Cliffs shaped by time overlooking the sea, aerial and submerged caves, rare forms of life such as coral, marine flora and swarms of fish: in its north-western extremity, there is an excellent part of Sardinia, with spectacular landscapes
It is the marine portion of the large ecosystem of the Porto Conte park, of which it has been part since 2002. The protected area of Capo Caccia Isola Piana, is located in the territory of Alghero and includes the bay of Porto Conte and the stretch between Punta Giglio and Capo Caccia: a natural heritage of inestimable value, embellished with limestone rich in fossils and rare plants on the cliffs. You will visit naturalistic and archaeological sites with trekking and speleological itineraries: such as Le Prigionette, forest with white donkeys, Giara ponies and fallow deer, and - with permission - the Green Grotto, where you will find evidence of seven thousand years ago: perhaps destined for the dead and grave goods, human fossils, pottery and graffiti have been found.
If you are passionate about archeology, in the park, do not miss the Nuragic complexes of Palmavera and Sant'Ambenia and the Roman remains: the villa of Sant'Ambenia and the bridge over the Calich. The paths of the marine area climb to scenic places such as Cala della Barca, name deriving from a French vessel sunk here in 1664. In the paradise of the caves you will do bird watching: rocky strips suspended 300 meters above the sea are populated by birds such as the griffon more inaccessible cliffs and the peregrine falcon at Punta Cristallo.
The area has different levels of protection: zone A is off-limits, while in the reserves - of Punta del Cerchio and Cala del Bollo and Porto Conte - you will immerse yourself in ideal depths for diving. Between gullies and spiers, you will observe impressive layers of calcareous algae and posidonia meadows, with fish, molluscs and crustaceans. Huge massifs plummet into the water with walls studded with air and sea cavities. You will reach the cave of Neptune thanks to the Escala del Cabiròl or by shuttle services from the city port and Cala Dragunara, along Capo Galera and the characteristic island of Foradada. The interior, which can be visited for almost 600 meters, hosts suggestive environments with stalactites and stalagmites and a lake. The submerged cave of Nereo is the largest in Europe: you enter at a depth of 32 meters and exit from another opening at 15, after a tunnel of 350 meters between galleries and chambers. In addition to the two best known, there are the Giglio, Pozzo, Falco caves and the blue tunnel, which crosses the promontory between Cala della Barca and Cala Puntetta, allowing passage at low depths from one side to the other. You will explore a mysterious and fascinating world, where you can discover life forms, such as the red coral, the symbol of the Alghero coast, known as the Coral Riviera.