Cala Luna beach, Sardinia, Italy Jun 4, 2025

The island of Sardinia in Italy, with its rugged cliffs, secret beaches and endless shades of blue, is undeniably a Mediterranean treasure. On the island"s eastern coast lies Cala Luna, featured here—a beach in the Gulf of Orosei. Rising at the mouth of Rio Illune, this beach is at the end of the Codula di Luna canyon. It is a haven of golden sand, surrounded by white cliffs that rise more than 250 metres into the sky—perfect for rock climbing. Here, the waters are shallow at first, before deepening into crystal-clear depths ideal for snorkelling, diving and fishing. In the local Nuoro dialect, the word for "Luna," meaning "moon", is rendered as "elune," a name that perfectly captures the essence of this enchanting cove. Adding to the mystique, the beach"s crescent shape echoes its lunar inspiration. For centuries, shepherds from the village of Baunei would embark on an eight-hour walk to reach this secluded spot, considering it a journey as far as the moon itself.

© guenterguni/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Black sands in a tropical paradise
‘Spotting’ deer in the wild
Jun 4, 2024Chestnut-headed bee-eater, Bardia National Park, Nepal
Jun 4, 2026Snowy egret preening, Florida, United States

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Dec 21, 2024Happy winter solstice!
Birthplace of the Renaissance
Urban planning never stops
Sep 3, 2023Skyscrapers in Manhattan
Feb 3, 2026Emerald Bay and Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, California, United States
Apr 14, 2026Ambedkar Jayanti
Aug 1, 2024Floating fruit market, Kaptai Lake, Rangamati, Bangladesh
Nov 27, 2025Eastbourne Pier, East Sussex, England
Oct 12, 2024Mysore Dasara
The buffet is open
Oct 25, 2025Martimoaapa Mire Reserve, Finland
Aug 10, 2024Joshua Tree National Park, California, USA
Jul 7, 2025Northern gannets, Shetland Islands, Scotland
A blue-tiful island
A pair of high achievers
May 30, 2026Plains zebra foal in Etosha National Park, Namibia
A scented sea of purple
Magnified moss
Apr 11, 2024Eid al-Fitr
Mar 3, 2024World Wildlife Day
Dec 15, 2023SantaPark, Lapland, Finland
Mar 28, 2025Black-naped monarch
May 31, 2024Gunnerside, Yorkshire Dales National Park, England
Feb 22, 2025Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, United States
A light in the coastal darkness
Dec 18, 2024English National Ballet performing The Nutcracker
High above the Aegean Sea
Apr 8, 2024Burrowing owl chicks
Dec 17, 2023Bohemian waxwings
A convocation of eagles assembles