Overview of the itinerary
Sentiero Italia runs the length of the island’s eastern side, covering its most important mountains, in 28 stages. Starting from the north: it flanks the Monte Limbara massif, crosses the limestones of Mont’Albo and Tuttavista, skirting the Gulf of Orosei, it crosses the Supramonte, Gennargentu and the Tacchi of Ogliastra and reaches Perdasdefogu. Further south, it passes through Armungia and the Gerrei sub-region. Lastly, it touches on the villages of Burcei and San Gregorio, continuing on the Sette Fratelli massif to the old prisons of Castiadas.
General information on Sentiero Italia (Grand Italian Trail)
Sentiero Italia, or Grand Italian Trail, as also explained on the official website, is a walking route that crosses the whole of Italy, using mainly but not exclusively “registered trails”.
In particular, in Sardinia, not all the stages of the Sentiero Italia of CAI (Italian Alpine Club) are made of trails already included in the registry of the Sardinia Trail Network (RES), either because they have not yet been tested and approved or simply because they cannot be registered as they do not meet the requirements. However, as a whole, the Sentiero Italia is the single longest walking route currently crossing Sardinia from the north (S. Teresa Gallura, stage Z 1) to the south (Castiadas, end of stage Z 28), touching on the most fascinating mountain areas in central-eastern Sardinia: the plateau of Buddusò, Tepilora, the Cedrino river valley, the ancient forests of Montes, Perda Liana and the regional forest of Montarbu, Monte Genis, and lastly the regional forest of Settefratelli (among the many crossed by the various stages of this long hiking itinerary).
Information on this stage of the trail
This stage is significantly less demanding than the previous Z 10A stage. It starts with a short stretch going back from Norghio to Janna (approx. 2.7 km). From this fork, a dirt road leads to the Abba Vritta ridge (754 m asl). The trail continues on the ridge to the col that separates it from Punta Su Grabbellu. When you reach point N40.46928° E9.61228°, leave the dirt road to your right (in a south-west direction) and, following the contour line towards the south-east, over rocks and through bushy vegetation, cross an area without a clear path (but easy to guess and very scenic) to reach the Tanarghè area N40.46456° E9.61046° where you will find a water fountain. Alternatively, you could stay on the dirt road to the Tanarghè area but with the landscape is not as beautiful.
From here, the route crosses the ancient settlement of Pontesu. Next, after passing a fence with a ladder and down a steep livestock trail, at about 740 m asl, you will join a forest track that links the southern and northern slopes of the mountain. Follow the entire forest track (about 6.2 km) going east to the bottom of the valley, which is crossed by a blacktop local road that leads to the town of Irgoli.
After passing through the village and before the bridge over provincial road SP 25, which crosses a tributary of the Cedrino river, follow the right bank to where it flows into the main river and then walk upstream along the true left bank to the bridge at the entrance of Galtellì.
An easy stage with limited elevation gain and gentle (apart from a short stretch) downhill stretches, mainly on dirt tracks and blacktop roads due to the proximity to small towns.
