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  The element which leads us on the first itinerary aimed at revealing the beautiful natural environment of the BIM area is water and our guide is the Taloro river, which lends its name to the area covered by BIM. The river starts at mount Fumai, flowing through the heart of Barbagia, to eventually form the artificial lakes of Gusana, Cucchinadorza and Benzone.
The best place to start our tour is Gavoi: after a recommended visit to the town’s historical centre and the charming granite houses and ancient churches, we can venture forth to discover the surrounding municipal area, eventually arriving at the artificial lake Gusana.
The basin was constructed at the beginning of the 1960s, to supply the Taloro hydroelectric power station, blocking the course of the Aratu torrent with an imposing dam, more than 80 m high.
Lake Gusana offers visitors the beauty of its untouched countryside, displaying scenery which despite being in the heart of Barbagia is similar to that of the Alps, due to the tall woods and conifers which are reflected by the waters of the lake. |
These woods are interrupted by copses of holm-oak, Mediterranean maquis including juniper and strawberry tree, oak trees amd pastures, making the lake an ideal place for trekking both on foot and horseback, canoeing , fishing and indeed any outdoor activity. At certain times of the year, you can also admire “ “su ponte vetzu” (the old bridge), a roman bridge with four arches which is submerged in the depths of the lake.
On leaving lake Gusana, we proceed along the main road n° 389 towards Ovodda. Driving along the road the charming rural sanctuary of San Pietro can be seen; this church is really worth a visit because of its graceful simple architecture.
Just before entering the town of Ovodda, taking a turning off to the right, is the artificial lake, Cucchinadorza. Also built in the same period as lake Gusana, it too was built for hydroelectric purposes, water is pumped to lake Gusana, at night, through a pump plant. The basin actually appears more like a natural lake, this is propbably because of its strategic and charming position and the fact that it is especially abundant in lakeside fauna.
On leaving Cucchinadorza we come out onto the main road n° 4, which takes us in the direction of Teti, a small village which has a delightful archaelogical museum, displaying findings from the two nearby nuraghic villages of Abini and S’Urbale. The area around the village is also worthwhile visiting not just for the vegetation thriving with holm-oak, cork and bay oak trees and the Mediterranean maquis, but also for the fauna, namely foxes, wild boar, weasels and various species of birds of prey, including the golden eagle. Mushrooms also grow abundantly here, in fact the area has become popular with mushroom pickers and enthusiasts.
Continuing along the spectacular main road n° 4, lined by dense woods, we eventually reach Austis after about 7 km. From the village, which was an ancient Roman settlement, taking the boundary road named “Cabitze e Margiani”, we get to the peak “Borta Melone”, a charming viewpoint, 900 m above sea level, from where a view of the whole Tirso valley can be enjoyed.
From here, carrying on along a narrow and tortuous road which runs through contryside dominated by fascinating granite rocks and also home to some rare fauna, eventually we reach the artificial basin, Benzone, supplied by the Taloro river after its path flows through Teti. This small water looking-glass, where delightful strolls, treks on horse-back and fishing can be enjoyed, marks the end of our itinerary, which has guided us round the lakes within the BIM area.
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