Necropolis of Mesu ‘e Montes and Su Nuraxi di Barumini

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

1. 1. Necropolis of Mesu ‘e Montes

   Inland from Sassari, the Logudoro is a country of limestone ridges, small towns of honey-coloured stone and fields enclosed by dry walls, and in its folds lies the necropolis of Mesu 'e Montes, near the villages of Ossi, Muros and Florinas. It is a group of domus de janas, the rock-cut tombs of Sardinia's prehistoric farmers, some of them richly decorated with carved pillars, false doors and the stylised bull horns that seem to have been a symbol of protection or power.

   Read the complete Necropolis of Mesu ‘e Montes write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Necropolis of Mesu ‘e Montes is where the day begins. Next is Necropolis of Ispiluncas.

2. 2. Necropolis of Ispiluncas

   In central Sardinia, on a slope above the village of Sedilo, a cluster of rock-cut tombs opens into the hillside like a row of small dark doorways. These are domus de janas, "houses of the fairies" in the local language, burial chambers carved into the soft rock by the island's prehistoric inhabitants several thousand years ago. Ispiluncas is one of the larger groups, with tombs of varied plans, some with multiple chambers and carved details imitating the beams and doorframes of houses. In 2025 the domus de janas were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, recognising one of the most distinctive funerary traditions in the Mediterranean.

   Read the complete Necropolis of Ispiluncas write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Necropolis of Ispiluncas comes up about 84 km into the recorded legs. Next is Su Nuraxi di Barumini.

3. 3. Su Nuraxi di Barumini

   Nobody quite knew what lay under the mound outside Barumini until the 1950s, when the archaeologist Giovanni Lilliu, himself a native of the village, began to dig. What emerged was the most complete nuragic complex on Sardinia: a central stone tower built in the Bronze Age, later surrounded by a bastion with four corner towers and an outer wall, and beyond that the remains of a village of round huts. Su Nuraxi was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997, and it remains the best place on the island to understand the nuragic civilisation, which left thousands of these towers across Sardinia.

   Read the complete Su Nuraxi di Barumini write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   about 173 km into the recorded legs you reach Su Nuraxi di Barumini. Next is back through Necropolis of Ispiluncas.

4. 4. back through Necropolis of Ispiluncas

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Necropolis of Ispiluncas write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   back through Necropolis of Ispiluncas, late in the day. Next is Necropolis of Mesu ‘e Montes.

5. 5. Necropolis of Mesu ‘e Montes

   Return visit. Read the place description above.

   Read the complete Necropolis of Mesu ‘e Montes write-up.

   Recorded stop-planning note

   May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

   Planning note

   Back at Necropolis of Mesu ‘e Montes. That is the ride.