The Monte Albo Panoramic Road

The grey-white, karstic limestone mountains of Monte Albo rise over 1,000 m in eastern Sardinia. The main road between Posada and Nuoro runs along its southern slopes. To the north, a winding tarmac road snakes its way at mid-altitude through mountain forests, barren high pastures, deep valleys and scenic peaks.

We came from Orosei, from the east, passed a huge granite and marble quarry and visited the Giant’s Tomb S’Ena’e Thomes, before reaching the village of Lula after numerous hairpin bends. With every metre of altitude gained, the striking rock faces of Punta Catirina (1,127 m) above the green oak forests come closer. We leave Lula on a road that now becomes increasingly narrow and pass a picnic area, which is an ideal starting point for the hike to Punta Catirina. To the north, a wide panorama opens up over the hilly hinterland of Baronia. In the distance, Monte Limbara stands out, and to the east, we can make out the Bay of Budoni.

About halfway along the route, we pass the Locanda Ammentos. A little later, we reach the barren high pastures at Funtana S’Adde below Punta Gurturgius. Along the road, signs for the hiking trails leading to the Monte Albo plateau are visible again and again. Tempting, but unfortunately I didn’t have time this time, as we wanted to end our trip around the island with a final overnight stay by the sea instead of in the mountains before departing from Sardinia the next day. The road now winds down in steep hairpin bends to Sinsicola, at the eastern end of the Monte Albo mountain range.