La Nuova Sardegna

A very thick network of ancient trails made stubbornly by man, many of them in ancient times, characterizes the whole territory of Anglona. They could represent a real resource if they are properly enhanced and made usable to the increasingly diverse hiking world that has been finding a real Eden in Sardinia for some years now. For this reason, the Union of Municipalities of Anglona and Lower Coghinas Valley and some Anglona municipalities are focusing decidedly on their enhancement. Interesting projects are already in place and others are being planned. Such as the “Hiking and Hippo Trail Network of the Petrified Forest of Anglona” (lead municipality Chiaramonti) already financed with regional resources and with design and execution of the work under the Forestas Agency. The project includes 16 trails (80 km) distributed in the inter-municipal paleobotanical park of Anglona spread over the 6 municipalities involved: Chiaramonti, Martis, Perfugas, Sedini, Bulzi and Laerru, which will connect wonderful sites and places such as the Chirralza waterfall, the Funtanazza park, the Murrone necropolis, the churches of Carmel, Santa Giusta and Santa Maria Maddalena of Orria Pitzinna in Chiaramonti, the waterfall of Triulintas and the petrified forest of Carrucana in Martis, the cave of Su Coloru and the sacred spring of Monte Ultana in Laerru, the waterfall of Li Caaddaggi and the valley of Silanis in Sedini, San Pietro delle Immagini and the river pool of Sa Rundine in Bulzi, the MAP Museum and the church of San Giorgio in Perfugas. The operation aims at the creation of a network of trails by connecting the towns with the sites and increasing the level of usability of the archaeological and paleo-botanical, naturalistic and landscape evidences. Another interesting project is the one called “The valley of the mills of Osilo”, financed to the Municipality of Osilo with European funds and with execution of the work in charge of the Forestas Agency. The section concerned connects the rural trails of the Municipality of Sassari, the part of the Logulentu Valley, crossing the Acchettas Valley with the well-known valley of the hydraulic mills of Santu Larentu, a hamlet of Osilo, where it will also reach the valley areas of Pirastreddu, Badde Ottula, Toltu Lude and Funtana Santa Caterina. «The project was born as a connection between the city of Sassari and the territory of Osilo – explains the mayor of Osilo and president of the Union Giovanni Ligios – which will become the gateway to experiential rural tourism from one of the most populated urban centers on the island. In the future, this route will be included in a more ambitious project being planned, concerning the Great Ring of Anglona». And that is precisely what it is called, “Great Ring of Anglona”, the project being developed by the Anglona Union that will affect all 11 municipalities under it. «The purpose is to attract tourist flows by crossing the 11 communities in a week – Ligios continues – involving accommodation facilities, active tourism professionals, environmental hiking guides, cultural associations, but also artisans, wine cellars and agri-food producers».

More than 250 kilometers of trails are planned, which would start from the thermal area of Santa Maria Coghinas and the fortress of Casteldoria toward su Crabileddu and the nature sites of Lu Cantaru and Lu Tuvu waterfalls. Then to the river area of Perfugas, Riu Giobaduras, to the foot of Mount Ruju and then to the plateau of Mount Sassu to the highest point of Perfugas territory, su Puleu, (the place of the wild mint). From Su Puleu towards Erula and its rural hamlets and nuraghi and then towards Chiaramonti with stops at the Chirralza waterfall, the ghost village of Su Bullone, the domus de Su Murrone and the medieval church of Santa Maria de Aidos. And then towards Nulvi with the archaeological site of Irru, Osilo with the valley of the mills, Martis with the Triulitas waterfalls. From Nulvi towards Sedini with its valley of Silanis, the medieval village of Speluncas and the pilgrims' paths leading to the church of San Pancrazio, Bulzi, Laerru and finally towards Tergu up to the splendid medieval abbey.