Pan di Zucchero sea stack in Masua, Sardinia, Italy

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Pan di Zucchero sea stack in Masua, Sardinia, Italy

Masua is a small town in the Italian comune of Iglesias that is encircled by Mediterranean flora and flanked by towering limestone cliffs. Anyone who enjoys fishing, snorkeling, or scuba diving will adore this location because of the crystal-clear seas and excellent visibility. However, the stunning Pan di Zucchero—a huge sea stack that emerges from the water directly in front of the beach—might be the bay's main draw. It gets its name, meaning 'sugarloaf', from a rock formation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, that visitors thought it looked similar to. Despite being only 30 square metres in area, Pan di Zucchero is remarkably tall, rising 133 metres above the ocean's surface. Natural arches and tunnels may be found on the islet's northwest and southeast sides, respectively, where erosive forces have carved away at the stone. One of the tunnels can be traversed by a small boat if you're feeling brave.