The best family-friendly hikes and walks in Foresta Demaniale Del Marganai

The Nuragic village can also be reached via the hiking trail to the left of the parking lot. The gate is only there because of the wild boars, you can open the knot, go through and close it again

The old cork oak can also be reached via the hiking trail to the right of the parking lot

The Su Mannau Caves, near Fluminimaggiore, are a unique feature of their extensive cave system, among the oldest in the world. With its two branches, they are also of great archaeological and speleological interest. The right-hand section consists of an extensive karst complex of Cambrian origin and extends over several levels. Some are higher and already fossilized, others deeper and still active. The right-hand branch was formed by the Rapido River and consists of numerous and varied passages and halls, which are the most interesting sight in the cave. The first hall is of great historical importance, not least because of its connections to the nearby Punic-Roman temple of Antas. A must-see!

In a lush valley around Iglesias lies one of Sardinia's most important Roman monuments. Originally a nuragic sanctuary, it was also used during the Carthaginian and Punic-Hellenistic periods. Built from local limestone, the sanctuary is nestled in a picturesque valley in the Fluminimaggiore area.

Established in the early decades of the 20th century, the village still retains valuable buildings such as the church, the school, and the mine management building, as well as evidence of industrial archaeology such as the Zimmermann shaft structure and the compressor room. The village also has a grocery store, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and on Sunday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Not far from the church, you'll also find a fountain where you can fill your water bottles.

During the first half of the 20th century, the village of Malacalzetta was an active mining center, with over two hundred miners, homes, offices, an infirmary, and a small washery. The origins of the Malacalzetta mine, located at the foot of the Marganai massif, date back to the Middle Ages, but modern mining began in the 19th century, with lead and zinc production continuing until 1986. Today, the site is immersed in the silence of the forest and preserves clearly visible remains: the large rooms where the workers lived, the lime kilns, and the washery arches in the Baueddu area.

The Temple of Antas stands in the splendid Antas Valley, a natural amphitheater intertwined with over three thousand years of history. The Nuragic people practiced rituals and burials here since the Bronze Age, followed by the Carthaginians, who erected a sanctuary dedicated to the god Sid Addir Babay, and finally by the Romans, who in the 2nd century AD rebuilt the temple in honor of Sardus Pater Babai, the patron deity of the Sardinian people. Find all the information on opening hours and tickets on the website: https://startuno.it/.

The Su Mannau Cave is one of the most spectacular karst caves in Sardinia. It extends for approximately 8 kilometers, although the accessible section is limited to a 500-meter path through walkways, rooms, ponds, and underground waterfalls. The first part of the visit leads to the archaeological hall, an ancient underground temple used as a water cult in the pre-Nuragic era, connected to the nearby Temple of Antas. Continuing, you enter a living environment, where stalactites, stalagmites, and alabaster flows are reflected in the clear water, home to the Stenasellus nuragicus, a tiny crustacean unique in the world. The cave is open for guided tours year-round: information and hours at https://www.sumannau.it/