In Sardinia there are monumental sequoias, it's really true. In the Vallicciola park on Mount Limbara, the most photographed trees that undoubtedly attract everyone’s attention are the splendid specimens of sequoia.
Monumental Sequoias in Sardinia
The sequoias in Sardinia can be seen in Vallicciola, a charming mountain village at the summit of the Limbara massif. The towering sequoias that inhabit the mountain in the area of Tempio Pausania are truly majestic monumental trees that reach 40 meters in height. Planted at the beginning of the last century, they have long guarded the Vallicciola forest; a green area of incomparable beauty, a well-maintained evergreen forest.
Due to the variety of species present and the particular biodiversity observed, this area is a SIC: the Site of Community Importance Monte Limbara. This site is included among the municipalities of Tempio Pausania, Calangianus, Berchidda, and Oschiri, extending to Lake Coghinas.
The Vallicciola sequoias that reside on Mount Limbara are included in the ‘list of monumental trees recorded by the Forest Service and are therefore under special protection.
An area that deserves a visit in every season of the year.
- Luxuriant in spring
- Cool in summer
- Colorful in autumn
- With snow in winter
Spend a day in the heart of Gallura to discover the mountainous, unusual, hidden, and stunning Sardinia.
Vallicciola, Sardinia in the Mountains
A true equipped monumental forest. The area where the sequoias are located is a well-equipped area perfect for spending a day in the cool and escaping the summer heat. In the sequoia forest, there are picnic tables, small streams crossed by handmade wooden bridges, fences that lead the way, and even a small votive area.
A bucolic scene that diverges from the usual situations experienced in Sardinia and the nearby Costa Smeralda. A place with no crowds where you can spend a day in the greenery in the company of nature, in silence, and definitely in the cool. At the edge of the park is a recently renovated hotel, the Vallicciola Monte Limbara Nature Hotel, for lovers of walks and relaxation. At the entrance of the park is also La Baita, a charming kiosk with a bar and small dining area where you can sample delicious local products.
In this natural area, there are trekking paths and beautiful routes to do on a mountain bike.
The Peak of Gallura: Mount Limbara
Standing guard over the green hills of Gallura is Mount Limbara, the third peak on the island, definitely one of the most appreciated mountainous areas in Sardinia. The Limbara massif boasts granite rocks sculpted by the wind in enchanting colors, streams, springs, and forests with dense vegetation that provide shelter for many animal species that inhabit the area.
From the peaks of Mount Limbara – and from the highest Punta Sa Berritta 1,362 m – one enjoys a panoramic view of three hundred sixty degrees, dominating Gallura with the Costa Smeralda, the Gulf of Olbia with Tavolara and Capo Figari, and the National Park of the La Maddalena Archipelago with its islands. An exciting aerial view of northern Sardinia from the highest peak of Gallura all the way to Corsica.
The summit of the mountain exceeds 1,300 meters above sea level, allowing various climatic zones with vegetation ranging from Mediterranean scrub to typical Sardinian plants, to large mountain trees. Among the multitude of plant species that inhabit Mount Limbara are stretches of oaks such as holm oaks and cork oaks, downy oaks, and cool pine forests. Among all the plant species, the Limbara Rose stands out, a peony that is as rare as it is beautiful. Among the representatives of the animal kingdom are the eagle, buzzard, falcon, wild boars, hares, rabbits, weasels, and martens; a true natural reserve.
One of the historic and oldest establishments of the Forest Service of Sardinia is located precisely on Mount Limbara, where reforestation interventions have been carried out and pines, cedars, and firs have been repopulated.
Limbara Summit with Panoramic View: What to See
- Chiesetta Santa Maria della Neve
- Punta Sa Berritta
- Bunta Balistreri
- NATO Station Ex American Base
The Sequoias Registered in Italy
These wonderful monumental trees can be found in some regions of Italy. On the peninsula, the southernmost sequoias are indeed located in Sardinia, in Basilicata, Calabria, and Sicily.
In addition to the famous sequoias of Mount Limbara, equally visited are those found in Trentino Alto Adige, Lombardy, Piedmont, Liguria, Emilia Romagna, and Tuscany. Some populations are also reported in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Aosta Valley, Liguria, and Molise.
American Sequoias, Very Tall Trees
Giant sequoias are perennial trees considered among the largest in the world because under optimal conditions they can reach over 100 meters in height and over 15 meters in trunk diameter.
Sequoias are native to the forested areas of North America, with trunks that rise into the sky reminding one of a colonnade. The bark is dark tending towards red, aromatic and highly fragrant, while the foliage is lush. The sequoias found in Sierra Nevada and generally in the large American parks, especially in California and Sequoia National Park, are very famous.
What to see around the sequoias
The Valley of the Moon in Aggius
If you decide to take a trip to the heart of Gallura to see Mount Limbara, stop along the way to photograph the rocks of the Valley of the Moon in Aggius. Let yourself be amazed by the beauty of these boulders shaped by all the forces of nature.
Nuraghe Izzana
Near the rocks of the Valley of the Moon in Aggius, you can also see the majestic nuragic structure Izzana, considered the largest nuraghe in Gallura, located on the borders of the municipalities of Tempio Pausania and Aggius.
The town of Tempio Pausania
The delightful village of Tempio Pausania is certainly worth a visit at any time of the year. The capital of Gallura and cork is a city with wonderful granite rocks, rich in history and medieval churches.
