|
MANDAS
- ARBATAX (choose your destination)
|
||||||
| After
leaving Mandas, there is a fork in the
railway: a branch goes forward to north towards Serri and Isili, the other
one turns off to east towards the mountains and the sea. At the beginning the trip takes place among a hilly landscape where the train turns continually without any reference marks. The train reaches the first station in Orroli, among the houses of the village. It is the point from which leave many excursions to see the countryside and the famous Nuraghe Arrubiu. After a few kilometres the train reaches the Nurri, station near to Flumendosa Lake. The train runs down into Garullo ravine and reaches the pretty and lonely station of Villanova Tulo, that is far a few kilometres from the village. From now on the landscape quickly changes. The first appointment is with Flumendosa Lake that is the second longest river in Sardinia. In parallel to the road the train crosses the river on a long bridge. We have just left Sarcidano region and now we are in Barbagia of Seulo. The train rises on a long climb among the mountains and the passengers can get stunning views of the under lake that lays like a fjord. Then the train passes in front of the signalman house of Palarana (n°73) that is set between two tunnels and you can get there only by train. Once it was used as the punitive destination for the most insubordinate signalmen. After a few minutes the train arrives at the pretty mountain stop of Betilli in the middle of a oaks wood and in front of the imposing Monte Santa Vittoria. We are in the countryside of Esterzili, you can reach the station by train after an unusual turn to get over a big rise. The landscape changes again and the train proceeds into the sparser vegetation of the tableland of Sadali. The station of the village is shared with the nearby village of Seulo that is far a few kilometres under the Perdedu Mountain. This is one of the most frequented stations because Sadali offers a good mix between the beauties of its countryside and a very good cuisine. The railway carries on a gradient towards Seui and before of its station goes through a stop near to the anthracite mine of San Sebastiano that once used to be a very important site. Seui station is one of the most important of the line and represents another appreciated destination of the journey. From now on it begins the part of the railway that was surely the most difficult one for the builders of the railway: the height is over 800 meters (the highest point is 870 m) among the Gennargentu mountains that the train crosses through long tunnels (the longest is Arquerì: 511 m) and audacious bridges; one of them is the stately one over Rio San Gerolamo formed by a metallic truss long 50 meters and suspended at a height of 40 meters. Here is an other interesting stop for those who love the mountain and the fine walks: Niala in the countryside of Ussassai. The trip continues in the thickest greenness of Ogliastra region. The next station is that of Ussassai a few kilometres away from the village and afterwards you reach the one of Gairo after having crossed the moon-like environment of the Taquisara valley. From this point another tract used to branch off for Jerzu: it was demolished in 1956 and its terminal station in the countryside of Ulassai has been restored and converted into an "Art Station". After crossing a few tunnels the train arrives at the second appointment with Flumendosa near to the Villagrande station and the Lago Alto of the same river. Proceeding further along the side of Siccaderba stream we reach the station of Arzana and here you can have a splendid view on the sea and the coast of Ogliastra. Descending steeply after the round of Pitzu 'e Cuccu where the line runs under itself the train arrives at another important station in Lanusei. Still in descent the line crosses Elini with its tiny stone station in the middle of the village, then the train proceeds on level ground till Tortolì which is the most populated village in the area, entirely crossed by the train till the terminus: Arbatax station on Cala Genovesi mole in front of Rocce Rosse (Red Rocks). |
||||||
| HOMEPAGE | TIMETABLE/FARES | |||||