The National Park Marine Protected Area Asinara Island




The Island Asinara is located in the north west of Sardinia and she has an area of about 5000 hectares. Has a length of 17 km and a width of 6 km. Its morphology is very diverse ranging from high cliffs to the wide bays and beaches with white sand. The Island became a National Park and Marine Protected Area in 1997. It is a site of community interest and place integral to the International Marine Mammal Sanctuary.

The Island has a long history that dates back to prenuragic. Between 1600 and 1800 it was inhabited by shepherds and fishermen community . It 1885 the resident population is removed to make way for the first military hospital in Italy and the agricultural penal colony, later converted into a prison until 1997, when the National Park was born.

Asinara from the naturalistic point of view is a true sanctuary of nature. There are countless number of rare botanical species such as the Centaura and Limonium Horrida acutifolium, and Limonium laetum.

The fauna is represented by an infinite number of species: reptiles, amphibians, birds (resident and migratory birds), mammals (hares, wild boars, horses, donkeys and the typical white donkey)

Countless coves with white sand beaches and pristine adorn coast of the island.
Cala d'Arena, Cala turkish, Cala di Mezzo, Golden Cala, Cala Sant'Andrea, Cala Giorri them, just to name a few.

The Regional Natural Park of Porto Conte is located in the northwestern part of Sardinia. It has a varied morphology including a stretch of coastline between the most beautiful in the Mediterranean, the limestone massif of Capo Caccia, with the magnificent Caves of Neptune and a serious pico sea cliffs and two beautiful islands, Island and Island Foradada Piana. Capo Caccia surrounding the bay of Porto Conte at one end, while the opposite side there is a massive Punta Giglio. These sites together with the Forest Reserve "The Prigionette" are the heart of the park, a paradise for nature lovers. impressive series of underwater caves, "the caves of Nereus. " Major attractions will find sports fans: dozens of dirt roads for mountain biking, wall systems for free climbing, scuba diving unforgettable hiking trails to explore wonderful corners otherwise unreachable, horse riding etc..

Full of caves, endemic plants such as Centaurea horrida, dozens of varieties of wild orchids, fauna with the Griffon vulture, deer, wild horses, donkeys, falcons, buzzards, wild boars. A sea rich in fauna, because marine reserve. , Is a large number of underwater caves, "the caves of Nereus. " Major attractions will find sports fans: dozens of dirt roads for mountain biking, wall systems for free climbing, scuba diving unforgettable hiking trails to explore wonderful corners otherwise unreachable, horseback riding.