Hiking

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

Leaving the small town of Luogosanto, the route follows a local blacktop road in the direction of the Fonte La Filetta Park. At a fork in the road, it leaves the road leading to La Filetta Park and follows the road to the right in a south-westerly direction until it reaches the stile at the entrance to the stazzo (farmhouse) of Sesara. The route continues on a dirt track through private land, crossing gates that can be opened and then must be closed again. The route continues through the beautiful landscapes characteristic of Gallura, with granite rock outcrops, holm oaks and wild olive trees, until it reaches the small country church of San Biagio.
In Gallura there are many country churches around which, on feast days, lunches are organised for hundreds or even thousands of people.

Leaving the church of San Biagio, the route heads in the direction of the ford across the Liscia river. 

PLEASE NOTE: this section of the trail is not marked as the landowner has not authorised the installation of signs. Once past the river, the route climbs up a path flanking a cliff and through a young forest of predominantly holm oaks and strawberry trees. At one time, this forest consisted of primary trees that were cut down for charcoal in the 19th century. Short sections of the path built at that time have been restored. 

After leaving the trail, the route continues along a local road that runs alongside the Liscia lake. It continues on a livestock trail, on private property. On this stretch, you can admire an over 2000-year-old wild olive tree and the viaduct of a railway line now only used in the summer months as a tourist line. The trail arrives in Sant'Antonio di Gallura after following a stretch of blacktop road and, if you wish, after a detour to the railway station near Lake Liscia. Sant’Antonio is ‘heir’ to an ancient medieval village, Villa de Castro, built at the foot of the Lu Naracu nuraghe (prehistoric stone fortress) a few hundred metres from the ancient church of S. Andrea and from the current square in the centre of the village. The church of Sant’Andrea, which was built no later than the 1700s, belonged to the noble Pes family of Tempio Pausania.

Approximately 5 km from Sant’Antonio di Gallura, deviating on a farm road, is the farmhouse of Ms Santoli, who has preserved the original furnishings and collected photographs and interesting pieces of rural art over the years. In the immediate vicinity of the village are thousand-year-old wild olive trees. The area is also rich in archaeological heritage, including the Sarra di l'Aglientu megalithic wall near the Liscia lake. The countryside of Gallura is dotted with small country churches that, on feast days, celebrate their saints (each being named after its own saint) with festivals and feasts that have a strong social value. Lunch or dinner is always offered at these festivals. Some notable celebrations are the feast of S. Santino on 1 May; S. Giacomo on the first Sunday in May, on 25 July and the second Sunday in September; S. Giuseppe on the second Sunday in June; Nostra Signora della Crucitta on the second Sunday in May; S. Francesco on 4 October; S. Leonardo on the first Sunday in June.

Notes

The ford across the Liscia river can be challenging (it may be impassable in the winter months). 

Trail signage to be completed for a short section.

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

Dal posto tappa Saltàra si prosegue, per circa 2 km, sulla strada vicinale bitumata. Al termine di questa è presente un cancello che generalmente è aperto e comunque si può aprire e/o scavalcare e si prosegue su tratturo attraversando proprietà private e superando due cancelli. 

Il percorso prosegue alternando tratti di sterrate, tratturi, brevi tratti di sentiero su roccia fino ad arrivare al parco di palazzo Baldu e della chiesa di Santo Stefano. Da qua in poi il percorso si sviluppa su strada locale bitumata e, per la parte terminale, in prossimità del centro abitato di Luogosanto su strada pubblica (SP 14).   

Da non perdere il Palazzo Baldu (rovine), la chiesetta di Santo Stefano e l'Eremo di San Trano (suggestivo e panoramico).  

Il centro storico di Luogosanto è molto caratteristico, in particolare la chiesa con la porta santa ed il suo attiguo convento.

Note

Nota del 25/08/2021. È possibile che lungo il tracciato si possano incontrare dei cancelli chiusi. Là dove indicato dalla segnaletica, è possibile scavalcarli grazie all’apposita scaletta. Si consiglia comunque attenzione e prudenza.

CONSULTA LA SCHEDA della tappa Z-02 AGGIORNATA SUL SITO CAI

This is one of the most challenging stages of the Trail, especially because of the elevation gains.

The effort is compensated for by the extraordinary beauty of the coastal landscape and by the richness of the geological heritage:

In the area of Canal Grande, you can observe the fossil remains of the first life forms that appeared on the planet.

Also of interest are the examples of industrial archaeology: from the old railway, to the loading plant in Cala Domestica, up to the large excavation of Planu Sartu.

In Cala Domestica, you can stop at the Oasi Beach kiosk; the services offered are: catering, transfer service by jeep or dinghy, and guided tours. It is open daily until November 3rd, afterwards only on weekends.

For those wishing to undertake a less challenging route, an alternative route is available which excludes the stretch overlooking the cliffs between Porto Flavia and Cala Domestica.

Safety and useful tips

Some passages, particularly along the panoramic route after passing the Cantina Belvedere, are exposed to falling from above - do not lean towards the exposed part and, if necessary, keep to the centre or to the upstream side of the roadway.

While walking this panoramic route, both along the climb towards Monte Nai and in the area of the ruins of the Cantina Belvedere, you will see open excavations of old mineral deposits - do not leave the route to visit such areas, always remain on the path.

The stage is challenging in terms of both length and elevation gains, therefore it is advisable to prepare adequately.

At the end of the stage, you will pass through the asphalted roads of the village of Buggerru, make sure to pay attention to vehicular traffic.

L'itinerario

Da Masua si raggiunge la località Canal Grande dove è possibile osservare alcuni reperti fossili che rappresentano alcune  tra le prime forme di vita apparse sul pianeta.

Di notevole interesse anche l’archeologia industriale, dalla vecchia ferrovia che giunge all’impianto di caricamento di Cala Domestica, al grande scavo di Planu Sartu.

A Cala Domestica segnaliamo la presenza del chiosco Oasi Beach che offre i servizi di  ristorazione, servizio transfer con jeep o gommone e tour guidati. Il chiosco è aperto tutti i giorni fino al 3 novembre e in seguito solo nei i weekend.

Per chi volesse intraprendere un percorso meno impegnativo, è disponibile un percorso alternativo che esclude il tratto  a picco sulle falesie tra Porto Flavia e Cala Domestica

From a naturalistic and landscape point of view, this is one of the most striking stages of the Trail, thanks to the extraordinary beauty of the granite reliefs of Piscina Irgas that were modelled by watercourses.

The holm oak woods, the Mediterranean scrub and the various mining excavations along the way are also fascinating.

This route is not very challenging because of the length, but because of the elevation gains that you need to overcome.

Safety and useful tips

Along the way, you will find a series of fords: the first is on the Rio Cannisoni before the steep climb along the path leading to the waterfalls of Piscinas Irgas; after the downhill from the waterfall viewpoint, you have to cross the Rio Oriddano less than three times; finally, you have to ford the Canal of Perdu Marras.

When you reach the viewpoint on the waterfalls of Piscinas Irgas, it is advisable to stay on the path without venturing into the gorge that houses the basin into which the waterfalls pour. As a matter of fact, this deviation is very challenging, because it proceeds along a poorly defined and very steep path which, if taken, must be tackled both downhill to reach the reservoir and uphill to resume the route.

In Arenas, you will see some ruined mining buildings; avoid crossing any fences and/or venturing inside them, but always admire them from a distance without leaving the Trail.

The stage runs through an isolated territory, therefore it is good practice to communicate the departure from Monti Mannu and the arrival in Arenas (in Arenas the phone connection will work in elevated areas and in particular near the buildings of the old Genne Carru Mine, which you will encounter at the beginning of the next stage). It is therefore advisable to download the offline version of the stage track.

Grazie alla straordinaria bellezza dei rilievi granitici di Piscina Irgas che sono stati modellati dai corsi d’acqua nel corso dei secoli, questa è, dal punto di vista naturalistico e paesaggistico,  sicuramente una delle tappe più suggestive del Cammino. 

Di grande fascino anche le foreste di lecci, la macchia mediterranea e i numerosi scavi minerari che si incontrano lungo il percorso.

Il percorso  è da considerarsi impegnativo non tanto per la lunghezza, quanto per i dislivelli che occorre superare.

In this stage, you still walk through holm oak woods until you come across the Punic-Roman temple of Antas dedicated to the Sardus Pater.

Then you proceed to the large excavations and many valuable mining structures of the Baueddu, Malacalzetta and San Benedetto mines, thanks to which this stage is one of the most interesting ones in terms of industrial archaeology.

Safety and useful tips

The route is challenging right from the start with a long climb into the forest and then a gradual descent towards the area of the Temple of Antas. However, it does not present any particular difficulties.

After leaving the site of Antas, you have to walk uphill along the municipal dirt road of Antas to reach the area of Baueddu. From here, you descend towards Malacalzetta, where you can observe several ruins of the old mining activity and the village connected to it. Avoid crossing any fences and/or venturing inside, but always admire them from a distance without leaving the Trail.

In San Benedetto, it is possible to experience some connection issues, as not all phone operators will get a signal.

In questa tappa si cammina tra i boschi di leccio fino ad incontrare il tempio punico-romano di Antas dedicato al Sardus Pater.

Si prosegue  fino a ricongiungersi ai grandi scavi e alle tante pregevoli strutture minerarie presenti presso le miniere di Baueddu, Malacalzetta e San Benedetto che fanno di questa tappa una delle più interessanti sotto il profilo dell’archeologia industriale.

An interesting and pleasant stage that links two important mining sites with a rich heritage of industrial and classical archaeology such as the Nuraghe Monte Scorra.

You will walk along comfortable dirt roads, mule tracks and paths, almost completely surrounded by forest and Mediterranean scrub.

Safety and useful tips

The route proceeds along comfortable and easy roads, characterised by a first section where it winds its way through a dense forest.

Once you get out of the forest, take the path that climbs up towards the Nuraghe Monte Scorra, from which it is possible to see the ruins of the protonuraghe from a short distance. Do not venture to visit the nuraghe due to both the difficulty of the route and the fact that the site is not undergoing any restoration or safety work, so there may be danger of collapse or damage to the structure.

The rest of the route, although long, does not present any major difficulties.

For those who wish to shorten the way, remember that immediately after Orbai it is possible to take the alternative route described in the previous stage and arrive directly in Rosas with a walk of less than 8 km.

There is also a variant hat reduces the length of the route by approximately 11 km.