Hiking

The stage is mostly uphill with an initial climb to reach the village of Ingurtosu.

You will discover some amazing examples of industrial archaeology in the disused mines of Ingurtosu and Montevecchio.

From the dune complex of Piscinas, you move on to the holm oak woods and to the Mediterranean scrub, where it is common to observe the Sardinian deer that populates this area.

Safety and useful tips

The stage does not present any particular difficulties, even though the route follows the SP04, which is an accessible dirt road.

In the first section, you have to cross twice the Rio Irvi, which flows alongside the road. If this watercourse is in flood and fording is not easy, it is advisable to take the main road, which in any case proceeds in the same direction as the route.

It is only when you reach the Church of Santa Barbara of Ingurtosu that you can take the SP04.18, an asphalted road where, despite the presence of few vehicles, you must pay attention when passing through, especially because of the turns that you find along the way. You will then reach the Management building after which you proceed following the SP 66, which is again a dirt road.

All along the way, you will come across several buildings dating back to the old mining activity, many of which are closed and secured; some others are not, but they are all in a state of disrepair and precarious stability. In order to avoid any problems or accidents, do not cross the fences and/or venture inside the ruined buildings of the old mining plants, but always admire them from a distance without leaving the Trail.

La tappa si sviluppa in prevalenza in salita con uno strappo iniziale per raggiungere il villaggio di Ingurtosu.

Durante il percorso si passa dal sistema dunale di Piscinas ai boschi di leccio e alla macchia mediterranea  nei quali è frequente l’incontro con esemplari del cervo sardo, animale molto presente in questo territorio.

La tappa si articola all'interno dell'incredibile patrimonio rappresentato dai monumenti di archeologia industriale presenti nelle miniere dismesse di Ingurtosu e Montevecchio.

Through the ancient path of the miners, you will descend from the metalliferous hills of the Guspinese-Arburese area down to the Campidano plain, where you will see basalt flows deriving from Tertiary volcanism thanks to the spectacular geological site of the basalt columns, and then climb the hill by walking on granite rocks to reach the town of Arbus.

The typical landscape of agricultural and livestock activities. Then you enter the Linas mountain range with its large forests and rich variety of mineral deposits.

Safety and useful tips

The downhill from Montevecchio involves crossing the SP04 road from Montevecchio towards Guspini several times. Watch out for crossings of the asphalted road, which often occur near curves and hairpin turns.

Once in Guspini, you have to follow an urban route, therefore pay attention to the urban traffic.

You will finally arrive in Arbus and once again you have to follow an urban route, so watch out for vehicular traffic.

During the downhill from Montevecchio, and also in the small village itself, you will come across several disused buildings and mining structures in an obvious state of disrepair, with the exception of those for which a passageway or a specially guided tour has been created. Avoid crossing the fences and/or venturing inside them, but always admire them from a distance without leaving the Trail.

Attraverso l’antico sentiero dei minatori si scende dalle colline metallifere del Guspinese-Arburese verso la pianura del Campidano per poi risalire in collina camminando su rocce granitiche fino al centro abitato di Arbus. Il percorso offre la vista di colate basaltiche del vulcanismo terziario con lo spettacolare geo-sito dei basalti colonnari.

Il paesaggio che si incontra in questa tappa è quello tipico delle aree con un'alta concentrazione di attività agricole e zootecniche. Inoltre si entra nel complesso montuoso del Linas, con le sue grandi foreste e una ricca varietà di giacimenti minerari.

The first part of the stage reaches the Campidano plain, where you can see the typical landscape of agricultural and livestock activities characterised by olive groves, almond groves and vast expanses of pasture land. You then enter the Linas mountain range, with its large forests and rich variety of mineral deposits.

Safety and useful tips

The initial section runs along an urban route in Arbus, therefore watch out for vehicular traffic.

Immediately after the archaeological site of the Giants’ Grave of San Cosimo, the route proceeds to a ford on the Rio Terra Maistus. If weather conditions are bad and/or if the river course is in flood and fording is difficult, it is recommended to follow the alternative route (in red) that leads to the SP04 road.

The passage allows to bypass the ford and resume the route shortly afterwards. While crossing the SP04, make sure to pay attention to vehicular traffic.

Halfway along the route you have to pass through Gonnosfanadiga, where you also must pay attention to urban vehicular traffic.

WE RECOMMEND STAYING TO SLEEP IN GONNOSFANADIGA

This stage also includes a variation to the main route.

La prima parte della tappa raggiunge la pianura del Campidano, dove si incontra il paesaggio tipico delle attività agricole e zootecniche caratterizzato da uliveti, mandorleti e da vaste distese a pascolo.

Nella seconda parte si entra nel complesso montuoso del Linas, con le sue grandi foreste e una ricca varietà di giacimenti minerari.

SI CONSIGLIA IL PERNOTTAMENTO A GONNOSFANADIGA

Questa tappa prevede anche una variante al percorso  principale. 

ATTENTION: in this stage, after passing the city of Villacidro there is no phone line, wi-fi network is available in the Posada di Monti Mannu.

This stage is not too long and fairly easy to walk.

The only challenging stretch is the abrupt climb from the church of San Sisinnio (229 metres above sea level) to the junction with the Cariatzu asphalted municipal road (384 metres above sea level).

Otherwise, it is a pleasant walk along the right bank of the lake and then of the Rio Leni, from which you gradually ascend towards the Monti Mannu plant nursery and the Posada nearby.

Safety and useful tips

Initially, you have to walk through the residential area of Villacidro, therefore in this urban area you must pay attention to vehicular traffic.

When you reach the dam on the Rio Leni, take the road that runs alongside the reservoir, do not venture off the track (road) and do not try to reach the banks of the reservoir to avoid the risk of falling in.

As you get closer to the reservoir, telephones will start to present connection issues. Therefore, make sure to download the tracks in offline format.