Mount Limbara

Mount Limbara: a high-altitude spectacle of Northern Sardinia

Mount Limbara is a granite massif spanning four municipalities of Northern Sardinia: Tempio Pausania, Calangianus, Berchidda and Oschiri.

Where does the name of the mountain in Northern Sardinia come from?

The name derives from the ancient Romans, who called it Limes Balares. The reason is that Mount Limbara marked the border between Gallura, inhabited by the Corsicans, and Monteacuto, and Logudoro, inhabited by the ‘Romanised’ Balari people.

What is there to do on Mount Limbara?

There are several hiking trails, some suitable for mountain biking, and it is also a paradise for all climbing enthusiasts.

Here are the routes to follow:

• The Tafoni Trail: a 9 km route taking you on a journey of discovery through the marvellous granite rocks shaped by wind, snow and rain, amidst woods and artificial lakes teeming with waterbirds and fish;
• To reach the enclosure where mouflons and fallow deer live, we recommend the ‘Animals and Plants’ route
• The ‘South Face’ Trail, which focuses on the southern part
• The Summit Trail, 12 km, leads to the Pavari Garden and on to Punta Balistreri, the highest peak (1,362 metres). It takes its name from a fugitive from Tempia, who was never found and who took refuge there in the 17th century. You will also find the remains of the NATO communications base.
• The ‘Water Trail’, a 30-km route leading to the abundant low-mineral-content springs.

Overall, there are around 90 km of trails for ecotourism enthusiasts in Sardegna, where you can go trekking, cycling and climbing, as well as enjoy birdwatching and nature photography.

Furthermore, the views from Mount Limbara are breathtaking: from the valleys around Lake Coghinas to the north-western coast. These places are beautiful all year round, but we also recommend visiting in winter: with snow – which is not an uncommon sight on the mountain – everything takes on an even more spectacular charm.

Photo by HrodebertRobertus on Visualhunt / CC BY-ND

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