Sant'Elena
Quartu Sant'Elena: Brief Introduction
Quartu Sant'Elena is a municipality in Sardinia, Italy, with a population of approximately 68,648 inhabitants. It is located in the metropolitan city of Cagliari and is the third most populous municipality in the region after Cagliari and Sassari.
Geography
The city is located in the southern part of the Campidano plain, right at the foot of the Parco dei Sette Fratelli - Monte Genis mountains, covered by cork oak forests and inhabited by deer, golden eagles, and wild boars. Mount Serpeddì is the highest peak in the area, reaching a height of 1,069 meters.
Hydrography
Quartu Sant'Elena has a 26 km-long coastline that includes several beaches. The most famous one is Poetto beach, which is also the longest and most visited due to its accessibility from numerous CTM bus lines in Cagliari. The Quartese zone of the beach extends from the Carabinieri establishment to Margine Rosso beach. There are also other noteworthy beaches like Sant'Andrea, Flumini di Quartu, Capitana, Is Mortorius, Terra Mala, Cala Regina, Murtaucci, Mari Pintau, Kal'e Moru, and Geremeas. Most of these beaches have fine white sand, while others have pebbles and cliffs. Some of these beaches, like Murtaucci and Poetto, have received the Blue Flag award. Quartu Sant'Elena also includes two-thirds of the Molentargius lagoon and the ex-State Saline, now turned into a natural park and habitat for 230 bird species including the pink flamingo, avocet, black-winged stilt, marsh harrier, and the ruddy shelduck. The artificial Simbirizzi Dam basin is also located near the city, used as a water reserve for irrigation due to its residual salinity. Quartu Sant'Elena is also crossed by some seasonal streams, including Rio Foxi and Rio Su Pau.
Climate
The climate of Quartu Sant'Elena is Mediterranean, characterized by hot summers and mild winters. Summer extreme temperatures can exceed 35°C, while winter temperatures rarely drop below 0°C. Precipitation is higher in winter months, while summer months are generally dry.
Conclusions
In summary, Quartu Sant'Elena is a city located in a very picturesque area, surrounded by the Campidano plain and the Parco dei Sette Fratelli - Monte Genis mountains, offering a perfect backdrop for outdoor life and activities. The city also boasts numerous famous beaches like Poetto and several others, providing a wide range of services to tourists and residents. The Mediterranean climate further contributes to making the city an ideal place to spend vacations or settle down long-term.
