Foresta di Montes, Orgosolo
Hidden in the heart of Barbagia above the town of Orgosolo, the Foresta di Montes shelters one of the largest and oldest cork oak forests in Europe — some trees are over 500 years old, their trunks stripped in elegant spirals to reveal the cinnamon-red wood beneath. This is the Sardinia that has nothing to do with beaches.
Walking the Forest
The main forestry road from the Orgosolo side (accessible by 4WD or on foot from the trailhead at Pratobello) winds for roughly 15 km through the forest, passing stone shepherd huts called pinnette and occasional clearings where mouflons — the wild mountain sheep of Sardinia — graze without much concern for passing hikers.
In spring the forest floor is carpeted with wild orchids, asphodels and cyclamen; in autumn the light through the canopy turns the whole place amber and gold, and the smell of damp cork and wild mint is extraordinary.
Practical Logistics
Orgosolo itself is worth a stop beforehand: the village is famous for its hundreds of political murals painted on house walls since the 1960s, turning the entire town into an open-air gallery of Sardinian resistance and identity.
The nearest full-service town for supplies is Nuoro, 18 km from Orgosolo; pack food, water and layers because mountain weather changes fast and there are no facilities inside the forest.
More of Sardinia
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Sardinia →
