Marosini Loop - Sa Tappara (C-503)

Validation level In pre-accatastamento o manutenzione

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Photo author Brotzu Renato Image credits Sardegna Digital Library

Trail summary

Path lenght 2.100 m

Time lenght 45 minutes

Difficulty level More infos sui gradi di difficoltà Intermediate-high difficulty (E-level)

Activities and warnings

Pathways Activities

Avvertenze e pericoli

The pathway

The trail starts in the Gedili locality, near the sports field where it crosses Trail C 503a and runs through the Sa Tappara canyon at the end of which you can admire a 2019 art installation by Marcello Maloberti that is part of the Maria Lai Open-Air Museum. Having reached Ulassai near the Lavatoio Comunale (the old town washhouse), an itinerary through the town will allow you to see several works by artist Maria Lai. Walking east along Via Santa Croce, take the uphill path back to the tacco (rock outcrop) and cross a strip of stone pine forest to return to the Gedili locality.

Walking time is 40 minutes (30 minutes in the opposite direction).

Useful informations

ABOUT THE TERRITORY

The current trail network in Ogliastra extends for about 440 km. In the area of the Tacchi of Osini and Ulassai the total length of the hiking trails is around 80 km. The total area of the Tacchi of Osini and Ulassai is about 10,000 hectares.

The area is characterised by the presence of extensive outcrops of Palaeozoic rocks, mainly shale, which form the base of the carbonate plateaus (formed in the Mesozoic era) of varying height and size interspersed with deep canyons, known as Tacchi, which are distinctive features of this geographical area. The most widespread woodland is the holm oak forest, accompanied by areas of reforestation with conifers. The entire territory has many endemisms, some exclusively Sardinian and others also present in Corsica. Of particular interest is the protected nature area designated as RIN, in the Sa Brecca (Osini) locality, aimed at safeguarding the wild orchid Dactylorizha elata, an endemism exclusive to Sardinia.

Very important from a naturalistic point of view is the permanent wildlife protection oasis of Taccu (Ulassai), where some specimens of Sardinian deer have recently been reintroduced. In Osini you can visit the natural monument Scala di San Giorgio, a natural pass that allows you to reach the Tacco.

Archaeological sites include the Serbissi, Urceni, Sanu and Orruttu nuraghi (prehistoric stone towers) in the countryside round the village of Osini.

There are numerous caves, the most impressive of which, open to visitors, is the Su Marmuri cave in Ulassai, one of the largest in Europe, and home to the largest bat colony in Italy.

In Ulassai in the rainy season you can also admire the Lequarci waterfalls, among the most impressive in Sardinia. In and near the town of Ulassai, there are many works by locally-born artist Maria Lai.

The area’s trail network includes routes with various degrees of difficulty (T = Tourist - easy; E = Hiker - intermediate; EE = Expert Hiker), and covers the entire territory, including its coastal and mountain stretches. You can choose either a long ring-shaped route or shorter routes to reach specific attractions in the coastal or mountain areas. It is also possible to cross the area on your way to the northern and southern parts of the island along the Sentiero Italia trail.

Special care must be taken in rainy periods for the risk of flash floods (Sa canna stream area) and on account of cliffs and karst formations both above and below ground.

Roadbook

The trail starts in the Gedili locality, at the junction with Trail C 503 a. Following it heading south, you will reach the Sa Tappara canyon, with its imposing vertical limestone walls, at the end of which you can admire Cuore mio, an art installation created by Marcello Maloberti in 2019, part of the Maria Lai Open-Air Museum.