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Bosa
At the northern end of the Planargia altiplano the river Temo has cut a deep valley into the coastal mountains. The river Temo is the only river in Sardinia that is navigable for boats at least for a few kilometres. Together with the rocky island Isola Rossa at the river mouth it builds a natural harbour that has attracted settlements since Phoenician times. With the setup of the Phoenician castle in the 12th century the contemporary town began to develop.
The historic town centre of Bosa lies about two kilometres along the river inland underneath the Castello (castle) Malaspina. The part along the river is more mundane and originally was habituated by the richer citizens while the houses further up the steep flanks of the hill were inhabited by the poorer people because the way up the steep streets is pretty strenuous. The buildings up the hill is a colourful mix of small houses which resembles a bit of Caribbean towns and stands in stark contrast to the 5 to 6 stories buildings down at the river.
The old stone bridge Ponte Vecchio underneath the castle has long been the only bridge spanning the river Temo. From here a nice promenade runs for a couple of hundred meters along the northern side of the river while the southern bank is dominated by a row of former tanning houses. Since the decline of the tanning industry in the 1950s these buildings have been abandoned and only recently have been restored and transformed into dwellings and small offices.
The whole town is still relatively untouched by tourism and remains a beautiful ensemble with the picturesque fishing boats the icing on the cake. It is very worth a visit!
Down at the river mouth lies Bosa Marina with the modern harbour which hosts a small fishing fleet and some recreational boats. In the shelter of the Isola Rossa and the harbour wall lies a large sand beach that is one of the few occasions for swimming in the area and therefor very popular in summer months. Surfers will find protected waves in big winter swells inside the bay and further down the beach in smaller swells.
Just north of town the coastal road comes close to the shore a last time before it follows high up the steep coastal mountains leading to Alghero. At that last stop with access to the sea you have another beach and some rocky headlands which might have surf-able waves.
For more impressions check the gallery.
Related stories: Me(d)thadon, episode 5
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