In spite of its fame for the Pelosa beach, Stintino is still a charming little fishing village. However, tourism features strongly in the summer months.
A short distance from the town you find the Pelosa and Saline beaches – white sandy beaches with the clearest water imaginable. On the beaches you can see the remains of the old 16th century Spanish watchtowers, which are still standing. From the Pelosa beach there is a wonderful view of the small Isola Piana island and to Asinara.
Today the Asinara island is a Nature Reserve, but until a few years ago the island was used as a prison island, and some of Italy’s most dangerous felons, terrorists and financial criminals were imprisoned here. Prior to this, after the first world war, the island was used for prisoners of war, and at the beginning of the previous century it was used for quarantining travelers suspected of carrying diseases. The island is therefore no fairytale paradise, and it is no wonder that it is nicknamed Isola del Diavolo, Devil’s island. But it is precisely its tough history that has caused the island to remain so unspoiled today, both as far as flora and fauna are concerned, and is what makes it so fascinating to visit.
