Nordic Walking

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

From Su Niu e S’Achili, the trail becomes challenging, alternating uphill and downhill stretches on Monte Carareddu through the Bruncu Muscadroxu plateau, and then on to Monte Genis and Monte Serpeddì. 

This stage is challenging in terms of length and elevation gain and is mainly on paved, dirt and tarmac roads 

It ends in Burcei, a small farmers’ town whose name derives from ‘burrei’, herd of oxen.

In sintesi

Il Sentiero Italia attraversa in lunghezza il settore orientale dell’isola toccandone i sistemi montuosi più rilevanti, in 28 tappe.  Partendo da nord: tocca il massiccio del Monte Limbara, attraversa i calcari del Mont'Albo e del Tuttavista sfiorando il Golfo di Orosei,  attraversa il Supramonte, il Gennargentu, i Tacchi dell’Ogliastra e giunge a Perdasdefogu.  Più a sud, transita da Armungia e dalla subregione del Gerrei. Infine tocca l’abitato di Burcei e San Gregorio, per continuare nel massiccio dei Sette Fratelli fino alle vecchie carceri di Castiadas.

Informazioni generali sull'itinerario sentiero Italia

Il Sentiero Italia, come spiegato anche nel sito ufficiale, è un itinerario (o Cammino) lungo tutta l'Italia, che utilizza prevalentemente ma non esclusivamente "sentieri accatastati".   
In particolare, in Sardegna, non tutte le tappe del Sentiero Italia del CAI coincidono con sentieri già inseriti nel catasto della Rete Escursionistica della Sardegna (RES), perché non hanno ancora superato le verifiche di percorribilità oppure semplicemente perché non possono essere accatastati non avendone i requisiti.  Tuttavia, nel suo insieme, il Sentiero Italia rappresenta l'unica, la più grande dorsale escursionistica che attraversa attualmente la nostra Isola da nord (S. Teresa Gallura, tappa Z 1) a sud (Castiadas, fine tappa Z 28) toccando le aree montane della Sardegna centro-Orientale più affascinanti: l'altopiano di Buddusò, Tepilora, la valle del Cedrino, i boschi vetusti di Montes, Perda Liana e la foresta demaniale di Montarbu, il Monte Genis, e infine la foresta demaniale di Settefratelli (tra le tante attraversate dal lungo itinerario escursionistico a tappe).

Info sul percorso di questa tappa

Da Su Niu e S'Achili inizia un impegnativo saliscendi sul Monte Carareddu attraverso l’altipiano di Bruncu Muscadroxu, a seguire il Monte Genis e il Monte Serpeddì. 

Si tratta di una tappa impegnativa per lunghezza e dislivello che si svolge prevalentemente su strade carrozzabili, bianche e asfaltate. 

Conclusione a Burcei, paese a vocazione pastorale il cui nome deriva da “burrei”, branco di buoi.

This stage will lead you to barite quarries and several archaeological sites (Domus de janas of Su Cungiau de Tuttui, Nuraghi Moddizzi, Murrecci and Corongius Longus).

Lush vegetation with beautiful juniper trees covers the hills above the urban centre of Masainas.

You will have occasional glimpses of the landscape, where you can admire the sea in the distance.

The uphill slope that must be climbed at the start of the route to come up from the Is Zuddas caves (102 m above sea level) and reach the pass of Monte Moddizzi (374 m above sea level) is quite challenging.

Safety and useful tips

Upon leaving Is Zuddas, follow the SP 70 road for about 500 m to arrive in Su Benatzu. Pay attention to vehicular traffic and to the crossing in order to reach the correct side of the road.

Afterwards, you can proceed quite easily along the signed dirt roads that characterise the itinerary. However, it must be said that the stage is very long, therefore it is necessary to prepare adequately.

As you arrive in Piscinas, you will walk through the main street of the village, which is in fact the SS 293 road, therefore pay attention to urban traffic.

Also when you reach Giba, you will find the same situation as before, as you have to cross part of the town on the main road which is still the SS 293. Therefore, pay attention to urban traffic and any crossings.

Upon arriving in Masainas, just before reaching the memorial stone, you have to cross the southern outskirts of the village while passing through Via Roma, which is none other than the urban route of the SS 195; therefore make sure to pay attention when crossing and passing along the streets of the village.

Questa tappa è caratterizzata dalle cave di barite e dai  numerosi siti archeologici che si trovano nel territorio come la domus de janas di Su Cungiau de Tuttui e i nuraghi di Moddizzi, Murrecci e Corongius Longus.

Un lussureggiante manto vegetale con bellissimi esemplari di ginepro copre i rilievi che sovrastano il centro urbano di Masainas e a tratti si aprono squarci di paesaggio, dove la vista arriva fino al mare.

Si tratta di una tappa abbastanza impegnativa considerato lo strappo in salita da affrontare all’inizio del percorso per risalire dalle grotte Is Zuddas (102 m/slm) alla sella del Monte Moddizzi (374 m/slm)

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 is a long and very varied section, which involves crossing the Montalbo ridge, walking for a good stretch on the ridge in typically karst environments with sweeping 360° views, and crossing the entire southern slope, densely wooded, down to the bottom of the valley, which is crossed by provincial road SP 45 and state road SS 131 DCN, near Monte Pizzinnu. 

After passing these main roads, and still in a densely wooded environment, the route climbs up the northern slope of the Remulis Mountains to an elevation of 500 m asl, then continues north to the Janna pass, from where a stretch of blacktop road leads to the Norghio stop point. 

This stage alternates paths, livestock trails, forest tracks and stretches of blacktop road, making it very varied but, given the differences in elevation, also quite challenging. Given its length, you may choose to split the stage into two or more days, with wild camping overnight at suitable points in the Altudè (N 40.48638° E 9.56507°) and Talachè localities (N 40.48356° E 9.62311°) or booking accommodation with Tonino Taras (mobile: 3496351871) at the Ammentos inn (N 40.54168° E 9.60236°), former Cantoniera Guzzurra on SP 3, which can be reached via a short detour on CAI numbered paths; please note that the inn is closed in winter.

We recommend extreme caution in the event of fog, which is frequent on high ground. Please also be mindful that there are very few water fountains along the route.