The Way of St James in Sardegna

Santu Jacu in Sardegna: a pilgrimage through nature and rural churches

Religious tourism
is still a niche market in Italy.
The Santu Jacu or Santiago Trail in Sardegna
, however, as the symbol of religious tourism on the island, appeals to a wide audience, particularly trekking
enthusiasts.
The Santu Jacu Way winds its way from the south to the north of the island
along a magical route past rural churches
.
It passes through archaeological sites, villages and nature reserves
, linking places of historical and cultural interest. There are many
stops along the way
: before we explore them, here is some information on the origins of this fascinating route
.

The origins of the Santu Jacu Trail

The Santu Jacu Way was established relatively recently
.
It dates back to late 2009
, when a group that had undertaken the pilgrimage routes in Spain, setting off from Sardinian municipalities whose patron saint is St James
, created an itinerary based on an agreement between the municipalities to promote the region’s heritage
.
The public launch of the
Cammino di Santu Jacu or Santiago in Sardegna
took place in Mandas
the following year, during the festival dedicated to D.H. Lawrence
.
Shortly afterwards, the amateur association marked the first signposts
along the route using symbols associated with St James: yellow arrows and shells
.
The official launch
took place in 2012 in Galtellì
, during the Cultural and Religious Tourism Forum
.
On that occasion, the Sardegna Region declared the Way to be of regional significance
and included it amongst the island’s tourist routes.

A trek through churches, nature reserves, the sea and the mountains

The Santu Jacu Trail is approximately 1,600 km long and consists of four main sections: THE CAGLIARI – Porto Torres 470 km; the BOLOTANA–ORISTANO ROUTE, 240 km; the Ozieri Olbia 300 km The CAGLIARI–SULCIS ROUTE
, which extends to the islands of Sant’Antioco and San Pietro
340 km
These are being joined by the Olbia – Porto Torres
and the CAMPIDANESE – SERRENTI
bypass. Travelling along the ‘Santu jacu’ routes offers the chance to visit most of the churches dedicated to St James in Sardegna
.
The itinerary also takes in archaeological sites, nature reserves, volcanic and mining areas
, and some of the island’s most picturesque villages.
From coastlines to mountains, basilicas to nuraghi, you’ll discover the uniqueness of Sardinia’s historic regions
, the variety of traditions that characterise them and the fascinating aspects of their folklore
. The routes of the Cammino di Satu Jacu pass through places of regional and national significance
.
Just think of the Basilica of Saccargia
and the Basilica of Sant’Antioco in Biscarcio at Ozieri
.
Furthermore, they pass through ancient villages such as Aggius
and
Tempio Pausania, the ancient stone town with its traditions
.

The Routes of the Way of St James

The map of Santu Jacu. Source: Camminiditalia.org 1. CAGLIARI – Porto Torres The central route comprises 21 stages
and offers several alternative routes. The route is easy, with the exception of the two stages inland, which are slightly longer.
It can be undertaken all year round, but the best times are spring and autumn
. It passes through nature reserves and archaeological sites
of national importance. 2. THE NORTHERN ROUTE
The Gallura variant, which runs from Porto Torres to Olbia
, consists of 10 stages
and is quite challenging, particularly in the mountainous sections. 3 . THE HORIZONTAL ROUTE The Horizontal Route runs from Olbia to Orosei, from Orosei to Ozieri, and from Bolotana to Oristano
or Oristano/Bolotana.
The route includes the stunning coastline of Cala Gonone
, Oliena, Dorgali, the Tiscali caves and the Lanaitto Valley
. 4. SOUTH Sardegna: SULCIS AND ISLANDS
This route runs from Cagliari to Sant’Antioco as far as Carloforte
via the mountain route
, and from the centre of Sant’Antioco to Cagliari via the coastal route
. N.B.: The Cammino di Santu Jacu or Santiago in Sardegna can be undertaken on foot, by bike or on horseback
in either direction. The
recommended starting and finishing points are Olbia; Porto Torres; Oristano; Cagliari and Sant’Antioco
. MORE INFO at:
Camminando.eu
.