Forest track to SP 1

Off-road routes of 20 or 30 kilometers are rare in Italy. Civilization is simply too advanced for that. In Eastern Europe, things may be different. But here with us ... well. Even on the sparsely populated Mediterranean island of Sardinia, there are hardly any really long tracks. Except - and here comes the exception - deep in the south. There are longer fire protection and forest paths on which you can let off steam for half a day or a whole day. 

For example, on the forest track leading from Domus de Maria to Santadi. Usually wide enough for larger vehicles and equipped with a decent gravel surface, it offers an all-round harmonious off-road experience. Since most of the unpaved roads in rural Italy are only used sporadically by locals anyway, the authorities usually do not close them. As in this case.

The starting point is the town of Domus de Maria on the SS 195 southwest of Cagliari. The trail meanders calmly through dense holm oak stands, starting at 50 meters above sea level and reaching its peak at 941 meters. There are no views, the trees are too close together. The holm oak is a typical Mediterranean tree that does not thrive in cool northern Europe. It has a short trunk and evergreen foliage.

The easy route gives the mind and soul plenty of time to absorb the atmosphere of the south in the midst of these holm oak forests. See, smell, taste. A quarry comes into view, after which it is about a dozen kilometers to the SP 1 road. There, turn left and continue to Santadi.