Podcast Summary

Podcast: Strictly Sardinia
Host: Claudia Tavani
Episode Title: Your Guide To Carloforte And San Pietro Island
Date: January 22, 2026

Episode Overview

Claudia Tavani, Sardinian native, travel blogger, and host, guides listeners through the remarkable town of Carloforte and the island of San Pietro (Isola di San Pietro) in southern Sardinia. Sharing local insights and practical travel tips, she highlights why this unique destination should be on every visitor’s itinerary, what to see and do, and how to get the most out of a trip to this scenic, culturally rich enclave.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction and Background

• Claudia sets the episode’s focus on Carloforte and San Pietro island, emphasizing their authenticity and uniqueness in Sardinia. She mentions the detailed blog post that supports this episode.
  • “Carloforte is located in the San Pietro island in the Sulci's Archipelago in southern Sardinia and it's one of the most beautiful, unique places that you can visit on the island.” (02:01)

2. History of Carloforte and San Pietro Island

• Ancient origins:
  • Human presence dates back to the Phoenicians (8th century BC).
  • Carthaginian settlements, including a temple and necropolis.
• Modern founding (1738):
  • Founded by 30 families from Tabarca (off Tunisia), themselves originally of Genoese origin.
  • King Charles Emmanuel III permitted the resettlement after economic decline due to falling coral yields.
  • The town’s name references King Charles ("Carlo Forte" – Charles the Strong).
  • “The population, which is not even 6,000 people, is still speaking the original language that they spoke in Tabarka, that is a dialect similar to Genoese.” (05:28)

3. Beaches of San Pietro Island

• Claudia details several beaches, sharing local tips for picking beaches according to wind conditions and describing unique features:
  • Il Giunco: (07:03)
    • Longest beach; shallow, safe for kids, white sand and pebbles, beach club with rentals.
  • Girin: (08:12)
    • Small, scenic, easy parking, close to town.
  • Guidi: (08:55)
    • White sand, rocky backdrop, very clear water, signs of pristine nature (posidonia), nearby kiosk and club, small parking fee.
  • La Bobba: (09:32)
    • Claudia’s favorite, best with mistral wind for shelter, dramatic rocks and sand dunes, accessible, affordable day rentals.
    • “Many locals will tell you that it's the best beach. As I said before, when the mistle wind blows.” (09:57)
  • La Caletta: (11:05)
    • Southwest, long and sandy with rocks, great for families, accessible, food kiosk.

4. Exploring Carloforte Town – Sights & Landmarks

• Photographic Beauty:
  • Colorful, picturesque, ideal for walking and photos.
  • Sarkiot (Via Solferino): (12:38)
    • Iconic archway, popular photo spot.
  • City Walls and Lion’s Gate: (13:35)
    • Built after Corsair invasion of 1798, only visible in parts today. Noted for carved lion icon.
  • Giuseppe Cavallera Cineteatro: (14:28)
    • Large waterfront Liberty-style building with trade union, cinema, and concert heritage.
  • Church of San Carlo: (15:45)
    • 18th-century parish church, houses historic statue of St. Anne, representative of settlers’ roots.
• Carloforte Salt Pans: (17:07)
  • Just outside town, great for birdwatching (flamingos, seagulls), used since Punic times, out of use since 1998.

5. The Tonnara (Traditional Tuna Fisheries)

• One of the Mediterranean’s last working tonnare; a major local tradition and identity marker.
• Tuna and Tonnara Visits:
  • Can be visited on guided tours only; tasting local tuna is a must.
  • “You can certainly taste Carlo Forte delicious tuna in one of the many local restaurants.” (18:34)

6. Natural Attractions

• Le Colonne: (19:38)
  • Striking seaside columns, one fell to erosion, landmark since 1993. Accessible by car or on foot from La Bobba.
• Piscine Naturali di Nasca: (21:07)
  • Natural pools reached by boat or an easy (but hot) hike, recommended good footwear.
  • “It's not a difficult hike, meaning that to get there you walk downhill. It's a bit more hard [...] on the way back, because it's uphill, it's definitely worth the effort.” (21:48)

7. Boat Tours and Diving

• Boat tours highly recommended, but plan based on weather—wind exposure is high.
• Diving is excellent, but best for advanced divers; not recommended for beginners.
  • “Carlo Forte and San Pietro island are also one of the most popular destinations in Sardinia to go diving. Dives here are for quite advanced divers...” (23:40)

8. Capo Sandalo Lighthouse & Sunsets

• Built 1864, a scenic drive from town, starting point for panoramic trails, a sunset highlight spot. (24:12)

9. The Girotonno Festival

• Annual festival late May — early June, celebrates high-quality local tuna with food, music, and events.
  • “The Girotonno is Carlo Forte's most famous festival and it's a celebration of this high quality tuna.” (25:30)

10. Practical Travel Information

• Getting There:
  • Ferries from either Calasetta (picturesque) or Porto Vesme (industrial); both allow cars, frequent departures, no need to book in advance. (26:36)
• Getting Around:
  • Car is essential; the island is hilly; limited/no public transport.
  • “To explore the island there is virtually no public transportation, so you will have to have a car, moped, bikes. But keep in mind the island is very hilly and it can be quite tough to move around.” (27:30)
• Recommended Stay:
  • Minimum three days to do justice to the area, not just as a day trip from Cagliari.
  • “So just plan to spend at least three days there, I would say.” (28:03)

11. Where to Eat in Carloforte

• Da Nicolo:
  • One of the best, excellent food and service, pricier.
• Pomata Bistro:
  • More relaxed, run by renowned Sardinian chef family, excellent quality.
• Da Andrea al Cavallera:
  • Claudia’s personal favorite for seafood spaghetti and wines.
• Tonno di Corsa:
  • Local go-to for tuna specialties.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• "It's a gorgeous place that has retained all its character and that you should absolutely visit if you want a trip to a unique destination." (02:30)

• "The population, which is not even 6,000 people, is still speaking the original language that they spoke in Tabarka, that is a dialect similar to Genoese. So it's quite unique because it's quite, quite different from the other language of Sardinia that we speak here." (05:25)

• On choosing beaches:

  • "So you will have to pick the best beach based on the wind of the day. When you get to Carlo Forte, usually all hotels will give you a map of the island with the various beaches... it will tell you if it is a good beach to visit, depending on where the wind is blowing." (06:12)

• "When I last visited Santioco in San Pietro island, incidentally, there was a lot of wind and that's where my sister and I went. The water, though, was freezing, just because when the mistral wind blows, the water is always freezing." (10:21)

• "It takes about two hours in total, two and a half hours in total to get there, including the ferry. And. And it deserves more time. So just plan to spend at least three days there, I would say." (28:01)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening & Purpose – 00:00–02:00
• History – 02:00–06:00
• Top Beaches – 06:00–12:00
• Town Highlights & Landmarks – 12:00–17:00
• Salt Pans & The Tonnara – 17:00–19:00
• Natural Attractions – 19:00–22:00
• Boat Tours & Diving – 22:00–24:00
• Sunset at Capo Sandalo – 24:00–25:00
• Girotonno Festival – 25:00–26:30
• Logistics: Travel & Getting Around – 26:30–28:00
• Where to Eat – 28:00–29:00

Final Notes

Claudia’s insider knowledge makes this episode a must for anyone planning a Sardinian adventure. Her advice is practical, passionate, and full of local flavor—adding authenticity and detail you won’t find in guidebooks. For more detail, Claudia directs listeners to her blog, and offers one-on-one planning sessions for those seeking a tailored Sardinia experience.