Gallura and Costa Smeralda · Provincia della Gallura Nord-Est Sardegna

Things to do in Padru

Padru near Olbia: Monte Nieddu forest, Pedrabianca, the Sa Contra 'e s'Ifferru viewpoint, the Santu Miali site, hiking and mountain biking.

Padru, Sardegna — © GSPFD · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Padru is a young municipality in north-east Sardinia's hinterland, about 30 minutes' drive from Olbia, independent from Buddusò only since 1996. The village is small, but its territory is vast and wild: holm oak and cork oak forests, granite and quartz rocks, scattered hamlets and views that reach Tavolara island. Ideal if you're after hiking, mountain biking and real nature close to the San Teodoro coast.

What to see in Padru

Monte Nieddu and the forests

The state forest of Monte Nieddu, rising to almost 1,000 metres, offers views over the San Teodoro coast and the Tavolara marine area. The area also includes the Sa Pianedda, S'Ozzastreddu and Usinavà forests and borders Tepilora park.

Sa Contra 'e s'Ifferru

The name roughly means “the rock that leads to hell”, but this viewpoint gives a 360-degree panorama over central Sardinia's valleys, as far as the Gennargentu.

Pedrabianca

A tiny hamlet of stone-and-mud houses built on white quartz rocks, on the edge of Tepilora park. Along the road is the rock formation of Sa Conchedda de fizza ona.

Santu Miali

An archaeological site about 1 km from the village towards Olbia: remains of a Roman building, perhaps a farm villa, a necropolis of 15 graves and the ruins of two medieval churches. A hoard of about 3,500 silver denarii was found in the tombs.

Churches

In the village is the church of San Michele, opened in 1849; the country church of Sant'Elia stands in the hamlet of Sa Serra.

Things to do in Padru

People come here for hiking and mountain biking on forest trails, horse riding and kayaking on the rivers. In autumn the woods fill with mushrooms, and picnic areas have springs such as Sos Pantamos. Photographers can explore the abandoned hamlets of Poltolu, Baddevera and Piras. Discover the excursions offered by local operators below.

History

Its origins are poorly documented: perhaps a Roman military post, certainly an 18th-century shepherds' settlement. The name Padru first appears in 1777 in the parish records of Buddusò, which it belonged to until 1996, when a referendum made it independent.

Food and local products

The cooking is the shepherds' cuisine of the north-east: sheep and goat cheese, roast meats, pane carasau (crisp flatbread) and traditional sweets. The coat of arms, with grapes and a bee, hints at wine and honey. In autumn, wild mushrooms.

Festivals and traditions

At the end of May, Sant'Elia is celebrated at the little church of Sa Serra. Locals speak Logudorese Sardinian, while in the hamlet of Biasì they speak Gallurese.

Nearby

Tepilora park, forests and rivers.
San Teodoro, with La Cinta and Cala Brandinchi beaches.
Loiri Porto San Paolo and views of Tavolara.
Buddusò and Alà dei Sardi, on the granite plateau.
Olbia, with its old town and archaeological museum.

Getting there and when to go

Olbia airport and port are about 30 minutes away by car. Spring and autumn are best for hiking; in summer, hike in the morning and hit the beach in the afternoon.