Sassari, the home of outdoor activities

The area of Sassari, Sardinia, commits to active holidays with a series of proposals mainly thought for hiking, cycle-tourism, rock climbing and birdwatching lovers.

Discovering the “Mills Valley”

In this territory it has been carried out an important work on once used paths which have then been abandoned because of the dense vegetation that had covered them. These paths connected many places, such as Badde Barca, Logulentu, Badde Tolta, Eba Giara.
Those landscapes and paths have now returned to their initial easy access abd preserve historical evidences and local customs in a land full of charm and not very known yet.

The itineraries - signalled using the symbols of the Italian Alpine Club and numbered by the valuable contribution of the Sassari department - allow the guests (hiking and mountain bike lovers) to easily get to know an area of great natural interest.

During the works made on the paths, some ancient spring waters pipelines have been rediscovered. The area of "fonte Barca" was once used as main road between Bianchinu Mount and Logulentu. There, you can see many watermills, important evidences of hydraulic and milling industrial archaeology: the valley of Logulentu, in fact, is called the “Mills Valley” and had always been characterised by the abundance of water and a dense vegetation.

The pond of Platamona, birdwatching paradise

A tiny paradise just a few feet away from the beach. The pond of Platamona is one of the most important humid zones in the north of Sardinia, immersed among the beautiful juniper trees, the perfume of which blends with the one of the pines.

Recognised site of Community interest, is 3 kilometres long, is 250 metres wide and an area of 95 hectares, but it does not touch the sea. The waters that feed it are filtered by the dunes and therefore particularly sweet.

And are precisely the sand dunes, covered in typical pond vegetation, that create a perfect frame where birds and amphibious find their perfect natural habitat and offer an amazing view for the lovers of nature photography and birdwatching.

The legend of the Baratz Lake

The legend tells that deep down this lake, the only natural one in Sardinia, the ancient city of Barax had sunk. Sure is that this pool of water, the perimeter of which is of 12 km, is so enchanting that it is easy to be caught in this special nature.

Surrounded by sand dunes, the basin is fuelled by small watercourses and it has been formed during the last ice age by a huge sand ridge, of marine and continental origin, carried by the wind or by a series of violent sea storms.

Just near Porto Ferro, the lake is surrounded by an Aleppo pine forest and a stone pine one, which sometimes leaves room for the typical plants of the maquis shrubland, such as the olive tree, the strawberry tree, the myrtle.  The rich aquatic vegetation hosts many animals typical of the lake area.

The area of “Lake of Baratz-Porto Ferro” has been recognised by the European Community as site of Community interest.

MTB, in the valley of Rio Bunnari

Worth visiting is the valley of Rio Bunnari and its artificial basin. It is an area rich in vegetation, very dear to Sardinian people and popular destination for Sunday jaunts. In fact, many names of the places you can find there show its various potentialities, such as the Cyclamen Valley.

The artificial lakes - sometimes without water because of the maintenance of the dam - are surrounded by the hilly slopes hosting a pine forest and downy oaks forests, many of which are used as grazing lands.  The lake shores are populated by many different waterfowl: herons, coots, ducks, and many species of other swamp birds.  In those waters you can find the pond turtle, while in the grass live the tree frog, the green toad and the Tyrrhenian painted frog.

Recently, the main offices of the Bunnari Park have been inaugurated. The Park is now hosting a tourist accommodation with a bar, restaurant, swimming pool and sport facilities to play five-a-side football or mini golf.

From the Park you can start your excursions on the area’s paths, either on foot or by bike. The rocky ridges, looking at the valley, are perfect for rock climbing.