Sardinia's Stunning La Pelosa Beach

There is no shortage of beautiful beaches in Italy and while we have compiled lists of some of our picks for the best among them before, we are always discovering new beaches that take our breath away and set the bar once more. Among these is a beach in Sardinia that really is an extraordinarily lovely place: La Pelosa.

Located 2km from Stintino, a small natural oasis and village on the north-west coast of Sardinia, this beach is the island's most famous stretch of the coast.

From May to September it is in high demand and there is good reason. It is an incredible paradise where calm turquoise waters meet soft powder-white sands and there is plenty to see and do in the area. You can go kayaking, snorkeling, on boat excursions to the Asinara Islands (Donkey Islands), pedal-boating, hiking and much more besides.

The thing the beach is most famous for and which makes it so iconic, however, is not its appearance or facilities, as many beaches boast those. No, it is the La Pelosa Tower that stands on a private islet and overlooks the picture-perfect piece as the final part of the incredible vista that is La Pelosa beach.

Built in 1578 to defend this beautiful territory, it is a 6m tall single storey stone building with a mushroom-shaped vault. Easily accessed by a short swim across to the islet through shallow and refreshing waters, it is closed to the public but the islet and exterior can still be explored.

Arguably one of the best beaches of Europe, it is 300 meters long and up to 60 meters wide in some spots and every inch is stunning. Come and try out diving in the Asinara Diving Center or the Roccaruja Diving Center or rent surfboards and canoes from the Stintino Windsurfing Center nearby or merely wander and take it all in.

It's basically a taste of the sun, fun, beauty and relaxation of the Caribbean, at a fraction of the cost and with the added bonus of Sardinian charm. Just find a vacation rental in Sardinia and pay a visit.