Villasimius, or Crabonaxa in Sardinian dialect, is a southern municipality home to idyllic beaches, laid-back residents and a quiet, but long, history. After spending 9 days there with my boyfriend, who has visited every summer for the last 16 years, I am fairly confident to assume that I got a little insight to the best and most beautiful of Villasimius. This post will be a short summary of all my favourite places around Villasimius and a bucket list of things we missed out but I can't wait to do next time.
Shops
Liberia Hemingway is a beautifully managed bookshop in the centre of town, they have a surprisingly large selection of books in Italian for the size of the shop and also have a smaller, more limited collection of books in English, French and German. Although not stocked with contemporary titles in English specifically, this selection features classic reads from Shakespeare to Jane Austen.
Boboetto, the sweet shop, is heaven for those with a sweet tooth... this small but constantly busy shop has the widest range of sweets you can imagine. Floor to ceiling in pick and mix, and unchanged for years, my boyfriend pretty much got lost here and returned to his 10-year-old self, making critical life decisions between fizzy cola bottles or gummy smurfs.
Il Maghrebino is an arts and ceramics shop that is brimming with home crafted ceramics, from the smallest decorative tile to the largest garden urns. This local craft shop beats the local gift stores hands down and is perfect for bringing home a piece of Sardinian culture to remember your trip by.
Idea Mare is the final addition to my list of favourite shops, although well out of my price league, this chic and bustling boutique is full of stunning strings of silky pearls, black and white, all locally cultured ranging from 300euro upwards, as well as the typical handcrafted jewellery made from locally sourced crimson coral. Here you'll find a beautiful addition to your jewellery box, whether statement or dainty, to treasure.
Restaurants
Su Forreddu al Porto ✩✩✩✩✩
Beautiful views, amazing sea food, reasonable prices and unbeatable service. This restaurant is poised on a terrace above the port and makes for an unbeatably romantic atmosphere.
La Lanterna ✩✩✩
Perched on a corner, along the main road, this restaurant is central although loud at times. Service can be a mixed bag, however, the food and prices are compensation enough.
Su Tostoini ✩✩✩✩
Losing only a star for it's location, a half hours drive away, this is arguably the best pizza I have ever tasted. Quiet and isolated this restaurant has a great atmosphere, friendly staff and amazing food. Just slather yourself in insect repellant first!
La Mora Binca ✩✩✩✩
Truly a hidden gem; this restaurant is stunning and stylish, in a central location and boasts great service. Al fresco dining at it's finest here is only let down by a limited selection on the menu.
Gurrou ✩✩✩
A fast food, 24-hour pizza place, that is perfect for that quick and easy takeaway. However that's all its good for. No seating, no inviting atmosphere and at times lacking selection.
Baccusardus ✩✩✩✩
The busiest and arguably the chicest establishment in Villasimius, this restaurant has queues out the door every night for its perfect concoction of picnic-esque dining on a board of the local delicacies, meat, cheese, paté's and breads, whilst choosing from an overwhelming selection of wine.
Street Life
At night the main road of Villasimius is pedestrianised and comes to life. There is music buzzing out of every cocktail and wine bar you wander past, children playing and running around, enough pedigree puppies to put Crufts to shame and the shops stay open till 22:30, on the weekends.
It's perfect to meander along, following the swelling crowds, ducking in and out of any shops that take your fancy. The air stays warm, sometimes with a brisk breeze, and the atmosphere is fun and exciting.
At night you'll find resident street performers and some beach touts turned street touts, but my highlight is the local craft 'market' stalls that sell a wide variety of trinkets and trophies. The leather stall that has leather bracelets, engraved for you, is another great memento to bring home with you, and something fun for the kids to show and tell once they're home.
Funnily enough, I saw kids catching up over an ice-cream about their days and weeks as if they'd were old friends on holiday together while parents were pushed to the sidelines to mind their own business and get on with their night separately. A complete and utter role reversal that I loved watching.
Bucket List
Archaeological Museum
Beach Hammocks on Porto Giunco (mentioned in the previous post)
Paddleboarding
Villasimius by quad-bike excursion