seaside resort unique is precisely the presence of these grains with such particular shapes that the nickname “beach of rice grains” earned her.
The shimmering expanse of this natural carpet of quartz grains, which shine in the sun, immerses itself in the clear sea with changing shades, from emerald green to blue, passing through crystalline turquoise. Around, a wild landscape frames this jewel of the Cabras area, whose inhabited area is about 14 kilometers.
Unique characteristics of the coast
Is Arutas extends between two rocky spurs: the homonymous tip in the south and on Bardoni (or Punta Badoni) to the north. This particular position offers breathtaking photographic scenarios from the two ends of the beach, where the rich vegetation of the Mediterranean scrub acts as a natural frame.
The seabed is already deep a few meters from the shore and its extraordinary clarity makes it a real snorkeling spot. Bring your smartphone or camera with you to immortalize these unique panoramas, and do not forget the underwater mask to explore the crystal clear waters.
Ideal destination for aquatic sports
The immediate depth of the waters and the mistral that beats on the western coast make is arutas a favorite destination of wind and surfers, even in winter, like most of the Gulf of Oristano. Due to the seabed rather deep since the shore and exposure to the strong winds, the beach has become one of the favorite destinations for surfing and windsurf lovers.
How to reach Is Arutas
You will reach it by passing through San Salvatore di Sinis, a sacred place since the prehistory that owes the name to a sanctuary erected on a early Christian hypogeum. The Borgata Cabarese was the scenario of western films of the seventies of the twentieth century, and today it offers parking, kiosk-bar and camping area. The former fishermen huts have become restaurants that surround the beach, adding a characteristic touch to the area.
The geological origins of quartz grains
The name is arutas means “the caves”, perhaps referring to the nearby cave of the Roman sandstones. The whole coast is surrounded by sandstone rocks that instill the feeling of being in a desert landscape. The genesis of these particular grains probably derives from the erosion, which occurred in hundreds of millions of years, of the porphyric granite of the islet of abbreeration pain – originally a mountain when the sea level was lower than the current one.
In fact, the Panorama contributes to the overwhelming island of Mal di Care, a naturalistic oasis with an unusual shape where marine turtles nest and in whose abysses, relics of each era are hidden, including one of the first century AD
The “twin” beaches of Is Arutas
Is Arutas is not alone: it has two “twin” beaches nearby, also characterized by tiny fragments of quartz mixed with clear sand. To the north there is Mari Emi, which extends for two and a half kilometers from Is Arutas to Porto Suadda. Next to the limestone cliffs de on Tingiosu that contain splendid coves, while behind the beach it is protected by high dunes and a pond, natural habitat of pink flamingos.
To the south, on the other hand, Maimoni is located, of similar dimensions, whose name derives from the Sardinian and Phoenician god of water and rain. You will reach it by passing through Tharros, where you can combine the sea a fascinating archaeological visit: it was the Nuragic village, the Phoenician colony, the Carthaginian port, the Roman Urbs, the Byzantine capital and, finally, the capital of the judgment of Arborea.
A heritage to be preserved
To safeguard these three natural wonders, it is essential to remember to leave every single grain on the spot before leaving the beach. This simple gesture contributes to preserving a unique geological heritage in the world.
In short, taking a bath in this corner of Sardinia is a memorable experience, to be done at least once in a lifetime. If you are planning a beach holiday in the Gulf of Oristano, the beach of rice grains is an absolutely unmissable stage that will leave you breathless for its unique and unspoiled beauty.
