Linasia Botanical Garden
Located inside the Foresta Demaniale di Marganai (Marganai State Forest), the Linasia botanical garden (named after the Linas mountain range) covers an area of approximately 9,000 square meters and reconstructs the physical environments and phytosociological associations of the territory. The garden was created next to renovated mining buildings to house a guesthouse. It hosts numerous local botanical species, some of which are quite rare and present in the wild, such as the Monte Linas Helichrysum or the Sulcis thistle. The various species of plants, shrubs, and flowers have been labeled to make them easier for visitors to recognize. Additionally, a section of the botanical garden is dedicated to butterflies with specimens of plants on which they can more easily flutter. INFORMATION Guided tours are available during certain periods of the year. For more information, please contact the Ente Foresta at +39 0781 20060 Address: Foresta demaniale del Marganai Telephone: +39 0781 20060
Marganai Park
The Foresta Demaniale di Marganai (Marganai State Forest) is part of the “Parco naturale di Monte Linas, Marganai-Oridda, Montimannu” (Natural Park of Monte Linas, Marganai-Oridda, Montimannu), as it is considered area of landscape interest. The vast forest (3,650 hectares in the eastern and northern sectors) is crossed by numerous paths, many of which are very suggestive. Long forest dirt roads and paths run through the old mining villages of Arenas, Malacalzetta, Baueddu, Reigraxius, and wide cart tracks climb towards the peaks of Punta San Michele and Punta Campu Spina. Inside, there are waterfalls and caves of considerable naturalistic interest such as the Grotta di San Giovanni (San Giovanni Cave) and Su Mannau, as well as paleontological evidence and archaeological monuments such as the Punic-Roman temple of Antas. The vegetation is characterized by holm oak, cork oak, and yew forests, while the understory is rich in vegetation: holly, strawberry tree, mastic, thyme, lavender, and cistus. Among the animal species, we find hedgehogs, foxes, wild boars, wild cats, imperial crows, golden eagles, kestrels, peregrine falcons, martens, deer, and mouflon sheep. The presence of griffon vultures and Bonelli’s eagles is also reported. The park area can be accessed through a road that leads from the entrance of the city of Iglesias to the “old Marganai station” or from the SS 126 Iglesias-Guspini, turning towards the village of San Benedetto and then continuing on the road that leads to the “Case Marganai” location.
Nebida viewpoint
The panoramic road is an all-paved loop, with the outer side protected by a railing. The Belvedere allows you to admire the coast and enjoy a breathtaking view. You can appreciate Pan di Zucchero and the three smaller sea stacks but also the ruins of the area’s mining past, in particular, the Laveria Lamarmora.
Pan di Zucchero
In the far southwest of Sardinia, just a few meters from the coast, the tallest sea stack in the Mediterranean rises suspended in the middle of the sea: Pan di Zucchero. Pan di Zucchero is one of the most imposing and spectacular natural monuments on the island, a symbol of the coast of Iglesiente. It owes its name to its resemblance to the famous Pão de Açúcar in the bay of Rio de Janeiro, which replaced its original Sardinian name Concali su Terràinu in the 18th century. It is easily reached by boat, and once you reach the rocky walls, climbing lovers, with proper equipment and support from specialized guides, can climb 133 meters. Once at the top, you will have a clear view of the three smaller sea stacks, two of which are known as s’Agusteri and il Morto. All four sea stacks in Masua, resulting from marine erosion that caused them to detach from the mainland, are composed of almost pure Cambrian limestone. From the top of the sea stack, in addition to the three smaller ones, you can enjoy an excellent view of the wild charm of the coast. Just in front of Pan di Zucchero, suspended halfway up the sheer rock face over the sea, is the entrance to the mining tunnel of Porto Flavia. This is a complex of underground tunnels that finish inside a building carved into the cliff at the beginning of the 20th century. The view of the sunset from the coast, framing the imposing rock formation, is not to be missed. It is a sunlight show that radiates from the limestone silhouette with all shades of yellow and orange.
Blue Cave (Grotta Azzurra)
Grotta Azzurra is one of the many caves that open onto the sheer sea walls of the coast. It stands out from the other coves for its extreme beauty and uniqueness. A marine cave nestled between a deep blue sea and the cliff. Inside, it offers visitors a spectacle of kaleidoscopic colors, the result of light reflected on the white limestone and, in turn, on the water. Grotta Azzurra is also called Grotta di Sardegna (Sardinia Cave), precisely because, once inside, if you turn your gaze towards the entrance, you will be amazed as it seems to trace the contours of Sardinia.
Castello dell’Iride
Castello dell’Iride is the perfect place for climbing enthusiasts. The cliff is located in Nebida and is a real gem nestled among the rocks. The wall is made up of limestone slabs and for climbing enthusiasts, it is one of the most appreciated cliffs in Southern Sardinia. Its exposure is southeast: in summer it’s in the shade starting from around 4 pm.
Bega sa Canna Beach
The beach of Bega Sa Canna is located in the town of Masua, a small center in the municipality of Iglesias. The small beach enjoys an excellent view of the Pan di Zucchero sea stack and extreme privacy, being rather isolated and moderately frequented. The sand of Bega Sa Canna is coarse, a natural mix of sand, shells, and pebbles, in light gray tones. The beach is characterized by the presence of rocks and boulders that emerge from both the sand and the sea, but above all by the beautiful crystalline sea which, depending on the sunlight, varies its colors from emerald green to blue.
Masua Beach
Along the western coast of Sardinia, in the municipality of Iglesias, we find the beach of Masua, commonly known as Il Molo, due to the presence, to the north of the beach, of an old concrete pier and, as visible still today, the remains of an old warehouse used when the Masua mine was still active. The small beach is characterized by a crescent shape enclosed by rocks at both ends, with fine sand in amber and gold tones. The sea, between turquoise and blue, has a predominantly sandy bottom. The coast of the Masua beach is often chosen for the beautiful view it offers. In front of the beach, there is the Pan di Zucchero sea stack, a natural beauty that rises from the sea for about 130 meters.
Porto Cauli Beach
Porto Cauli is one of the most famous beaches in the municipality of Iglesias, both among the locals and numerous tourists. Located near the small village of Masua, this beach is particularly loved for its white sand, beautiful crystal clear sea with shades of green and blue, but above all for the splendid view of the Pan Di Zucchero sea stack. At Porto Cauli, there is a refreshment point on the beach, and it is possible to rent umbrellas, beach chairs, canoes, and other beach equipment.
Portu Corallo Beach
Between Masua and Nebida and a few miles from the beautiful Pan di Zucchero sea stack, lies the small beach of Portu Corallo, a true gem of the Iglesiente region, wild and not overcrowded. The small cove is framed by a cliff with warm, reddish tones, above which the dense Mediterranean vegetation extends, standing out for its green color comparable to the splendid color of the crystal-clear waters. The beach is characterized by mixed pebbles and sand, and the seabed is mostly rocky, with rocks that emerge just below the water’s surface.
