The promontory of Capo Carbonara acts as a watershed between the bay of Villasimius and the GolfodegliAngeli of Cagliari. On both sides of the promontory there are several tourist resorts. On the west coast: the small port of Villasimius with the beach, the remains of an ancient fortress with the ancient tower, Punta Santo Stefano, which serves as the westernmost extension of the promontory, and the town of Santa Caterina with its inlet. On the east coast: the beach of Istraias, the splendid beach of Porto Giunco, the Pond of Notteri with its pink flamingos, the Torre di Porto Giunco and the pebble beach of Cava Usai (a granite quarry which was abandoned in the 1950s). On the promontory there is also a signalling lighthouse and an Air Force meteorological station.
In front of Capo Carbonara, about 800 metres to the south-east, stands Cavoli Island. The marine area in front of Capo Carbonara, together with the Cavoli and Serpentara islands, are part of the protected natural marine area of Capo Carbonara. (www.ampcapocarbonara.it).
Scuba diving is prohibited in all three quadrants of the area without approval from the marine protected area. Furthermore, navigation and bathing are also prohibited in quadrant A. Therefore, to avoid damage to the delicate local ecosystem and very high fines, it is essential to stay outside the prohibited areas.