The beach of Is Arutas stretches along the coast in the municipality of Cabras, in western Sardinia, in the province of Oristano.
Is Arutas is the most famous beach on the coast of the Sinis peninsula, also known as the “spiaggia dei chicchi di riso (rice grain beach)”. Indeed, its unusual appearance comes from the extremely white gravel sand with grains of quartz which have been smoothed by the sea.
Its clear colours change with the light from white to a delicate pink, contrasting with the green and blue sea.
The beach extends for around 5 kilometres surrounded by ochre sandstone rocks where rosemary and Mastic tree and specimens of the European fan palm grow towards the hinterland.
Its very unusual sand was, unfortunately, the subject of repeated “thefts” by numerous tourists who visited the beach. The excessive removal of sediments was leading the beach to a process of erosion, with the risk of causing permanent damage to it. In an attempt to make people aware, a campaign was launched with the slogan:
“I’ve been here for millions of years, created in the abysses of the sea, lost amidst the white silence of the Sinis. Please don’t remove me” (Complaint from a grain of quartz).
There are restaurants, kiosks and bathing services near the beach.
