Supramonte
Encyclopedia
The Supramonte is an area of mountains and highlands located in central-eastern Sardinia
, Italy
. It lies northeast of the Gennargentu
massif, spanning eastwards until it reaches the Tyrrenian See in the Gulf of Orosei. It has an extension of about 35,000 hectares, encompassing most of the territories of the comuni
(municipalities) of Baunei
, Dorgali
, Oliena
, Orgosolo
, and Urzulei
. However, the populated areas of these comuni actually lie at the borders of the Supramonte, which, for the most part, is in fact a largely uninhabited continuum of sharp limestone cliffs and deep, lush canyons.
The highest peak is Monte Corrasi (1,463 m), while the average altitude is about 900 m. The Supramonte is characterized by Karstic highlands in which the rivers dug deep ravines and canyons. The rivers actually flow mostly underground, creating several caves, such as the Grotta del Bue Marino, the Grotta di Ispinigoli (with the highest column
in Europe, measuring 38 m), and the caves of Sa Oche ("The Voice") and Su Bentu ("The Wind"), or springs, such as the spring of Su Gologone. Other notable places include the plain (campu) of Donanigoro, the sinkhole
of Su Sercone, the deep ravine
of Gorroppu, and the Mesozoic limestone mountain of Monte Novo San Giovanni (1,316 m). The so-called "Supramonte Marino" ("Seaside Supramonte", to distinguish it from the inner "Supramonte Montano", "Mountain Supramonte") lies within the territories of Dorgali and Baunei, bordering the Gulf of Orosei and including several renowned beaches (Cala Luna, Cala Sisine, Cala Mariolu, Cala Goloritzé) often located at the end of deep valleys called codulas.
In prehistoric times, the Supramonte area was more densely inhabited than it is today, as attested by the traces of at least 76 villages, 46 nuraghe
s, 14 dolmen
s, 40 Giants' grave
s, 17 holy well
s, and 3 megalith
ic walls. Notable archeological sites include the village of Serra Orrios (although located slighlty north of the northern border of the limestone lands), which counted about 70 circular huts and two megaron
-like temples, and the nuraghe village of Tiscali, located in a strategic high position between the valleys of Lanaittu and Oddoene.
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. It lies northeast of the Gennargentu
Gennargentu
Gennargentu is a large massif in central-southern Sardinia, Italy, encompassing the provinces of Nuoro and Ogliastra. It includes the highest peaks in the island, such as Punta La Marmora , Monte Spada , Punta Erba Irdes , Bruncu Spina and Punta Paulinu .The range forms part of the Gennargentu...
massif, spanning eastwards until it reaches the Tyrrenian See in the Gulf of Orosei. It has an extension of about 35,000 hectares, encompassing most of the territories of the comuni
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
(municipalities) of Baunei
Baunei
Baunei is a comune in the Province of Ogliastra in the Italian island of Sardinia.-Geography:The municipality of Baunei is located about 100 km northeast of Cagliari and about 11 km north of Tortolì...
, Dorgali
Dorgali
thumb|250px|[[Giants' grave]] of Sa Ena e Thomes.Dorgali is a comune in the Province of Nuoro in the Italian region Sardinia, located about 230 km northeast of Cagliari and about 38 km east of Nuoro in the Seaside Supramonte mountain area.Economy is mostly based on the vine and wine...
, Oliena
Oliena
Oliena is a comune in the province of Nuoro, Sardinia, Italy. It is the birthplace of former Chelsea FC and Cagliari player, and former West Ham United manager, Gianfranco Zola....
, Orgosolo
Orgosolo
Orgosolo is a comune located in the Province of Nuoro, in the Italian region Sardinia, at about 110 km north of Cagliari and about 13 km south of Nuoro....
, and Urzulei
Urzulei
Urzulei is a comune in the Province of Ogliastra in the Italian region Sardinia, located about 100 km northeast of Cagliari and about 25 km northwest of Tortolì...
. However, the populated areas of these comuni actually lie at the borders of the Supramonte, which, for the most part, is in fact a largely uninhabited continuum of sharp limestone cliffs and deep, lush canyons.
The highest peak is Monte Corrasi (1,463 m), while the average altitude is about 900 m. The Supramonte is characterized by Karstic highlands in which the rivers dug deep ravines and canyons. The rivers actually flow mostly underground, creating several caves, such as the Grotta del Bue Marino, the Grotta di Ispinigoli (with the highest column
Speleothem
A speleothem , commonly known as a cave formation, is a secondary mineral deposit formed in a cave. Speleothems are typically formed in limestone or dolostone solutional caves.-Origin and composition:...
in Europe, measuring 38 m), and the caves of Sa Oche ("The Voice") and Su Bentu ("The Wind"), or springs, such as the spring of Su Gologone. Other notable places include the plain (campu) of Donanigoro, the sinkhole
Sinkhole
A sinkhole, also known as a sink, shake hole, swallow hole, swallet, doline or cenote, is a natural depression or hole in the Earth's surface caused by karst processes — the chemical dissolution of carbonate rocks or suffosion processes for example in sandstone...
of Su Sercone, the deep ravine
Ravine
A ravine is a landform narrower than a canyon and is often the product of streamcutting erosion. Ravines are typically classified as larger in scale than gullies, although smaller than valleys. A ravine is generally a fluvial slope landform of relatively steep sides, on the order of twenty to...
of Gorroppu, and the Mesozoic limestone mountain of Monte Novo San Giovanni (1,316 m). The so-called "Supramonte Marino" ("Seaside Supramonte", to distinguish it from the inner "Supramonte Montano", "Mountain Supramonte") lies within the territories of Dorgali and Baunei, bordering the Gulf of Orosei and including several renowned beaches (Cala Luna, Cala Sisine, Cala Mariolu, Cala Goloritzé) often located at the end of deep valleys called codulas.
In prehistoric times, the Supramonte area was more densely inhabited than it is today, as attested by the traces of at least 76 villages, 46 nuraghe
Nuraghe
The nuraghe is the main type of ancient megalithic edifice found in Sardinia. Today it has come to be the symbol of Sardinia and its distinctive culture, the Nuragic civilization...
s, 14 dolmen
Dolmen
A dolmen—also known as a portal tomb, portal grave, dolmain , cromlech , anta , Hünengrab/Hünenbett , Adamra , Ispun , Hunebed , dös , goindol or quoit—is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of...
s, 40 Giants' grave
Giants' grave
thumb|300px|sa Ena 'e Thomes Giants' grave in [[Dorgali]].thumb|300px|Interior of the sa Ena 'e Thomes tomb.Giants' grave is the name given by local people and archaeologists to a type of Sardinian megalithic gallery grave built during the Bronze Age by the Nuragic civilization...
s, 17 holy well
Holy well
A holy well, or sacred spring, is a small body of water emerging from underground and revered either in a Pagan or Christian context, often both. Holy wells were frequently pagan sacred sites that later became Christianized. The term 'holy well' is commonly employed to refer to any water source of...
s, and 3 megalith
Megalith
A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. Megalithic describes structures made of such large stones, utilizing an interlocking system without the use of mortar or cement.The word 'megalith' comes from the Ancient...
ic walls. Notable archeological sites include the village of Serra Orrios (although located slighlty north of the northern border of the limestone lands), which counted about 70 circular huts and two megaron
Megaron
The megaron is the great hall of the Grecian palace complexes. It was a rectangular hall, fronted by an open, two-columned porch, and a more or less central, open hearth vented though an oculus in the roof above it and surrounded by four columns. It is the architectural predecessor of the...
-like temples, and the nuraghe village of Tiscali, located in a strategic high position between the valleys of Lanaittu and Oddoene.