SGT
Su Niu de S’Achili Natural Area
In the green heart of Sarrabus-Gerrei, Su Niu de S’Achili is a place where unspoiled nature and hiking meet. Located in the territory of San Nicolò Gerrei (formerly called Pauli Gerrei), the area falls within the Special Protection Area (SPA) of Monte dei Sette Fratelli, a harsh and impervious environment, characterised by lush vegetation, tall Mediterranean maquis and holm oak forests. The area is populated by foxes, hares, and mouflons; the conservation project for the deer, which has rediscovered its ideal habitat here, is particularly significant. It’s a must-see destination for lovers of trekking, on foot or on horseback, biking, and birdwatching: here, in fact, it’s possible to spot eagles and hawks. Su Niu de S’Achili is also the crossroads of one of the longest hiking trails in the world, the Sentiero Italia, created by the Italian Alpine Club. This is where stage Z25 from Armungia ends and stage Z26 towards Burcei begins, crossing plateaus, forests, and the peaks of Monte Genis and Monte Serpeddì.
Mont'Ixi Megalithic circle
In the Mont’Ixi area there is a suggestive stone circle, likely a funerary monument, immersed in a landscape rich in archaeological and naturalistic traces. The site, little known and not yet the subject of systematic excavations, is located near the sacred spring of Su Musuleu, in an area frequented since the Neolithic. The circle is made up of large stones stuck vertically into the ground, arranged to form a single ring (peristalite). It is hypothesized that in the middle there was a chamber intended for burial. Nearby are two monumental fountains, Su Musuleu and Is Molineddus, characterised by chambers made of processed blocks, paved atriums and channels for the flow of water. Dating back to the Middle Bronze Age, these structures testify to a well-organised water cult and complex ritual practices. The link between sacred springs and burials suggests an integrated ceremonial landscape, in which the cult of the dead and that of water merged. As underlined by Antonio Forci (Notes on the archaeological landscape of Gerrei, in The Nuragic civilisation. New acquisitions, 2008), Mont’ixi represents an important node in the ceremonial network of the Gerrei, which needs to be explored further with more detailed studies.
Sacred Spring of Su Musuleu
On the northeastern slopes of Mount Moratto, immersed in a highly evocative landscape, stands the Nuragic spring of Su Musuleu, one of the most precious archaeological treasures of San Nicolò Gerrei.
This spring is not only a valuable feat of engineering, but also a testament to the profound spirituality of the Nuragic populations, for whom water was sacred and central to social and spiritual life. The structure, built with large sandstone blocks, features a trapezoidal paved atrium, crossed by a small canal, and a circular collection chamber, approximately one metre high and 75 cm in diameter, closed by a solid architrave. Small bronze figures were found around the fountain, confirming its use as a place of worship.
Nearby there are also remains of circular structures, probably ritual huts or ceremonial spaces, which reinforce the idea of a settlement that developed around the sacred spring. Despite the alterations caused by unauthorised excavations, part of the site has been recovered: the paved floor and the drainage channel are still clearly visible, testifying to the great mastery of the Nuragic builders, capable of creating functional and long-lasting works.
