And this isn’t the only Ligurian corner in Sardinia! This stems from the historical ties between the two regions. A large part of Sardinia once belonged to the Republic of Genoa, and as a result, there are many “Ligurian” places there. One of these is the town of Stintino, whose history is intertwined with the charming village of Camogli, which I wrote about here.
From Camogli to Sardinia
At the end of the 18th century, some fishermen from Camogli left their home village to settle on Asinara, an island off the coast of northwestern Sardinia. At that time, Camogli consisted mainly of dilapidated houses inhabited by fishermen, who were generally quite poor. Competition in Camogli was fierce, and the sea wasn’t particularly generous when it came to fish. The Sardinian coast, on the other hand, was much richer. The Camogliesi, who had left their homeland, specialised in coral and lobster fishing. Ligurian fishermen who arrived there first came for seasonal work, and later permanently, bringing their families. By the end of the 19th century, 55 families from Camogli lived on Asinara (over 200 people).
Everything changed when, in 1885, the Kingdom of Italy decided to establish an international quarantine station on Asinara, intended to protect Sardinia from diseases brought to the island from the mainland. A penal colony was subsequently established there as well, forcing the inhabitants of Asinara to leave.
Stintino
The Camogliesi had to settle somewhere. They received small compensation from the Italian state and, with the help of influential Sardinians, purchased a section of the Sardinian coast. The northwest coast, a small peninsula, was called Isthintini, meaning “intestine” in the Sardinian dialect. Once purchased, the land was divided into plots for building houses. The resulting town was named Stintino (an Italianization of the peninsula’s dialect name). Since the 20th century, it has become very popular with tourists due to its beautiful beaches and the crystal-clear, azure-cobalt sea that surrounds it.
Stintino has about 1,500 inhabitants. It’s a charming fishing village, and while there aren’t many historical sites to visit (it was founded in the late 19th century), it’s still full of activities during the high season. Authentic, busy restaurants serving local dishes are always available. The parish church of the Immaculate Conception (Chiesa dell’Immacolata Concezione) is located on via Sassari. The local architecture is characterised by low-rise, single-story, colourful buildings (unlike the very tall ones in Camogli).
Peace Sculpture
In the northern part of Stintino, at the very entrance to the harbour, stands a bronze sculpture. It depicts an Asian woman sitting next to an empty chair. The sculpture was donated to the Stintino municipality by a South Korean foundation. The monument commemorates the events of World War II, when Japan captured approximately 150,000–200,000 young women from South Korea and China. These women served as “comfort women” for Japanese soldiers, meaning they were used for pleasure. Japan has never officially acknowledged these war crimes and has never compensated the victims. Even though in 1992, then-Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa apologised to the victims for this practice.
The statue was erected in Stintino in 2024, and the Japanese ambassador protested against it. A second, twin statue, erected in the same vein, stands in Berlin. The Japanese embassy there also attempted to oppose it.
I was impressed by the response of Stintino’s mayor, Rita Vallebella, who refused to bow to the Japanese embassy’s protests. She replied: “(…) I am interested in ensuring that information is presented in a credible manner and in accordance with historical facts (…) However, the most important thing for me is that women and the rapes committed against them during the war remain the focus of attention. The South Korean victims we are commemorating now represent all women in the world, including those who are now being raped, such as those living in Ukraine, Palestine, or Africa (…)”
MUT Museo della Tonnara
The Tonnara Museum is a museum housed in a former factory where tuna caught in the surrounding seas were cleaned and prepared for sale. The most common species there was Thunnus thynnus, also known as bluefin tuna. The museum illustrates the history of this fish, which is one of the most complex and labour-intensive fishing methods. It also describes many stories about the inhabitants of Camogli. It also includes a comprehensive description of the tuna species, its migration, and the threats to its survival. More information can be found on the museum’s website here.
Pelosa Beach
3 km north of the centre of Stintino lies one of the most famous beaches in all of Sardinia: La Pelosa. Beautiful azure-blue sea, white sand, and knee-deep water. A perfect place for sunbathing with children. Important information: the beach is public, but there is a daily limit on the number of beachgoers. To guarantee entry, you must purchase a ticket in advance on the beach website. More information here.
Are you ready? 😉
