Excursions in Sardinia: Nature Paths in Porto San Paolo

There is a dense network of historical paths in the area of Porto San Paolo which connects the sea with the hinterland. The significant route of the stazzi (typical farmhouses of the region Gallura) consists of paths and trails. During the 18th and 19th century it was an important connection between the farmhouses which were located several miles from each other.

The paths are catalogued and marked and will be accessible bit by bit. At the moment two paths are accessible: Romeo e Giulettia di Paulesa in the hinterland and Lu Caminu di Falchi which leads from La Castagna to Porto San Paolo. The paths are marked with illustrated wooden signs which tell the story of the people who lived in this place.

Nature path “Romeo and Juliet from Paulesa”

The territory of Loiri Porto San Paolo is a harmonic connection between sea and hinterland. First we would like to tell you the story of the people who came from the sea and populated the hills of Loiri. The story shows the strength of the connection between the two nature elements. Who would have ever thought that the small village of Montelittu and the beautiful city of Verona have something in common … .Paulesa, the hill with its typical granite rocks “tafoni” of the Gallura preserves the memory of two young lovers which escaped to save her love and of their families which had to suffer because of this impossible love… follow the trail and revive their stories.

Nature path Lu Caminu di li falchi

The 11 km long trail leads from the hinterland to the sea, abandoned stazzi are located along the path, at the halfway of the trail you’ll find the house of family frati Falchi. The path is named after this family.

The adventure stories which have been told to the children in front of the fireplace (Li conti di lu fuchili) are written on the illustrated sign near the stazzo.

On a cold evening in 1920 Andrea Careddu is sitting in the stazzo together with his grandchildren and he tells them why the family is known as “frati Falchi”. It is because of his grandfather Andrea, named “lu falcu cecu”. The children are staring at the flames of the fireplace and it seems like the story comes alive. Andrea was a bright and clever boy, he lived in the stazzo of Cuncata in Calanganius. He always walked around with a dried bean which was fixed on a string. He used it to lure and catch hens. Thanks to this special ability to catch the hens he was named “lu falcu cecu”. His life changed forever when his brothers were murdered because they refused to give their sister for a bride to the son of family Alvisa. A terrible vendetta started, Andrea killed the murders of his brother and became a bandit. He surrendered to the carabinieri (police) after 20 years, became a father of two sons and was murdered during a horse trip with his son … family Alvisa hasn’t forgot the injustice that has happened to them …