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Santa Teresa and Capo Testa

Buga: 15.10.2022

Today we went back to the coast: we drove to the northernmost tip of Sardinia to the small town of Santa Teresa di Gallura.


Roundabout in front of Santa Teresa
Roundabout in front of Santa Teresa


First, we explored the center of the town.


Santa Teresa di Gallura
Santa Teresa di Gallura


There were some preparations for celebrations that were going to take place in the town this weekend.


Procession in Santa Teresa di Gallura
Procession in Santa Teresa di Gallura


As we passed by the church, an orchestra was already playing and preparations for a procession were starting.


Procession in Santa Teresa di Gallura
Procession in Santa Teresa di Gallura


For the feast of the patron saints, a long procession of people with statues of saints marched through the old town before returning to the church for mass (although some stayed in the café on the market square and did not go to the church).


Procession in Santa Teresa di Gallura
Procession in Santa Teresa di Gallura


We went to the viewpoint by the sea, from where you could see all the way to Corsica.


View of Corsica from Santa Teresa di Gallura
View of Corsica from Santa Teresa di Gallura


Then we continued to the Capo Testa peninsula.


Capo Testa
Capo Testa

We hiked from the beach through the landscape with the bizarre-shaped granite rocks.


Capo Testa
Capo Testa


Capo Testa
Capo Testa


After a short path along the coast, we saw the lighthouse rising on a hill above the sea.


Capo Testa
Capo Testa

Here, it started to get more crowded again because there was a parking lot nearby and many visitors were climbing on the surrounding rocks.


Capo Testa
Capo Testa

We continued a bit further until the path started to descend again.


Capo Testa
Capo Testa


Behind the old lighthouse, we started the ascent again. However, this part of the trail was a bit more difficult because the path disappeared at some point and we had to climb up the rocks.


Hiking trail on Capo Testa
Hiking trail on Capo Testa

We did not know yet that this would be the easy part of the trail...


Capo Testa
Capo Testa


Behind the old lighthouse, we followed a small path where we quickly encountered a turtle sunbathing. But when we approached, it preferred to hide under a bush.


Turtle on Capo Testa
Turtle on Capo Testa


Unfortunately, our path kept disappearing in the thickets, so we had some difficulties making progress.


Capo Testa
Capo Testa

Eventually, we came across a bigger path and tried to find the way to the 'Valle di Luna', whose rock formations were supposed to resemble the lunar landscape.


Capo Testa
Capo Testa


In the valley, there are the 'apartments' of a hippie commune. We saw some tents and eventually also encountered a group enjoying the sun together.


Totem of the commune in Valle de la Luna
Totem of the commune in Valle de la Luna


Now we had to decide whether we wanted to go back the same way or follow a hiking trail that was supposed to lead around the next mountain.


Valle de la Luna
Valle de la Luna


We chose the new path, which led over the beach to the rocks.


Capo Testa
Capo Testa


Unfortunately, this path disappeared as well and we had to climb over rocks to cross the next valley.


Our hiking trail on Capo Testa
Our hiking trail on Capo Testa


Then the path led back to the coast and we climbed over the rocks again to make progress.


Capo Testa
Capo Testa


Unfortunately, the paths marked on the map on our phone were not always there and occasionally the GPS signal was lost, so we were relieved when we finally found a path that was supposed to lead us back to the road.


Capo Testa
Capo Testa


Unfortunately, this path ended at a fence where we were greeted by excited barking dogs, so we had to turn back again.


Capo Testa
Capo Testa

We looked for a new path and hoped to reach the road soon. Then we ran into an angry Italian who explained to us that this was private property (at least we understood this part). However, there were no signs or hints on our way that this was not a publicly accessible area.

Since we really didn't feel like going back the difficult way, we asked him how we could get to the road. (By now we had found out that the not very friendly gentleman spoke French at least.)


Capo Testa
Capo Testa


Since it was obvious that we didn't want to turn back, he told us to take the small path to the beach and then continue from there.

We followed the indicated path, but did not go all the way to the beach because there was already a path branching off in the right direction before. Unfortunately, this path ended in front of a gate, which we simply climbed over. On the other side, we finally saw the signs prohibiting access...


Capo Testa
Capo Testa

Apparently, we had ended up in a restricted residential area of wealthy Italians, even though komoot showed a public hiking trail and a road here...


Capo Testa
Capo Testa

We were glad when we were back at our car and after an ice cream break in Santa Teresa, we continued to a Bronze Age tomb, the 'Tomba di Giganti Li Mizzani'.


Tomba di Giganti Li Mizzani
Tomba di Giganti Li Mizzani

 

Some Italians were already sitting there, and one even lay down in the former burial chamber. We had read online that some locals believe there are special energies here that are released when you touch the gravestone...


Talmone
Talmone


On the way back, we stopped at the beach 'Talmone' and took a short walk there.


Talmone
Talmone


From there, we drove through the village of Porto Rafael back to Palau.


View from Fortezza di Monte Altura
View from Fortezza di Monte Altura


Amsa

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