The Sulcis mountains are covered with a blanket of dense vegetation dominated by deciduos holm-oak thickets. Pantaleo Forest corresponds to the most extensive stretch of holm-oak in Europe and the Mediterranean.
The territory exhibits many rare species like yew, holly and some endemic trees such as Mount Etna broom.
The habitat
It hosts a remarkable variety of fauna, perhaps the most famous being Sardinian Deer, but also comprises wildcats, martens, foxes and weaseals.
It is also the nesting place of the golden eagle and goshawk amongst other more profuse species such asthe sparrow-hawk and peregrine falcon.
Pantaleo Forest has great importance as resting place for migratory birds.
Moreover, in 1988 a project was undertaken, with great success, for experimental breeding of the Sardinian hare.
The buildings that now house the Forest Station date back to the early
900s and were part of an industrial plant for the distillation of wood.
Tree’s leave
In those times the “pyroligneous liquor” obtained from the wood was used as a commercial source of acetic acid.
One of the historic sites of the “Sardinian Red Deer Project“, aimed at the protection and reintroduction of this important endemic subspecies in Sardinia, is actually located within the Sulcis State Forest, in the locality know as “Is Cannoneris”.
How to get there:
See the road from Cagliari.
The Pantaleo Forest Station is on the no. 1 Provincial Road and can be reached from Santadi by driving along an 8Kms stretch of asphalt road.
It can also be reached from S.Lucia, Capoterra, by driving for about 25Kms along a dirty road. We’d like to let you know that Ca del Sol is in Cagliari downtown.
If you like you can easily reach the forest for a worth daytrip.
So, have a look to our best proposal for your staying.
Pantaleo’s visitor center
