The area of the Gutturu Mannu Regional Natural Park extends over the territory of ten municipalities in the southwest of Sardinia: Pula, Villa San Pietro, Siliqua, Domus De Maria, Uta, Assemini, Santadi, Capoterra, Sarroch and Teulada.
The park has three gates: • Santadi near Pantaleo, • Pula near Pixinamanna • Uta near Santa Lucia
The name of the park is etymologically derived from “big gorge”. The sequence of peaks that compose it contributes to the choice of name and also represents one of the predominant features of the park.
The Rio Is Cioffus Gorge is a gorge full of wild vegetation, consisting of almost vertical reddish walls. During the rainy season, the gorge fills with water, creating natural ponds. The characteristic Faraglioni of Punta Calamixi are granite towers that, together with a dense forest, decorate the eponymous gorge in the forest of Is Cannoneris.
The mountain Is Caravius is the highest in the park at 1116 m. Its summit is completely covered by forests and its name “is caravius” means “the hawthorn”.
Mount Lattias has a distinctive appearance as it consists of a series of towers that form a two-kilometer-long ridge. It gets its name from the fact that lattia means “salad” in Sardinian-Campidanese. The last strips of primary forest are located in its channels.
From Punta Sebera you have a breathtaking view: you can see from the Gulf of Cagliari to the southwest coast of Sardinia and also see the island of Sant'Antioco.
In addition, important watercourses and waterfalls also flow through the park. The Rio Gutturu Mannu, the park's main watercourse, originates from the confluence of four streams that originate on the slopes of the highest mountains.
The beautiful Su Spistiddadroxiu waterfall is the result of a jump into the void between the granite rocks of the Rio Fenugus. In ancient times, the eternal spring of Mitza Fanebas provided water for the residents of the Nuragic village of Fanebas, whose ruins are now completely surrounded by a dense holm oak forest.