Portoscuso and Carloforte – South Sardinia
Portoscuso is a town where the first economical activities are tuna fishing and maritime trade; in town there are still old tuna workshops, so-called tonnara. Fishing and long distance trade were activities both shaped in the past by the maritime geography of the Sulcis archipelago. Sardinian fishermen used to work on small sailboats until the end of the last century, where sailors managed the force of the wind on the lateen sails in order to change the direction and speed of a boat. Today sailing is a very popular activity among tourists. Kite-surfing, windsurfing, diving are only some of the sports on offer along the coast of Sulcis Iglesiente district, whose clean and crystal-clear waters invite you to discover the equipped ports along the coastline.
Portoscuso port
Portoscuso has one of the best equipped tourist ports of the area, located on Lungomare Cristoforo Colombo with more than 250 moorings for 35 meters long boats, with customer support areas, water, energy, oil, other services for disabled. In Summer, many religious and folk festivals are organized along the promenade by the sea. There is also an industrial port in Portovesme, where you can start a short cruise to S.Pietro Island.
Carloforte
Once you get to Carloforte, you will reach the tourist port of this small sailors’ village that has amazing beaches. Today the main economical activity of the town is the fishing of the Bluefin red tuna, one of the best tuna species, with its old traditions (including the tuna catch called “mattanza”). Every year a huge food competition takes place in Carloforte. Girotonno is an international contest, always held over the course of a whole week; it attracts tens of thousands of tourists to Carloforte with its rich tastings and music events.