Plagemesu
Gonnesa, Sardinia, Italy
Plagemesu sits near Gonnesa on Sardinia's southwest coast, Italy, an easy hour's drive from Cagliari, with a long run of fine sand backed by hills and rock outcrops. Beach clubs and kiosks along the shore keep it more set up than Sardinia's wilder coves, and the clear water here draws a steady local crowd through the summer.
A reliable, well equipped beach day close to Cagliari, but the exposure to wind and its popularity with day trippers keep it from being a standout compared to Sardinia's more sheltered coves.
Skip it on days when the mistral wind is blowing. The beach faces open water with little shelter, and the wind can turn a calm morning rough by afternoon.
Plagemesu is easily reached by car from Gonnesa or Iglesias, with parking available near the beach clubs along the shore.
Access from the road and parking areas to the sand is flat and easy, with beach club facilities making it one of the more accessible options on this stretch of coast.
June through September brings the warm water and steady sun typical of southwest Sardinia, though it's worth checking wind forecasts given the beach's exposure to the mistral.
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