The island of Sant’Antioco is surrounded by enchanting coves and beaches, among which Maladroxia stands out, a real natural paradise recommended for those looking for and appreciating unique and suggestive places.
Located in the south-eastern part of the island, about 8 km from the town of Sant’Antioco, it is one of the most beautiful and famous beaches in Sardinia. In fact, over the years it has been repeatedly awarded the prestigious Blue Flag, the international recognition assigned by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) for the excellence of bathing water.
Ideal for families but also for couples, it is characterized by a wavy-shaped beach about 500 meters long. The white and soft sand, in some places mixed with pebbles, is bathed by a crystal clear sea with a thousand shades of blue. The shallow seabed that slopes gently towards the open sea makes it the perfect beach for small children, who can play freely and enjoy the sea in complete safety.
Sheltered from the mistral, it is much loved by those who practice underwater fishing and diving. On the beach it is also possible to rent bathing equipment, pedal boats and canoes.
Beyond the beauty, thermal waters emerge from its seabed, exploited since the times of the ancient Romans. To locate these hot springs, just head to the north side of the beach. From Maladroxia it is also possible to enjoy a wonderful view of the eastern coast of the Gulf of Palmas.
Around the beach stands the tourist village of the same name, with houses that slope down from the hill to the edge of the beach, where you can breathe a quiet and authentic atmosphere. The village is dominated by a hill, on which stands the nuraghe S’Ega Marteddu, consisting of a keep, covered by Mediterranean scrub, and a bastion of three side towers only partially preserved. In Sant’Antioco there are the remains of 43 nuraghi.
In the vicinity of Maladroxia there is another of the most famous beaches of the island, that of Coaquaddus, which literally means ponytail and refers to the sinuous shape of the coast. Also not to be missed on the island are the cliffs of Is Praneddas, the whitewashed rocks of Cala Sapone, the coves of Grotta, della Signora and the beach of Turri, characterized by a shallow and sandy seabed and by wonderful colors ranging from emerald green to turquoise, to blue.
In the town of Sant’Antioco, on the other hand, the following are undoubtedly worth a visit: the Ferruccio Barreca Archaeological Museum, which houses a vast range of finds from the island; and the Basilica of Sant’Antioco Martire, whose original structure was built around the fifth century on the tomb of the blessed martyr.
