Discover Escalaplano: Plateau, Nuraghi and Festivals

Escalaplano lies on a plateau almost 350 metres high. The town is surrounded by the valleys of the Flumendosa and Flumineddu rivers; the area is covered by cork oak forests. For your travel planning, this creates a landscape in which the elevation, river valleys and wooded areas together define the character of the town.

Plateau, river valleys and paths

Route C 562 also crosses a plateau. There are partly enclosed plots of land there, used partly as pasture and partly as olive groves and vineyards. The Cracuris Circonvallazione Escalaplano – S'Arcu Atzinnuri (C 562) route is approximately 1.8 km long. Sa Trona is about 8 km from Escalaplano. The flat sandstone rock formation extends over the precipice and offers a wide panorama to the south.

Archaeology between spring and rock

The prehistoric archaeological evidence in Escalaplano includes domus de janas, nuraghi and temples with sacred wells. The Is Clamoris complex on the Rio Flumineddu in the Escalaplano area includes a nuragic sanctuary with a sacred well; a nuragic spring is located a short distance away. At the Domus de janas di Fossada, surface finds of obsidian and flint were discovered nearby, suggesting the presence of Neolithic workshops in the vicinity.

You can reach the Is Clamoris nuragic spring from Escalaplano via Corso Sardegna/SP13 heading north, then via Via S. Barbara and the signs to Perdasdefogu. After approximately 10 km, follow further signs near a bridge.

Churches and visible architectural history

The Church of San Sebastiano was built in the Gothic-Aragonese style and dates from the 16th century. Its defining features include a large original rose window on the façade in the Aragonese style and a wooden pulpit commissioned in 1623.

The Church of San Salvatore stands on the Is Sceasa plateau on the road towards Ballao. An earlier Church of San Salvatore consisted of large brown stone blocks bonded with a mixture of clay and straw.

Festivals, processions and open courtyards

Festive days associated with Escalaplano include 17 January for the Feast of Saint Anthony the Great and, three days later, the patronal feast of Saint Sebastian. The celebrations include lighting large fires, tasting wine and sweets, and dancing.

The 15th of May is associated with accompanying the simulacrum of Saint Salvatore to the rural chapel dedicated to him. The procession to San Giovanni on 24 June includes traditional costumes as well as traccas, that is, ox-drawn wagons decorated with flowers.

Sa Passillada takes place on 31 October and 1 November in the historic centre of Escalaplano; during the event, private courtyards are opened to the public.

Highlights for your travel planning

When selecting a hotel or other accommodation in Escalaplano, you can tailor the focus of your days to specific landscape, cultural and festival themes. The plateau, the surrounding river valleys and cork oak forests, Route C 562, Is Clamoris, the churches and the dated customs offer different focal points for your travel planning. Depending on your personal interests, you can therefore give different weight to culture, landscape or local history.

More destinations for your travel planning

More destinations for your travel planning: Uta, Mandas, Costa Rei, Monserrato, Serdiana, Senorbì, Decimoputzu, Villaspeciosa.

To the higher-level travel overview: Cagliari.