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THE SEA |
  
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| Our sea is an ancient myth: it tells of the wanderings of Ulysses, the enterprising Phoenician traders, the Roman triremes, the agile ships of the Barbary pirates, the ambitious Napoleon, the young artillery captain who failed to conquer the archipelago of La Maddalena and defeat the imposing fleet of Admiral Lord Nelson on the way to Trafalgar. But it is also a young sea, constantly being regenerated: favourable purify it, giving it the incredible hue of an emerald. After thousands of years battling with the mainland this young sea has turned out to be the winner, unmistakably modelling the coast: beaches strewn with granite sand finely ground by time alternate with ragged cliffs with fantastic shapes that inspired the English sculptor Henry Moore. Along the 80 kilometres of wildly beautiful shore in the territory of Arzachena there are many well sheltered lonely little coves, each with characteristics of its own. Though we cannot list them all we must mention the splendid sandy beaches of the Piccolo and Grande Pevero to the south-east of Porto Cervo, the famous bays of Capriccioli and, facing them, in the bay of Cala di Volpe, the long stretch of Liscia Rujas. Going back up the coast, to the north-west of Porto Cervo, we come to the clear sea of Baja Sardinia and, continuing along the other side of the Gulf of Arzachena, Mannena, Barca Bruciata - an incomparable natural swimming pool - and finally the Golfo delle Saline. Such an indented coastline offered plenty of choice of shelter and natural harbours, some of which have been made safer and more comfortable by human hands. Porto Cervo, originally a large round bay with a very narrow opening, has become the best equipped and most modern centre for pleasure craft in the whole Mediterranean. There are moorings for about 600 boats along numerous quays and piers, equipped with all the necessary services. The boatyard has haulage facilities for boats of up to 350 tons and indoor storage for over 250 boats. The fame of the "Centro 12 metri" is linked with the exploits of the yacht "Azzurra". To the west of Porto Cervo lies the recently built village of Poltu Quatu. Its name, meaning Hidden Port, is due to the particular formation of the coastline, which looks like a fjord and offers excellent shelter from all winds. The modern tourist harbour has moorings for over 400 craft from 8 to 35 metres long, offering excellent services (haulage and boatyard). The old harbour of Cannigione was enlarged about ten years ago with the construction of a long quay, while a number of floating wharves have been added more recently. The facilities available for craft include the supply of water and electric power, fuel supplies, haulage (within certain tonnage limits) and repairs. It has great possibilities as a tourist port, not only on account of its favourable natural position but above all because a new plan of enlargement is under way which will allow as many as 900 moorings.
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