The beach of the Golfo delle Saline in the huge natural landscape of northern Sardinia is separated from the road by saltwater marshes and protected to the north by the Capo d'Orso. At the foot of the rock stretching towards the island of Caprera, a 122m/400ft-high reef modelled by the wind is evocative of a bear. The headland, mentioned by Greek geographer Ptolemy, served as a landmark for navigators.