South-West · Provincia del Sulcis Iglesiente

Things to do in Domusnovas

Things to do in Domusnovas, Sardinia: walk through San Giovanni cave, Oridda valley and Marganai forest, rock climbing, a nuraghe and mining heritage.

Domusnovas, Sardegna — © GrazianoU · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Domusnovas is a town of about six thousand people in the Cixerri valley, in south-west Sardinia, at the foot of the Marganai mountains and less than an hour's drive from Cagliari. It is known as "the town of caves" thanks to the San Giovanni cave, a natural tunnel you can walk right through. Holm-oak woods, limestone walls and old mines make it a perfect stop for nature lovers, hikers and climbers, and an easy detour for families travelling between Cagliari and Iglesias.

What to see in Domusnovas

San Giovanni cave

About 3 km from town lies one of the longest natural tunnels in Europe: roughly 850 metres carved by water through the limestone of Monte Acqua. In the 19th century a road was built inside to carry ore from the Sa Duchessa mine, and for decades cars drove through it; since 1999 it has been a protected natural monument open only on foot. Lighting picks out stalactites and stalagmites, and at the north exit tiers of limestone pools form small rock "waterfalls". Traces of ancient pre-Nuragic cyclopean walls remain at the entrances.

Oridda valley and Marganai forest

Exit the cave to the north and you enter the Oridda valley, covered in holm oaks and oaks, part of the vast Marganai-Oridda-Monte Linas forest. Trails lead through woods, springs and abandoned mines. On the road to the cave you also pass the Linasia botanical garden.

Sa Domu 'e s'Orcu nuraghe

The name means "the ogre's house". It is a complex nuraghe with a central tower and a bastion ringed by a wall with five more towers, right on the road between town and cave.

Churches and museums

In town, stop at the parish church of the Assumption with its stone façade and the medieval church of Santa Barbara. The mineral museum in the former granary displays minerals and fossils from the fifty-plus mines that shaped the area.

Things to do in Domusnovas

Domusnovas is a small outdoor capital of southern Sardinia.

Rock climbing: the walls at the cave entrance and the Oridda crags draw climbers from all over Europe, with routes for every level and a season lasting almost all year.
Hiking: trails through the Marganai and Oridda woods, plus stages of the Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara between mining villages and forests.
Caving: beyond the tourist route, the area has caves to explore with expert guides.
Mountain biking and horse riding: forest roads are ideal for riding in the shade of the oaks.

Scroll down: just below you will find climbing sessions, excursions and other experiences offered by local operators in Domusnovas, ready to book.

History

The area was frequented from the Neolithic and the Nuragic age, as the cave walls and the Sa Domu 'e s'Orcu nuraghe show. The Romans built roads and worked the lead and silver deposits. In the Middle Ages the village passed from the Judicate of Cagliari to Pisa and, in 1324, to Aragon, remaining under feudal rule until feudalism ended in 1839. In the 19th and 20th centuries mining became the town's main livelihood; since the mines closed, Domusnovas has turned to nature, caves and active tourism.

Food and local products

The food is that of the Sulcis-Iglesiente hinterland: homemade bread, sheep and goat cheeses, roast meats, bean soups and almond sweets. Carignano del Sulcis is made in the area, and prickly pears are celebrated with their own festival. To take home: honey, cheese and produce from the Cixerri countryside.

Festivals and traditions

Holy Week rites are deeply felt, with Good Friday and the Scravamentu, the deposition of Christ from the cross. The main feast is the Assumption, around 15 August, with folk groups and players of the launeddas, the ancient Sardinian reed pipes. Other dates include St John the Baptist in late June, Santa Barbara in early December, dear to miners, and seasonal food fairs in spring and autumn.

Nearby

Iglesias, about 10 km away: medieval town and the Monteponi mines.
Santa Barbara cave, near Iglesias, its walls lined with crystals.
Monte Linas and the Piscina Irgas waterfall, among the wildest landscapes of the south-west.
The Nebida and Masua coast, with the Pan di Zucchero sea stack, about 30 minutes' drive.

Getting there and when to go

Domusnovas lies on the SS130 Cagliari-Iglesias road, about 45 minutes from Cagliari-Elmas airport. The handiest train station is Iglesias. Spring and autumn are best for hiking and climbing, with mild temperatures and green woods; in summer the cave stays cool and makes a great break from the heat, perhaps paired with an afternoon at the beach.