Monteleone Rocca Doria - Romana (Trail E 205)

We proceed downhill along an ancient path immersed among the abandoned gardens of the village, where the vegetation is rapidly reclaiming space. Between dry stone walls and small rocky outcrops, we come to a fork beneath a large sessile oak and take a right, then dive into the woods: the ancient path is partly damaged but still discernible, passing next to a large limestone block weathered from above where a rock-cut wine press can be identified.

The ancient path emerges into a meadow area and abruptly ends at the roadside embankment leading to the dam, which has interrupted its old course. You are now close to the Temo valley, and on the left, you can see the structure of the barrier that creates the lake of the same name. The path descends steeply to the road, then shifts to the right, following it for a few hundred meters before leaving it after the wastewater treatment plant on the left, passing through a blue gate. In this area, there are signs informing hikers about the behavior to follow in case the sluice gates are opened. Indeed, you are downstream of the reservoir, and it is important to strictly follow the instructions indicated on the notices.

After passing the gate, continue along a road that crosses the dry bed of the Temo River, ascending up to a pumping station. Here, keep to the ridge that climbs steeply towards the Monte Airadu hill, which overlooks the area to the north: the trail is faint and follows the traces of livestock. Upon reaching an elevation of 255 meters, a true gem reveals itself to the left of the path: the domus de jana of Monte Airadu. This is a small funerary chamber richly decorated, one of the finest examples of Neolithic funerary art, a worthy representative of the wonders that have made the ancient necropolises of the Protosardi famous throughout this area of Sardinia.

After passing the tomb, take a slight right, brushing past a pumping station and continuing again on a dirt road with a gentle ascent up to a gate where a local access road is encountered: follow it to the left, going slightly uphill for a few dozen meters, then leave it again to the right onto a beautiful and ancient cart track that goes deep into the countryside. In the direction of travel, beyond the valley furrow marked on the map as Riu S. Lussurgiu, the last houses of Romana can be seen.

One descends along the ancient road, and on the walking surface, made of soft marl rock, the grooves left by carts that traveled this passage for centuries can be seen. The splendid cart track leads to a ford where the remains of a now-ruined bridge are visible: a wide pool of water sometimes makes the passage difficult, and in that case, one must climb back up a few dozen meters slightly, or plan to remove shoes and trousers to continue. In case of heavy rain, the passage may be impassable.

After crossing the ford, one climbs again onto the beautiful and ancient cart track, which made a wide hairpin bend, supported on the downhill side by an ingenious dry stone embankment. You are now close to Romana, and the ascent ends on a paved road which, followed in the direction of travel, quickly leads to the town center. From the northern outskirts of Romana, it is also possible to reconnect with trails 201 and 203, thus continuing the journey.