Stintino in Sardinia — live webcam on La Pelosa beach

Stintino — the jewel of northwestern Sardinia

Stintino is a small town in the northwest of Sardinia, famous worldwide thanks to La Pelosa beach. This fishing village with a population of about one and a half thousand people welcomes hundreds of thousands of tourists every year who come for the turquoise waters and white sand. The live webcam lets you see the Stintino coastline right now — a rocky shore in the foreground, the sea waters, and the hilly coastline in the distance.

The town's name comes from the Sardinian «s'isthintinu», meaning a narrow bay or fjord. And this name fully corresponds to the geography of the place — Stintino is located on a narrow peninsula jutting out into the sea between two bays.

History of the fishing settlement

Stintino is a young town by Sardinian standards. It was founded in 1885 by fishing families who were forced to leave the neighboring island of Asinara. The reason for the relocation was the Italian authorities' decision to turn Asinara into a maximum-security prison — the so-called "Italian Alcatraz." The fishermen moved to the mainland and founded a new settlement, preserving their maritime traditions.

For a long time, tuna fishing was the backbone of Stintino's economy. The Saline tuna fishing station operated until the 1970s, and today the Museum of the Tonnara (MUT) stands in its place, where you can learn about the ancient art of catching tuna using the tonnara method — a system of nets that lead the fish into a trap.

La Pelosa Beach — rules and features

La Pelosa is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean. Shallow transparent turquoise water, fine white sand, and a picturesque islet with a 1578 Aragonese tower on the horizon — this picture needs no filters. However, popularity has a downside: strict rules are in place on the beach to preserve the ecosystem.

Since 2018, placing towels directly on the sand has been prohibited. The reason is simple: wet towels absorb thousands of sand grains a day, and over a season the shoreline loses a significant amount of sand. The fine for violation is €100. Only mats made of wood, plastic, or natural materials are allowed as a barrier between the towel and the sand.

In addition, a ticket system costing €3.50 was introduced in 2026 with mandatory reservation of visit times. This helps control the number of visitors and minimize the anthropogenic impact on the beach's fragile ecosystem.

Attractions and viewpoints

Beyond the beach itself, Stintino has several interesting spots. From a terrace at 200 meters above sea level, there is a panoramic view of La Pelosa and neighboring La Pelosetta — a small islet dominated by a 1578 Aragonese tower. Nearby stands the Torre Saline — another lookout tower, and Punta Scorno offers a view of the island of Asinara.

Asinara is an uninhabited island nature reserve located a few kilometers north of Stintino. Its silhouette is clearly visible from the town's coastline in clear weather. The island is a national park and home to a unique population of white donkeys.

Maritime traditions and cuisine

Stintino preserves its fishing identity. The annual Regata Vela Latina brings together crews of traditional boats with lateen sails from across Sardinia. This colorful event reflects the centuries-old maritime traditions of the region.

Local cuisine is based on fresh fish and seafood. The signature dish is polpo alla stintinese, octopus Stintino-style, served with a potato soup with lobster. Restaurants on the waterfront offer dishes from the day's catch, guaranteeing freshness and authentic flavor.

Nature and surroundings

In the vicinity of Stintino there are three large natural ponds — wetlands that serve as habitat for numerous bird species, including flamingos, herons, and cormorants. These ecosystems are part of a nature reserve and are of interest to birdwatching and photography enthusiasts.

Stintino's port is known for its marina, where lateen-rigged sailboats dock. From here, excursion boats depart to Asinara and along the coast to other picturesque coves of northern Sardinia.

What the camera shows

The Stintino live webcam broadcasts a view of the coastline with a pebbly rocky beach in the foreground. In the distance, the sea waters with a hilly shoreline open up. The image may have slight blur and lens flare from the sun on the left with glare on the lens — these are natural optical effects when shooting toward the sea. The real-time camera shows the current state of the Stintino coastline and allows you to assess the weather conditions in northwestern Sardinia.