geocalia
Day itinerary · 40.20° N · 9.35° E
A guided climb to the Nuragic village of Tiscali from Oliena, suckling pig roasted at the Su Gologone restaurant and the afternoon at Sardinia's most important spring.
Part of Barbagia
The plan
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
From Olbia along the SS131 DCN to Oliena and the climb to Monte Maccione; from Cagliari, leave at 6:00
with the Enis Cooperative from Monte Maccione, about 3 h · entry €6 in cash
+39 0784 288363
book with the website form or by WhatsApp
Località Su Gologone, 08025 Oliena · +39 0784 287512
paid entry; kayak from April to September
+39 328 564 9983
In Olbia around 18:45; in Cagliari, around 20:00
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
In the Supramonte of Oliena is one of the strangest places in Sardinia: Tiscali, a Bronze Age stone village hidden inside a hollow mountain. This day climbs it with a guide in the morning, comes down for suckling pig roasted in the fireplace of the Su Gologone restaurant, open since 1967, and ends with a short, flat walk to the spring that gives it its name.
Fly to Olbia (OLB), with a direct flight from Barcelona, or to Cagliari (CAG), with direct flights from Barcelona and Seville. Hire a car at the airport. From Olbia, Monte Maccione, above Oliena, is a little under two hours away; from Cagliari, about three (estimated). From Cagliari the day is very long: better to sleep the night before at Su Gologone or at Agriturismo Guthiddai.
7:00 · Leave Olbia. From Cagliari, at 6:00.
9:00 · Tiscali with the Enis Cooperative. Meet at their hotel at Monte Maccione, above Oliena. You go up by Land Rover past Su Gologone and the Lanaittu valley to the foot of the mountain and walk an hour along an old charcoal-burners' path to the sinkhole, with a hundred or so stone houses and a rock window over the valley. In all, about three hours. The cooperative does not publish the price: ask when you book. The entrance to the village, €6, is paid in cash at the top.
13:30 · Lunch at Su Gologone. The Palimodde family's restaurant, with the big fireplace where the porceddu is roasted. Culurgiones or maccarones de busa beforehand, seadas with honey afterwards. Book using the form on their website or by WhatsApp.
15:30 · Su Gologone spring. About 500 metres from the restaurant. A green and turquoise pool at the foot of a limestone wall, explored to 135 metres without finding the bottom. From April to September you can hire a kayak for the stream. Entry to the park is charged.
17:00 · Return. In Olbia around 18:45.
Where to eat
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
What to order: the porceddu allo spiedo roasted in the fireplace, the ricotta culurgiones or the maccarones de busa, and seadas with honey for dessert
What to order: tourist menu no. 3, with maharrones de punzu with game ragù and myrtle mixed grill, or no. 1, with cured meats, pecorino and lisanzas alla barbaricina
What to order: the maharrones a busa or the pane frattau as a first course, the porcetto arrosto or the cinghiale al Nepente as a main course, and the sevada hin mele; if there are two of you, the Daddana tasting menu
Map
With where to park at each one.
Getting there
When to go
From April to June and in September and October, with no heat on the climb. In summer, set out very early. In winter the village is open from 9:00 to 17:00 and the days are short.
Tips
There is no card machine at the top.
The climb is short but steep, on loose stone.
The excursion and the table, especially in spring and summer.
Questions
Yes, from the Lanaittu valley, in a demanding hour-and-a-half climb; with a guide it is easier and safer.
About three hours from Monte Maccione.
Yes, about 500 metres away.
The climb to Tiscali is for older children who walk well; with small ones, swap Tiscali for the Orgosolo murals.
More plans like this
geocalia.com/en/italy/sardinia/barbagia/itineraries/tiscali-and-su-gologone
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.
Geocaliahttps://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/sardinia/barbagia/itineraries/tiscali-and-su-gologone
