Nuragic Village of Tiscali

Lanaitho is a beautiful valley located near Oliena, in central Sardinia. Coming from the town, the only road leading into the valley approaches it from the north and is not always clearly signposted.

Hidden among the imposing mountains of the Supramonte of Orgosolo, Oliena and Dorgali, Lanaitho has an ancient charm and a unique, wild beauty. Thanks to its secluded location, its impressive karst landscape, rich in caves and caverns, and the fertility of the valley, Lanaitho has provided shelter for humans since prehistoric times.

The valley is of extraordinary natural and archaeological importance and is home to an impressive concentration of ancient sites and natural wonders. Among them are the Nuragic villages of Carros and Tiscali, the latter being the destination of our excursion, as well as Giants' Tombs, Corbeddu Cave, Guano Cave and the caves of Sa Oche.

Our hike begins a few hundred metres from the Sa Oche caves, along the eastern side of the valley, still within the territory of Oliena.

We initially follow a wide trail, but before long the path leads us into the dense Mediterranean scrub, where careful navigation becomes important as we continue alongside the bed of a river. To our right, we can admire the impressive mountains of the Supramonte di Oliena, while magnificent juniper trees occasionally emerge dramatically from the surrounding rocks.

As we climb higher, the trail becomes increasingly steep, but the magnificent landscape more than rewards our efforts. Then, almost unexpectedly, a huge opening appears in the rock, as if inviting us to step back in time and enter the mysterious world of the Nuragic civilisation.

In ancient times, this karst formation contained a cave carved by the action of underground water. Following major geological movements, part of the vault of Tiscali collapsed, opening the cave to the sky and creating the extraordinary natural amphitheatre we see today.

It is a remarkable spectacle created by nature.

The importance of this natural monument is combined with its extraordinary archaeological significance. The karst sinkhole provided an exceptional natural shelter for Sardinia's ancient inhabitants, hidden and protected within the mountain itself.

The settlement of Tiscali consists of numerous huts, rooms and storage areas distributed mainly across the northern and south-western sections of the sinkhole, with some walls built directly against the natural rock face.

The structures have rectangular, quadrangular, circular and elliptical floor plans. Their relatively thin walls were constructed using locally available limestone, in some cases finished with mortar.

Archaeological investigations at the site have uncovered artefacts associated with the Nuragic civilisation, with evidence spanning the Bronze and Iron Ages. Human occupation of the site appears to have continued into the Roman period. The discovery of Dressel 1 amphorae provides evidence of increasing Roman influence, which gradually contributed to changes in the settlement and its eventual abandonment.

Now it is time to enter this extraordinary karst sinkhole and discover the hidden village of Tiscali.

Inside, we will see how nature has added one final touch to this remarkable place: a spectacular natural opening in the rock, almost like a window overlooking the world.

ℹ️ Details

📍 Location: Oliena, Supramonte

🥾 Distance: 7 km

↕️ Elevation Gain/Loss: 550 m

⏱️ Duration: Approx. 4 hours

⚠️ Difficulty: EE – For experienced hikers

⛰️ Terrain: Karst terrain and challenging trails

🥪 Meals: Packed lunch

💧 Water: 1.5 litres per person

📞 Contact

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