The Asinara National Park and its Protected Marine Area, “Isola dell’Asinara” are situated in the municipality of Porto Torres, in the Province of Sassari. The entire park is represented by the island of the same name, isola dell’Asinara and the sea surrounding it.
The island was a penal colony from 1885 onwards and later became a maximum-security prison in the 1980s, up until 1998. In 2002, the Park was officially founded.
The island of Asinara, despite being small, has a considerable variety of geological and geomorphological features. The western coastline, exposed to Mistral winds and coastal storms, is mostly rocky, with cliffs reaching as high as 200 m. a.s.l. The eastern coastline, on the other hand, is lower and has a number of bays and sandy beaches, surrounded by small dune systems and backshore wetlands.
There is no lack of hilly landscapes, indeed the peak of the island, Punta della Scomunica, stands408 m a.s.l.
The island’s flora has been subject to years of significant human and grazing activity (with the introduction of goats). The Mediterranean shrub dominates the island’s landscape with a strong presence of euphorbia, Mastic tree, rockrose and juniper. There are also different typical plants like the Centaurea horrida, the sea lavender, the Genista corsica and the Astragalus terraccianoi Vals.
The sandy coastlines are abundant with Thinopyrum junceum, sea matweed, cottonweed and sea daffodil.
The only forest formation can be found in Elighe Mannu home to a small ancient formation of holm oaks.
The park offers a wide variety of fauna including the mouflon and Sardinian wild boar. Also worth mentioning, from a nature point of view is the colony of Asinara white donkeys found on the island.
Asinara is also an important transitory point for different species of migratory birds. About 150 species of birds have been identified, many of them of particular naturalistic importance.
The island offers a number of visitor services including simple accommodation and eating facilities like the kiosk in Fornelli, the bar at Cala Reale, the “L’Asino Bianco” restaurant, the Locanda del Parco and the hostel-restaurant in Cala d’Oliva. It is also possible to visit the “Storie d’Asinara” permanent exhibition on the island at the Visitors’ Centre in Cala Reale. There is an Environmental Education Centre at Cala d’Oliva.
The park can be reached by ferry or private boat, from Stintino to the Fornelli jetty (to the south) or from Porto Torres to Cala Reale (further north).
We recommend visiting the park with authorised guides. They will ensure you have everything you need to make the most of Asinara’s natural beauty.
