Hiking trails of Villagrande Strisaili

In the inland Ogliastra region, at roughly seven hundred metres above sea level, Villagrande Strisaili — Biddamanna Istrisàili in Sardinian — sits on the eastern edge of the Gennargentu massif, the most extensive mountain system in Sardinia. The town belongs to the historic province of Ogliastra and serves as one of the access points to the eastern portion of the Parco Nazionale del Gennargentu (Gennargentu National Park), established in 1998 and spread across the provinces of Nuoro and Ogliastra. From here the trail network opens onto a territory where woodland cover is dominated by holm oaks, downy oaks and strawberry trees, with clearings giving way to dense, compact Mediterranean scrub.

The trails setting off from the town cross a landscape that shifts elevation quickly, moving from valleys carved by seasonal watercourses to open ridges from which, on clear days, the outlines of Gennargentu's main peaks can be made out. The territory holds traces of Nuragic civilisation: along some routes it is possible to come across the remains of prehistoric structures that bear witness to a long history of human presence in these mountains. Wildlife includes the Sardinian deer — a subspecies endemic to the island — mouflon, and various birds of prey, including the golden eagle, which frequents the park's higher, more open areas.

The trail network can be covered on foot and, along some stretches, on horseback or by mountain bike, with varying levels of difficulty that make the territory accessible to hikers of different abilities. The most favourable season for these trails runs from spring to autumn, when inland temperatures stay moderate and the vegetation is at the height of its cycle. Summer brings dry heat and intense light, along with the possibility of restrictions tied to fire prevention, which in Sardinia affects access to many wooded areas during the central months of the year.

Compared to Ogliastra's coastal destinations — Baunei, Santa Maria Navarrese, the Golfo di Orosei — Villagrande Strisaili remains off the more frequented circuits. This geographic and touristic position is reflected in the quality of silence that accompanies the trails: paths where encounters with other hikers are rare, where the landscape isn't mediated by tourist infrastructure or redundant signage. The town itself, with just over three thousand residents, maintains a community life rooted in the traditions of inland Sardinia, far removed from the seasonal economy that characterises the coastal strip.