When we arrived we thought we'd ended up in a sleepy little town. The streets of colourful apartments were empty, and all the shuttered windows were closed to the daylight.
We arrived at the La Terrazza di Lilly B&B where our friends, Myles and Tom had stayed a few months before. The B&B was well located in the town's quiet streets and on the hillside overlooking the beach, Rena Bianca, and the Mediterranean Sea.
It was also a stone's throw from the 16th century Torre Longosardo, a tower that was to protect the Sardinian shorelines.
View from Rena Bianca Beach. Torre Longosardo to the left and La Terrazza di Lilly B&B is the middle white villa at the frontThe B&B was immaculate and beachy...
... with fantastic views to the emerald waters...
Rena Bianca Beach in Santa Teresa from the B&B
We hopped into our swimmers and headed straight for the beach and the blue sun lounges. The waters were as clear as the waters at Poetto Beach.
I should make a mention of the business of sunbeds (lettino) and umbrellas (ombrellone) in Italy, and most European beaches. We don't have these facilities on Aussie beaches (well, that I know of) but in Italy and other European beaches, private areas of sunbeds and umbrellas are hired out for a daily charge to ensure a comfortable beach stay.
At Poetto Beach, facilities such as cabanas, toilets and showers were provided. As well as decking for wheelchairs as we noticed how the beach was well catered for the older population. Rena Bianca didn't have as many facilities, being much smaller, but as we were already used to the comfort of the sun lounges at Poetto we couldn't resist. The sunbeds and umbrellas also provide ample shade when the sun is highest in the sky and a place to store or hang belongings, off sand and away from prying hands. I did at times, miss feeling the bed of sand underneath me, but for everything else the sunbeds were great.
The areas are usually overlooked by one or two people who are also life guards. And we did see a beach rescue of someone in an inflatable boat who got washed around the headlands when the seas became rough one afternoon.
I mentioned arriving in to a sleepy town, but on our first night out, fresh from the beach and a day in the sun, we discovered that at 8pm Santa Teresa comes to life with lights and with lots of people.
We dined at the nearby il Grottino, the best restaurant in town, we believe.
All the eateries, bars and shops throw open their doors till late and we spent every night out in the town for dinner and shopping. There were endless shops of souvenirs and red coral jewellery.
Am afraid we can't say much more about Santa Teresa. Most of our days began with breakfast at the B&B, then down at the beach.
Rena Bianca first thing in the morning
In the evenings we'd visit town and return for a restful night with the windows open while the waves crashed on the shores below.
We opted not to hire a car in Sardinia, so we weren't inclined to explore the surrounding areas but it's something we'd consider one day in the future (after we learn to drive manual and on the opposite side of the road). We were quite happy to stay put and make up for all lost beach time over the past 3 years. A place like Santa Teresa couldn't be more perfect for this.
After our week in Santa Teresa, we took a ferry (jut one hour) to the French island, Corsica, landing in the beautiful cliff top town of Bonifacio.
Google map of Sardinia (bottom) and Corsica (top)
... with fantastic views to the emerald waters...
Rena Bianca Beach in Santa Teresa from the B&B... and Corsica, which could be seen in the distance.
I should make a mention of the business of sunbeds (lettino) and umbrellas (ombrellone) in Italy, and most European beaches. We don't have these facilities on Aussie beaches (well, that I know of) but in Italy and other European beaches, private areas of sunbeds and umbrellas are hired out for a daily charge to ensure a comfortable beach stay.
At Poetto Beach, facilities such as cabanas, toilets and showers were provided. As well as decking for wheelchairs as we noticed how the beach was well catered for the older population. Rena Bianca didn't have as many facilities, being much smaller, but as we were already used to the comfort of the sun lounges at Poetto we couldn't resist. The sunbeds and umbrellas also provide ample shade when the sun is highest in the sky and a place to store or hang belongings, off sand and away from prying hands. I did at times, miss feeling the bed of sand underneath me, but for everything else the sunbeds were great.
The areas are usually overlooked by one or two people who are also life guards. And we did see a beach rescue of someone in an inflatable boat who got washed around the headlands when the seas became rough one afternoon.
I mentioned arriving in to a sleepy town, but on our first night out, fresh from the beach and a day in the sun, we discovered that at 8pm Santa Teresa comes to life with lights and with lots of people.
We dined at the nearby il Grottino, the best restaurant in town, we believe.
All the eateries, bars and shops throw open their doors till late and we spent every night out in the town for dinner and shopping. There were endless shops of souvenirs and red coral jewellery.
Am afraid we can't say much more about Santa Teresa. Most of our days began with breakfast at the B&B, then down at the beach.
Rena Bianca first thing in the morning In the evenings we'd visit town and return for a restful night with the windows open while the waves crashed on the shores below.
We opted not to hire a car in Sardinia, so we weren't inclined to explore the surrounding areas but it's something we'd consider one day in the future (after we learn to drive manual and on the opposite side of the road). We were quite happy to stay put and make up for all lost beach time over the past 3 years. A place like Santa Teresa couldn't be more perfect for this.
After our week in Santa Teresa, we took a ferry (jut one hour) to the French island, Corsica, landing in the beautiful cliff top town of Bonifacio.
Google map of Sardinia (bottom) and Corsica (top)
