Poetto beach: a brief history of an emblematic place in Cagliari
The Poetto beach is a symbol of Cagliari and the Lido – beach club is a reference for everyone dreaming of a relaxing vacation.
The Poetto beach is just a few minutes from the centre of Cagliari and is a reminder of the Caribbean, it’s also known as the Poettu in Sardinian. It’s considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the island and also of the Mediterranean.
Clear blue water and a twelve kilometre stretch of fine white sand, the urban beach extends from the promontory of the Sella del Diavolo until the coast of Quartu Sant’Elena where it’s name changes to being the beach of Quartu or Poetto di Quartu.
It’s known as the “beach of one hundred thousand” because of the many visitors it has during the summer months, the Poetto beach owes its name to the Spanish tower “del Poeta”, a ruin on the promontory of the Sella de Diavolo.
There are other hypotheses on the origin of its name, some people think ‘Poetto’ comes from the Catalonian term pohuet (small pond) because of the many ponds and cisterns to conserve water in the area of the Sella del Diavolo. Another theory suggests it’s named after the Spanish word for a port, puerto, referring to the Marina Piccola also nearby the Sella del Diavolo.
Before it became a famous tourist destination of the island, the main activities on the Poetto were connected to salt extractions. During the second half of the XVI century, the Spanish built various watchtowers so to defend the territory from Barbary Corsairs attacks and in 1717 and 1793 both the Poetto and the coast of Quartu Sant’Elena where the main landing areas in the south of Sardinia for the Spanish and the French.
The beach is now one of the most popular in Sardinia, but at the beginning of the XIX century, the inhabitants of Cagliari preferred going to the beach in Sa Perdixedda and Giorgino on the west side of Golfo Degli Angeli.
The situation changed during the first few decades of the XX century when the first beach clubs were built like the Lido to which were added many more kiosks.
Poetto beach: the historical Lido
Lido is a historical club on the Poetto beach and has 1000 cabins of various size, toilets, cold and hot showers, a restaurant on the beach, a bistro on the round terrace, a bar, a pizza restaurant, ice cream parlour and a Pizza Hut.
It also has a covered nightclub and an open-air one, a toy library, a shopping centre, a sports centre, a skate, canoe and bike rental shop, a marine first aid establishment, a clubhouse and some areas for events.
The structure was built in 1914 by Gaetano Usai and has had some transformations over time including some restorations so to improve the efficiency of the historical facility and offer all its visitors the best service.
Although the swimming season begins on the 1st of June and ends on the 30th of September, the establishment is open all year round. The Lido is also part of the Sardinia Beach Holiday, a package available for the guests of Palazzo Doglio.
Sardinia Beach Holiday includes:
- Treatment in B&B
- VIP treatment at arrival
- Daily transfer toward and from the Poetto beach
- Daily entrance for “Il Lido” including cabin, umbrella and dedicated service
- The wellness program at the Doglio Club (sauna, Turkish bath, exclusive heated pool with stimulating Jacuzzi baths)
- Free access to the Doglio Club Fitness Zone
- 10 % discount on the Doglio Club treatments
- 10% discount on consumption at the American Bar
- 10% discount at the Ristorante Osteria del Forte
- Wi-Fi included
- Early Check-in / Late Check out (based on availability)
- Upgrade room category (based on availability)
The clear blue water, the shallow sandy seafloor extending for 10 metres into the sea and the fine white sand beach truly make Poetto beach the perfect destination for a few days of total relaxation, far away from everyday stress and chaos.
Ideal for couples or families with children, the Poetto beach is not far from the Molentargius-Saline where one can admire the splendid flamingos which are called Sa Genti Arrubia in Sardinian (the red people).
