Tavolara Island, the smallest kingdom in the world! 16/01/2024 – Posted in: Discover Sardinia – Tags: Goats with golden teeth, Molara, Sardinia, tavolara, The smallest kingdom in the world
It is known as the smallest kingdom in the world. Tavolara is a limestone and granite mountain rising from the sea, 560 meters high, four kilometers long, characterized by rugged rocks, imposing and dizzying verticality, and beautiful chromatic shades: the green of juniper, rosemary, and mastic, combined with the azure, blue, and emerald green of the surrounding waters.
THE ISLAND
Elongated and with a thin shape, it is the focal point and defining symbol of an unforgettable spectacle: the Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area, stretching for 76 kilometers along the coast of Loiri Porto San Paolo, Olbia, and San Teodoro, and covering 15,000 hectares of crystalline waters, inlets, and coves, from Capo Ceraso to Punta s’Isuledda.
It also includes the islets of Molara and Molarotto, the picturesque islet of Proratora, the ‘twin’ islands of Isola Piana and Isola dei Cavalli, and the tiny islands of Porri, Topi, Drago, and the Red islet, finally Capo Coda Cavallo, a stretch of granitic land that extends into a sheltered sea.
These are all ideal places for boat excursions, diving, and snorkeling enthusiasts.
GOATS WITH GOLDEN TEETH
The history of Tavolara is linked to King Carlo Alberto of Savoy, who, according to legend, arrived on its shores in search of mythical goats with golden teeth (probably yellowed due to the local helichrysum that grows on the island) and named its only inhabitant Giuseppe Bertoleoni, the king of the island.
THE STORY
At the end of the 18th century Giuseppe Bertoleoni left Genoa on a small pleasure boat in search of a place to live. He reached the Archipelago of La Maddalena where he married two women. One day in 1806 he decided to divide his family leaving his first wife on the island of Santa Maria and reaching the island of Tavolara with the second, where he settled permanently.
In 1836 the King of Sardinia Carlo Alberto di Savoia landed on the island and presented himself as “King of Sardinia” and it seems that on that occasion Bertoleoni promptly replied “I am the king of Tavolara”.
While the Bertoleoni reign only lasted a century — in 1934, Tavolara was officially annexed by Italy — the royal family still carries on its role as protector of the island by ignoring the mass tourism and chasing away business-men that hope to get a “slice” of the island.
His descendants are still the only residents (and guardians) of the island. You will land on the ‘granite mountain’ in its southeastern area, at Spalmatore di Terra, equipped with a small harbor, refreshment points, and a scattered group of houses.
THE ENVIRONMENT
Nearby, enchanting small beaches bordered by sea lilies. The entire territory is dotted with Mediterranean vegetation, including the yellow of helichrysum, wild geranium, and a bellflower, the ‘stellina di Tavolara.’
Just beyond the harbor, in the only flat area, you will encounter the natural setting of the international film festival, “Una Notte in Italia,” which for decades, in July, has hosted actors, directors, and spectators in an incomparable setting, the world’s only red carpet directly in contact with the sea.
View from the Top of the Island
NEARBY FAMOUS BEACHES
Some of the most famous beaches in San Teodoro (and all of Gallura) are just a few minutes away: Cala Brandinchi with fine white sandy dunes and crystal-clear waters, and its ‘twin’ Lu Impostu, an almost one-kilometer-long stretch of white sand with clear waters, the delightful Cala Suaraccia (or ‘butterfly beach’), the rocks of Cala Ghjlgolu, La Cinta, the most famous, three kilometers of fine white sandy dunes that close to the north with the splendid promontory of Puntaldìa.
Behind them is the lagoon of San Teodoro, a resting place for pink flamingos, ideal for walks and birdwatching. On the surface, are white sandy beaches, coves, islets, and lagoons.
View of Tavolara from Porto Istana. PMB Photography
UNDER THE SEA
underwater, another world to discover. You can dive into certain areas in the southeast of the island, among walls, clefts, and caves. You will immerse yourself in environments rich in biodiversity and populated by schools of confident fish, places marked by the passage of cetaceans and dolphins, where it is common to find remains of ships and boats from any era.
Further Readings about Sardinia:
Palau, Gateway to the National Park
Dos and Don’ts when in Sardinia
The Meaning of the Sardinian Flag
Bosa, a colorful medieval town