20 Best Beaches in the World
By • Last UpdatedPiscinas Beach, Arbus, Sardinia
Carved by the Mistral wind and adorned with juniper bushes and olive trees, the Piscinas Dunes provide a dynamic backdrop along Sardinia’s southwestern Costa Verde (Green Coast). Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, Hotel Le Dune Piscinas, a repurposed mining warehouse, features large windows and inviting lounge areas perfect for enjoying the ever-shifting panorama of sky, sand, and waves.
Nestled in a remote area of remarkable natural beauty, Piscinas beach is flanked by some of the tallest dunes in Europe, still sculpted by the Mistral wind. The dunes’ warm yellow ochre hue is occasionally interrupted by clusters of prickly esparto, thorny carrots, and sea lilies, while inland, junipers and ancient olive trees create small groves.
This region, rich in flora and fauna, offers an ideal setting for long walks on the sandy shores, particularly in the early morning hours when one might spot deer coming down to the sea. In June, sea turtles are known to nest along the beach. Nearby, Marina of Arbus features Funtanazza beach, with its striking green waters and dark gray sands, as well as the expansive beaches of Pistis and Torre dei Corsari, bordered by golden dunes. A swim just 200 meters offshore reveals a captivating underwater landscape, where one can also glimpse the remnants of a sunken English ship, which, laden with lead and armed with a gun, has rested beneath the sand for over a century.