Punta La Marmora
1,834 m
Italy
Also known as Πούντα Λα Μαρμόρα, Perda Cràpias/Punta La Marmora, +3Also known as
Πούντα Λα Μαρμόρα · Perda Cràpias/Punta La Marmora · La Marmora · Пунта-Ла-Мармора · Perdas Carpìas
- Elevation
- 1,834 m
- Prominence
- 1,834 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- May–Jun
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2Sources differ: E (CAI) (Sardegna Sentieri)
The standard ascent from the north-west: about 7 km one way from the car park at S'Arena (about 1,510 m) above Desulo, on CAI path 721 over the Arcu Artilai pass and past the ruined Rifugio La Marmora to Arcu Gennargentu, then up the Sentiero Italia over stony ground to Sardinia's highest point. About 2h30 up.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 7.0 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +412 m
- −84 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 1,834 m
- Time Up
- 2h 31m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 19m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
S'Arena, a clearing with a car park beside the ruined Sa Crista hut, is reached by a minor road from Desulo. Path 721 (maintained by the Forestas agency with CAI Nuoro) follows an old ski-service track uphill east, with Punta Erba Irdes on the right, then a path climbing diagonally to Arcu Artilai (about 1,660 m), an old transhumance pass. Path 721A branches left here for a 30-minute detour to Bruncu Spina (1,828 m). Continue south-east on gentle climbs over schist outcrops, past the Funtana Is Bidileddos spring and the ruins of the Rifugio La Marmora (about 1,611 m), then climb more steeply to Arcu Gennargentu (1,659 m), where the route joins the Sentiero Italia. Path 721 alone is 5.3 km and about 2 hours. Turn right (south) and climb the final 175 m or so over loose stones and gravel, past the saddle of Genna Orisa and Punta della Croce, to the summit of Punta La Marmora (Perdas Carpìas). Return the same way, or make a loop over Bruncu Spina. The ridge is open and shadeless; fog, strong wind and in winter snow can make navigation difficult, and Forestas notes that waymarks are under maintenance. There are springs along the way, though they can be low in late summer.
Start
S'Arena1,506 m
- Buses reach Desulo; no public transport to S'Arena.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | S'Arena → Punta La Marmora | 7.0 | 412 | 84 | 2h 31m |
Waypoints
- Parking: S'Arena1,506 m
- Col: Arcu Artilai1,657 m
- Feature: Funtana Is Bidileddos1,656 m
- Feature: Rovine Rifugio La Marmora1,606 m
- Col: Arcu Gennargentu1,651 m
- Col: Genna Orisa1,781 m
- Summit: Punta La Marmora1,834 m
Key Passages
- Arcu Artilai
- Steeper climb to Arcu Gennargentu
- Loose, stony final ascent from Arcu Gennargentu
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
Sardinia's highest point (1,834 m), a rounded schist summit in the Gennargentu massif at the heart of the island. A 7 km waymarked walk from S'Arena above Desulo, or a ridge walk over Bruncu Spina, leads to views over almost the whole island.
Punta La Marmora, known in Sardinian as Perdas Carpìas, is the culminating point of the Gennargentu, a broad massif of old schist rising from the Barbagia highlands slightly east of the island's centre, on the boundary of the Desulo and Arzana municipalities. Unlike Sardinia's limestone mountains near the coast, the Gennargentu is a range of smooth, grassy ridges and stony domes above the treeline, grazed by sheep and goats and home to mouflon and golden eagles.
The summit is reached by straightforward walks of 2–3 hours from the north-west. Several tops of over 1,800 m line the main ridge, including Bruncu Spina (1,828 m), which has a small ski area on its northern slopes. On a clear day the view takes in most of the coastline and all the island's other mountains.
The ridges are entirely open, so fog, strong wind and summer heat matter more than technical difficulty. In winter the massif usually carries snow, and the higher paths become a serious undertaking.
Climbing Notes
A fit walker needs about 2h30 from S'Arena to the summit and slightly less back, on CAI-graded 'E' paths with some loose, stony ground at the end. No special equipment is needed in summer beyond boots, a windproof, water and a map or GPS track; waymarks are being renewed and can be sparse. Start early in July and August, when the shadeless ridges get hot.
The most rewarding options are a loop over Bruncu Spina and the main ridge, or a traverse on the Sentiero Italia, which crosses the massif. In winter (roughly December to March) snow and strong winds turn the walk into a winter mountaineering outing needing snowshoes or crampons and good navigation; fog is common in every season.
History
The peak is named after the geographer Alberto Ferrero della Marmora, who studied and mapped Sardinia in the 19th century. The Gennargentu was traditionally crossed by shepherds moving flocks between the highlands and the lowlands; Arcu Artilai on the normal route is an old transhumance pass. The ruined Rifugio La Marmora stands below Arcu Gennargentu on the normal route.
Season
Best May–Jun- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Good
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Best
- October: Best
- November: Good
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Snow likely; ski lifts on Bruncu Spina when conditions allow
- Feb
- Snow and strong winds
- Mar
- Late snow possible
- Apr
- Snow patches; springs full
- May
- Flowers; mild temperatures
- Jun
- Long days; good conditions
- Jul
- Hot; no shade; start early
- Aug
- Hot; springs may be low
- Sep
- Settled weather
- Oct
- Cooler, clear days
- Nov
- Wet and foggy spells; first snow possible
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Paths are maintained by the Forestas regional agency with CAI Nuoro; stay on marked trails and respect grazing livestock and gates
- Getting There
Desulo (S'Arena approach); Fonni (Bruncu Spina approach)
Olbia (OLB) or Cagliari (CAG), both about 2 hours by road
- By car to S'Arena: minor road from Desulo to the car park by the ruined Sa Crista hut
- By car to Bruncu Spina: from Fonni take the SP7 towards Desulo and turn off for Monte Spada / Bruncu Spina
- Regional buses serve Desulo and Fonni; there is no public transport to the trailheads
Hazards
- Weather