It means 'painted sea'. The signature on this painting is nature itself, creator of a masterpiece with skilful artistic brushstrokes and a thousand shades of emerald-blue that contrast with the green of the surrounding hills. Its name could not have been more apt. The wonderful beach of Mari Pintau is the pearl of the territory of Quartu Sant'Elena: it is located along the bends of the scenic road that leads to Villasimius, about twenty kilometres from the centre of Cagliari, in the tourist location of Geremeas.

It is a beach of smooth, round granite pebbles and stones, washed by the crystal clear waters, that become more sparse as they make way for the fine, white sand. Its transparency allows a clear view of the sandy seabed, dotted by rocks on which the sunlight is reflected. Behind the beach, the hills are covered by fragrant Mediterranean shrubs, where there is a path, taking you from the car park to the beach. Mari Pintau is the ideal destination for those who like to do underwater fishing or who wish to dive down to the wonderful depths. You will find services here, as well as a beach establishment with equipment rentals and a kiosk-bar.

Along the scenic road to Villasimius, you can admire other gems: as you reach Cagliari, first you will encounter the splendid rocks of Cala Regina and the pebbles of Is Canaleddus, a beach behind which there is a thicket of eucalyptuses and junipers. As well as the ‘painted sea’, you will find the large bay of Geremeas, featuring beaches of coarse-grained white sand: a promontory separates Mari Pintau from the tiny golden-grained sand of Kala ‘e Moru and then there are the beautiful and relaxing beaches of Marongiu and Baccu Mandara. In the nearby hinterland, you can visit interesting archaeological sites and the mountain park of Sette Fratelli.