Thanks to its favourable geographic position, the Island of S.Pietro has been known to man since ancient times. After the fall of the Roman Empire the island was left almost uninhabited and it was not until 1738 that its population began to grow again. In that year, in fact, Carlo Emanuele III, King of Sardinia, conceded the island to a Ligurian colony which had previously inhabited the island of Tabarka, in Tunisia.

Carloforte is the only town on the island and it is one of the few places in the world where a people who live far from their roots have managed to preserve their original dialect and traditions. Carloforte's economy is based on the port, tourism and fishing, in particular tuna fishing.

Besides a visit to the "tonnara", the old tuna fish processing factory, we recommend the "Casa del Duca" Museum, where visitors can admire extraordinary relics, which tell the story of life on the island, but also help them to reconstruct the history of Carloforte's tuna industry and understand its importance.

The Island of S.Pietro also boasts scenes of exceptional natural beauty.

The landscape is characterised by the diffuse Mediterranean shrub and its unmistakable fragrance of myrtle and pine. Carloforte is home many species of birds, among which the Queen's falcon, named after the Sardinian Governor, Giudicessa Sarda Eleonora D'Arborea, who was the first to include these birds of prey among the protected species in the Carta De Logu. This particular bird of prey comes to nest and breed on the island after a migratory flight of 4000 km from Madagascar. However, the cliffs along the coastline offer the ideal nesting place for numerous other species, such as the peregrine falcon, the Corsican seagull, as well as kestrels and buzzards.

Furthermore, the island's lagoons provide the perfect habitat for birds like scoopers and stilt birds. Carloforte's mild climate means it is also the winter refuge for numerous species, such as the heron, the fisher martin and, in particular, the splendid pink flamingo.

Carloforte is a haven for nature lovers because ofits extraordinarily rich flora. It boasts more than 500 plant varieties, including the typical Mediterranean shrub, but also a number of rare, endemic species.
The beaches in Sardinia are famous throughout the world for their exceptional beauty and the island of S.Pietro is no exception. It boasts some of the best coastline in the whole region.

A boat trip round the island gives visitors the chance to fully appreciate the magnificent cliffs of volcanic origin, splendid grottoes, unspoilt, sandy coves and rocky headlands. There are also a number of diving centres on the island for those who wish to admire the incredible marine treasures that lie below the surface.