Villagrande Strisaili among Nuraghes and Waterfalls

Villagrande Strisaili among forests, water and coast

Villagrande Strisaili lies just a few minutes by car from Sardinia’s east coast. Steep rock faces and forests of centuries-old oaks and holm oaks shape the landscape. Mouflon and golden eagles live in the area’s forests and along its waterways. Here, you can combine nature watching with cultural and historical excursions in a striking Sardinian landscape.

Waterfalls and forest trails

You can reach the Cascate di Sothai via a marked trail with stone steps, handrails and fences that runs through a dense holm oak forest. There, the water plunges about 30 metres over a granite rock face. The waterfalls lie along the Rio Bau Vigo; further downstream, the river forms the canyon of the same name. Near Sa Carcaredda, the waterfalls of Bau Mela form natural pools.

Nuragic sites in the area

The Sa Carcaredda complex lies at an altitude of 800 metres near Villanova Strisaili. Six giants’ tombs and a Nuragic circular temple stand there in a holm oak forest. Giants’ Tomb 1 is well preserved and distinguished by its exceptional monumentality. The Nuragic temple of Sa Carcaredda is a rare example of an “in antis” structure with a circular penetrale. Prior registration is required for educational workshops at Sa Carcaredda.

The rectangular burial chamber of the Giants’ Tomb of Troculu is 9.50 metres long, 1.35 metres wide and 1.60 metres high. During construction of the Nuoro–Lanusei expressway, the structure was dismantled and rebuilt at a nearby site. The tomb lies near two nuraghes and a village. Prior registration is also required for educational workshops at the Giants’ Tomb of Troculu.

The Giants’ Tomb of Pradu Su Chiai, also known as Campu de Pira Onni, is an Isodomos-type burial with a “toothed frieze” and was built from granite blocks. It lies in Santa Barbara on the eastern shore of Lago Flumendosa. S’Arcu ‘e is Forros is a Nuragic sanctuary village with two large rectangular megaron temples and is considered the most important metallurgical centre of Nuragic Sardinia. The Villagrande Strisaili area is also home to pre-Nuragic Domus de Janas in Coile Bruxiau, su Strumpu, s’Orciada and su Settili, as well as a menhir in sa Preda ‘e s’Orcu.

Festivals, churches and Sardinian specialities

The annual Festa di Santa Barbara is a rural festival held partly in the Bosco Santa Barbara on the second Sunday of July. The procession includes riders in traditional dress, folklore groups, an ox-drawn cart, launeddas and religious songs. The San Gabriele festival is celebrated on 1 August and lasts three days from 31 July; processions, music and Sardinian dances are part of the celebrations. On Palm Sunday, a religious procession connects the parish church of San Gabriele with the church of Santu Giaccu.

Villagrande Strisaili also retains its own culinary identity. Prosciutto di Villagrande is made from the meat of local pigs that graze in the surrounding mountains. Culurgiones are ravioli filled with potatoes and pecorino cheese. If you choose your hotel according to your interests, these natural, cultural and culinary themes can help determine the right focus for planning your trip.

More destinations in Sardinia

Villanova Strisaili, Cardedu, Arbatax, Ardali, Jerzu, Gairo, Torre di Bari, Bari Sardo

To the higher-level travel overview: Ogliastra.