Path Description
DEPARTURE: Piscinas 65 m (asl)
ARRIVAL: Tratalias Vecchia 15 m (asl)
TECHNICAL DATA:
- Length: 41.0 km
- Elevation gain: +448 m and –497 m
- Maximum slope: +10.6%
- Minimum slope: -13.7%
STAGE DESCRIPTION:
From the Posada of the former Piscinas railway station, head west on the road towards Giba.
Near the second intersection, take the unpaved road to the left, proceeding parallel to the SS 293, reaching the western outskirts of Giba and entering Via Principe di Piemonte (SS 293) to reach the town center.
At the Giba Town Hall, turn left and, after passing the Piazza, take Via Eleonora d’Arborea. After passing the sports field, you leave the built-up area.
Right after the stadium, turn left onto the path leading to Is Muras Park; at the first fork, turn left to reconnect with SS 125 and enter Masainas.
Following the state road through the town, you cross the entire built-up area, passing in front of the distinctive church of San Giovanni Battista on the left side of the route, then continue to the edge of the village.
From here, turn right and leave the main road, taking a country lane that cuts through local gardens and artichoke fields.
After about 1.65 km you reach a crossroads; turn left and then take another left onto a country road that leads to the small hamlet of Panesiu, just north of Sant’Anna Arresi.
Take Via Piave southwest into Sant’Anna Arresi, arriving at Via Italia (SS 195), and cross through the town, first taking Via Torino and then reaching Piazza Martiri in the center. Here, between the old and new parish churches of Sant’Anna, stands the imposing Nuraghe Arresi.
The Nuraghe Arresi, dating back to the 15th–14th century BC (Middle Bronze Age), was built over an older settlement inhabited since the Late Neolithic and the Early Eneolithic (3200–2600 BC). On both east and west sides of the structure there are two nuragic fountains. The main peculiarity of this Nuraghe is that it stands between two parish churches—one ‘old’, one new—both dedicated to the town’s patron saint.
Around the Nuraghe and the old church, the first nucleus of the village developed.
Leaving the square and taking Via Piercy, you exit the town and come directly to the cemetery roundabout, from which the cycle path leads to Porto Pino.
Along the cycle path, after the next roundabout, you can stop to visit the archaeological site of the Nuragic Village of Coi Casu.
Dating from the Bronze Age, at the height of the Nuragic civilization (about 1600–600 BC), this village developed around a complex nuraghe structure. The most important part of the settlement arises around a circular depression that probably served as a small basin for collecting rainwater.
At the beginning of the Iron Age (11th–10th century BC), the village was abandoned, and only after several centuries did the settlement revive, starting from the late Punic period (3rd–2nd century BC) up to the Byzantine period (6th–7th century AD).
Upon entering Porto Pino, after crossing the isthmus between the Maestrale saltwater ponds to the north and De Brebeis to the south, you reach the canal port and the large parking area from which, if you wish, you can catch a view of the beautiful beach.
Continuing on, you reach the pine forest that gives the village its name; proceeding along the unpaved Via Candiani, you can follow the dirt track to visit the remains of the Second World War defense battery of Candiani, built to guard the Gulf of Palmas.
Currently, these restored buildings also house the Posada of Fondazione CMSB, so overnight stays are possible here (Km 18.8 of the stage).
The former military installation entered service with the Regia Marina on June 4, 1935. The anti-ship battery "Ammiraglio Camillo Candiani" was built in anticipation of a large-scale conflict, to prevent possible landings and to protect the port of Sant’Antioco, from where coal from Sulcis and minerals and metals extracted from the mines of the Iglesiente area were shipped.
Together with the twin battery "Antonio Sogliuzzo" at Capo Sperone (on the opposite side), it formed the defensive line blocking access to the Gulf of Palmas. It was armed with 4 large naval guns (also suitable for anti-aircraft fire), 2 machine guns, and a Breda gun for the defense of the site itself. The personnel comprised about one hundred sailors commanded by 3 officers.
Back on the route and leaving the pine forest, take the dirt road called Via delle Vigne heading north, flanked by the Maestrale pond on the right and the area's vineyards on the left.
At the northernmost part of the lake, take the continuation of Via delle Vigne, partially crossing the lagoon, until you reach the dirt road running alongside the brackish canal that feeds the Maestrale pond. Follow this road for its entire length until you reach the area near Nuraghe Sarri (on private property). At this point, turn left and immediately right, taking the dirt road along the Baiocca pond.
On the northern edge of the pond there is a fork; taking the right, you cross the small bridge over the inlet feeding the Maestrale pond and follow the northern isthmus of the Baiocca pond to reach the hamlet of Is Solinas.
Continuing north, you arrive at the small bridge that takes you to the other side of the canal feeding the Porto Botte pond. Immediately after turning left, you follow the canal on the left bank, which allows you to reach the dirt road running alongside the Porto Botte beach.
Heading north along the dirt track, you reach the end of the beach, where a road bridge on the right allows you to cross the canal and join a slightly uphill road leading to the Nuraghe di Villarios (on private property). Shortly after, you intersect the SS 195.
Turn right onto the state road for just over 200 m, then turn left to take a dirt road. After an immediate right, you enter the rural area west of Giba.
The dirt road continues northeast and crosses the SP 74. After crossing, proceed in the same direction for a further 1.7 km until you intersect the old disused railway line, which you take by turning left.
The route along the old railway, easy to follow due to the remains of old station houses and small cuttings, takes you—after passing Nuraghe Meurras—to the Rio Palmas dam, forming the lake of Monte Pranu.
Here begins the Tratalias cycle path, which you follow until you intersect Via Sobborghi. Turning left and then taking Via degli Angeli, you arrive at the charming ancient village of Tratalias Vecchia. In the notable central square stands the Romanesque church of Santa Maria di Monserrato, built between 1213 and 1282, which served as cathedral and seat of the Iglesias diocese until 1503.
Once you've reached this evocative, still-intact medieval village—where a Posada of Fondazione CMSB, equipped to welcome bikers and their bikes, will soon be opening—this stage comes to an end.
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