Porto Ainu

Porto Ainu is a small bay tucked along the coastline near Tanaunella in Gallura, northeast Sardinia, offering that raw, unhurried stretch of coast that's harder to find the further tourist season rolls on. Fair warning: seaweed buildup on the shore and in the shallows is a real thing here, so don't expect pristine conditions year-round. The surrounding Gallura landscape — granite outcrops, macchia scrubland, and that deep Sardinian blue offshore — does a lot of the heavy lifting. It's the kind of spot you stumble onto rather than plan around, best enjoyed when you manage your expectations and soak in the scenery.