The SP 49 provincial road, that connects Bosa to Alghero, is one of the most captivating scenic roads in Sardinia. It is characterised by multicoloured landscapes, intense fragrances and a feeling of freedom in close contact with nature, interrupted only by a few isolated shepherds’ huts. Along the road, about seven kilometres from Bosa, an irresistible scenario appears as you look towards the sea: it is the promontory of Torre Argentina, where a fortress guarding the territory has been standing for over five centuries. At its foot, there is a succession of coves, framed by white limestone cliffs and dotted with basalt rocks and flat rocks, with an almost lunar appearance. The sea that opens up before it is of an intense cobalt blue.
Fifty metres from the shore, a rocky islet emerges, known as the island de sas crabas (of the goats). The landscape behind it is made up of expanses of Mediterranean scrub alternating with green meadows. The tower was built for defensive purposes during the last decades of the 16th century. Inside it, there was a small garrison and light weaponry and it allowed constant visual contact with the Tower of Bosa and, further south, with that of Columbargia. At sunset, its dark solitary profile, in contrast with the warm, bright colours of the sun, will treat you to an intense emotion.
From the tower, you can follow various trekking trails along the coast, surrounded by rosemary, myrtle, rockrose and helichrysum. Towards the south you will come to the cove of Cala sa Codulera, a pebble beach washed by the sea’s transparent, shallow waters, ideal for snorkelling. Moving beyond, there is a large bay where you will find the little beach of Compoltitu, with sand and limestone cliffs tinged with white. Once again on the scenic road, just over ten kilometres north of Torre Argentina, you will enter the heart of the ‘costa dei grifoni’ (coast of the griffons), a coastal stretch that has become the kingdom of this rare bird of prey. The bio-marine park of Capo Marargiu stretches across this area: along with the griffons, golden eagles and peregrine falcons nest here. At the foot of the promontory, the seabed is just as good in terms of its rich and varied marine life. Lobsters, groupers, conger eels, skates and white breams appear amid the marine grottoes and ravines. The most distinctive touch of colour is given by the corals. Before going back to the asphalt of the provincial road, it’s impossible not to take another look at the scenery: to the right, there is Capo Caccia and there are several rocky islets in the open sea, among which sa Pagliosa, while to the south, there are the white trachyte cliffs of the Bosa coastal road.
