One, two, three... a thousand more glances before starting the journey. A seventeenth-century grey and white fortress nine meters high stands above one of two promontories, to the south-west, that surround and ‘protect’ it. Dunes, a thicket of eucalyptus trees and a sky-blue sea complete the picture, which you will say goodbye to as you move on alongside the pond of Notteri, admiring Punta Molentis, and dive into the Mediterranean greenery.

There are long stretches where you will be walking on a carpet of soft, white, sparkling sand. The Cala Pira tower stands watching from the top of a granite cliff, while beside it there is an intense turquoise sea. Then, as you reach Costa Rei and the dunes covered with junipers, take a look at Peppino’s rock and continue north, amidst the fragrances of the scrub. From the tower of Monte Ferru, the view of the Sarrabus landscapes begins to open up.

The ponds of Feraxi and Colostrai fill the view with colours, particularly the pink of the flamingos. You will also be travelling alongside the orange groves of San Priamo, before stopping to admire the original Torre dei Dieci Cavalli and the picturesque country church of San Giovanni Battista. Lastly, you can observe the sea from the Aragonese tower of Porto Corallo, where there is also a view of the ruins of the Castle of Gibas.

A long stretch of the coast is dominated by rocky cliffs and then the very long strip of sand of Cala Murtas suddenly appears. However, the inland area also arouses emotions, as you cross the domains of the Marquises of Quirra and listen to the echo of the legends about the tormented Countess Violante. You will see the red bricks of the church of San Nicola and the ruins of the castle of Quirra before reaching the majestic Murtas tower.

Abandoned mining structures, including a pier, are hidden among the eucalyptus, lentisk and strawberry trees in Porto Santoru. Not far from here, there are also nuraghi and a Tomb of Giants. Then, once more, kilometres of splendid beaches appear along the Marina di Tertenia. By the crystalline sea of Foxi Murdegu stands an 18th-century tower, used as a bunker during the Second World War. It is the elegant white tower of San Giovanni Sarrala.