Holiday apartment in Arbatax: Between Rocce Rosse and the Sea
Accommodation in Arbatax
Sea, rocks and the bay of Porto Frailis
Arbatax combines striking coastal formations with historic sites and exceptional viewpoints. Directly beside the port of Arbatax, the cliffs of Rocce Rosse consist of reddish porphyry and black diorite. The cliff rises approximately 15 metres above the sea. The porphyry and diorite give the cliff its two different shades of colour. As a result, striking rock colours meet open sea along this stretch of coast. The rock formation thus creates a distinctive landmark by the water. South of Arbatax, Porto Frailis lies in a bay. Fine sand and blue-green waters shape a coastal landscape there that looks different from the one at Rocce Rosse. The rocky cliffs beside the port and the sandy bay to the south thus form two different coastal scenes within the surrounding area. The differences lie in the landscape elements themselves: rock, bay, sand, stone and sea do not form a single, uniform coastal motif.
History between the lighthouse and the casemates
The buildings also tell different chapters in the history of the town. The Faro di Bellavista in Arbatax was built in 1866. The Chiesa di Stella Maris combines a stone façade, a wooden door and a three-tiered bell tower. The church was consecrated on 3 June 1953. The lighthouse and the church each have their own architectural focus: in one case, the structure of the Faro di Bellavista defines the connection with the coast; in the other, the combination of façade, door and bell tower shapes the appearance of the church.
Thirteen casemates from former anti-aircraft and naval batteries have been preserved in Parco Batteria; they housed soldiers during the Second World War. As part of a revitalisation project carried out in 2008, a nature trail was created there. In addition, the park offers visitors panoramic views of the town. Military-historical traces, a trail created later and views over the town thus come together in this park. For those interested in culture, the views of the buildings combine with the nature trail and the town panorama in Parco Batteria.
Tradition and special events
The Madonna Stella Maris is also part of Arbatax’s maritime character. It is honoured every third Sunday in July with three days of celebrations culminating in a procession on the sea. The date in July and the three-day duration give the festival a clear time frame; the procession continues the maritime connection as a tangible part of the celebrations.
Rocce Rosse also serves as a venue for open-air concerts and spectacular light shows featuring video mapping. The striking rocks can therefore be experienced both as a landscape element and as a backdrop for cultural events. The foot of the Torre di San Miguel, in turn, offers panoramic views across the gulf. At Rocce Rosse, the natural rocky backdrop is combined with concert and light-show formats; at the foot of the Torre di San Miguel, the view extends across the gulf.
Other places in the surrounding area
The wider area around Arbatax also includes Marina Di Gairo, Villanova Strisaili, Ussassai, Santa Maria Navarrese, Loceri, Lanusei, Ilbono and Ulassai.
For the overarching travel overview: Ogliastra.
