A dip in the sea that seems painted. It is also known as is pùlige de nie (snow fleas) due to the round, white and pink pebbles mixed with the sand that make it up. Cala Mariolu, in the Baunei area, owes its name to the monk seal which, it is said, 'stole' the catch from the fishermen's nets coming from Ponza, therefore it was called il mariolo (thief). Its panorama is striking for the infinite shades of blue, emerald green and azure and for the pebbles that look like snowflakes. The cliff that surrounds it reaches a height of 500 metres and falls sheer into the water both to the north and to the south, making Cala Mariolu accessible from the ground only through a demanding trek (for experts) in the midst of thick Mediterranean scrub. Punta Is Puligi in the past served as a coal loading point for the furisteris, the charcoal burners who populated Baunei.

The guided tour inside the Grotta del Fico lasts about 1 hour. The professional and engaging guides illustrate its geology, the history of speleology and the first visits by local shepherds, the culture of this corner of Sardinia. Their training is continuous, by AGTI, the Italian Tourist Caves Association. The path is easy, almost entirely on steel walkways and extends over different levels. You can visit various rooms and galleries and it is even possible to look out over the sea, inside the cave. The environments are very varied, as are the concretions and the colours that can be admired. Inside the temperature is about 18°, the temperature difference between the inside and the outside in summer is felt, so a jacket is especially useful at the entrance. The guided tour can be in Italian, English, French, German, Spanish and Russian.

Stop for a swim in the incredible transparency and emerald colour of the water where it is possible to see the clear and crystalline seabed. A pleasure for the eyes and for the soul. When, during the mini-cruise along the splendid coves of the Costa di Baunei, you come across this corner of paradise, you will be attracted like a magnet by the turquoise and blue of its waters: impossible not to dive! After the entrance to the Fico cave, a few steps from the equally beautiful and wild Cala Biriola, the Piscine di Venere shines, one of the most evocative stretches of the coast of Baunei, in Ogliastra, reachable in about half an hour by dinghy from the ports di Santa Maria Navarrese, Or through a trekking route, through the Supramonte, recommended only for expert hikers, which leads first to the cove of Piscine then to Cala Biriola

In the Baunei area, halfway between other wonderful paradises on the Ogliastra coast, such as Cala Goloritzé and Cala Luna, and close to Grotta del Fico and Cala Sisine, here is Cala Biriola. The delightful little beach of rounded white pebbles, protected by the limestone cliff that describes an arc of over two kilometres, opens up at the end of the enchanting grove of the same name, made up of centuries-old holm oaks, junipers clinging to the rock and Mediterranean scrub. It is framed by a rocky arch on the surface of the water against which the waves break and which completes the unforgettable living picture. The extremely clear water, full of fish, makes it suitable for scuba diving or swimming with a mask and snorkel.

“Still little known, overshadowed by the fame of the nearby Cala Mariolu, it has the same characteristics: crystalline water tinged with green and blue, cliffs smoothed over time and a beach of white pebbles”. This is the motivation with which in 2017 Cala dei Gabbiani was chosen by the experts of Skyscanner, the famous holiday web portal, as the second most beautiful beach in Italy. The ranking values less famous coves, 'hidden pearls', just like this corner of paradise in the southern part of the gulf, within the Baunei area.