If during your stay at Camping La Pineta you wish to know more about the Ogliastra region, a day trip not to be missed is that to the cave of Su Marmuri in Ulassai, a very attractive village in the heart of the mountains of Ogliastra, 800 metres above sea level and approximately 20 km from Bari Sardo.
The cave of Su Marmuri (Marmuri means marbre in Sardinian) extends for 850 metres along a flat surface. It consists of a majestic formation of imposing high-arched rooms that follow each other, typical of a landscape formed uniquely of stalagmites, stalactites, columns, and two small underwater lakes.
The cave has been open to the public since the end of the 1950s and was formed in jurassic limestone due to the force of the water, which, throughout the thousands of years, dug a path underwater.
Thanks to its consistent temperature, the cave serves as a place of refuge in winter for Italy’s biggest colony of bats, made up of many thousands of Schreibers’ bats that come here to spend their period of lethargy. Almost all bats of this species present in Sardinia congregate in this cave, which plays a fundamental role in their preservation.
Visits to the cave of Su Marmuri in Ulassai and climbing routes
The visit takes approximately 45 minutes across an easy and accessible route. Among the most spectacular environments to which you have access is the Cactus Hall, a large room dominated by a stalagmite almost 20 metres. There, the water, light, and limestone concretions create a fascinating spectacle.
There is a restaurant near the cave that offers typical dishes from Ogliastra.
A visit to the cave of Su Marmuri provides the occasion to admire the preserved nature of Ulassai, a village surrounded by tall limestone walls and rich in forests and cascades.
During the last 15 years, Ulassai has become a gathering point in Sardinia for open-air sports enthusiasts, thanks to the opening of tens of climbing routes for all levels of difficulty and the restoration of hiking trails for walking or mountain biking enthusiasts.
