With pale sandy beaches, red rocks, fishing villages and ancient memories, this stretch of coastline tells the story of where Gallura meets the sea of the Gulf of Asinara.
There is a part of Northern Sardinia that still retains its wildest and most authentic charm. This is the Costa Rossa, the stretch of coastline overlooking the Gulf of Asinara, between Santa Teresa Gallura and Castelsardo, where the green of the Mediterranean scrub meets the red of the granite and the blue of the sea.
We are in the municipality of Trinità d’Agultu e Vignola: a landscape of long beaches and more secluded coves, red-rock cliffs and sunsets over the sea. This is Sardinia with a strong character, capable of offering a rare feeling: that of standing before nature that is still free and unspoilt.
It is called the Costa Rossa precisely because of the colour of its rocks, shaped over the centuries by the mistral wind and sea salt. The granite takes on unusual forms, sometimes soft, sometimes monumental, while all around grow juniper, myrtle, mastic trees, strawberry trees and Mediterranean plants that fill the air with their fragrance.
Where the land gives way to the sea, the landscape opens into a succession of beaches and bays in vivid colours. La Marinedda, directly in front of Hotel Marinedda Thalasso & SPA, is one of the best-known beaches in the area: a wide, bright beach, also loved by those in search of sea, wind and open horizons. A little further away are iconic beaches such as Li Cossi and Tinnari, nestled between reddish rocks and transparent waters. These places seem designed for those who love walking, exploring and discovering Sardinia slowly, without rushing.
At the heart of this area lies Isola Rossa, a small fishing village that has retained its simple, intimate character. Its name comes from the red-granite islet just off the coast, a discreet yet distinctive presence that draws the eye towards the sea.
The marina, the seafront overlooking Spiaggia Nuova and Spiaggia Longa are places to enjoy at an easy pace, whether on a stroll, over an aperitif with a sea view or with an ice cream after a day at the beach. Nearby, the Aragonese tower recalls the village’s ancient past and offers one of the most evocative viewpoints along the coast.
In recent years, this stretch of coastline has also attracted the attention of the film industry. Several locations in Northern Sardinia were chosen for Disney’s live-action The Little Mermaid, including the beaches of Aglientu, the town of Castelsardo and Capo Testa in Santa Teresa Gallura, helping to showcase the striking visual power of these landscapes to an even wider audience. Star Wars: Starfighter, another Disney production expected in cinemas in 2027, has also brought film cameras back to the Costa Rossa. It is hardly surprising: with its dramatic cliffs and light that changes throughout the day, this stretch of coastline is cinematic by nature.
Set within this landscape is Hotel Marinedda Thalasso & SPA in Isola Rossa, the only five-star hotel along the stretch of coastline between Alghero and Santa Teresa Gallura. It is an ideal place from which to experience the Costa Rossa naturally: the sea just a few steps away, a Thalasso & SPA centre dedicated to wellbeing, villages and coves to discover during the day, and the silence of nature on your return. Named among Condé Nast Traveller’s Best Spas in Europe 2025, Hotel Marinedda brings together comfort, hospitality and a strong sense of place in a rare balance: a five-star holiday immersed in a Sardinia that still preserves its wildest side.
