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The northwestern part of the province of Sassari is dominated by the Nurra, the second largest plain in Sardinia after the Campidano. Its territory falls primarily within the municipalities of Sassari, Porto Torres, and Stintino, also encompassing the municipalities of Alghero, Olmedo, and Sorso. Formerly characterized by dense forests and wetlands, this area today has a predominantly barren appearance, dominated by pastures, agricultural fields, and typical Mediterranean scrub and garrigue vegetation. Of the ancient forest cover that existed until the 19th century, only rare patches of gallery forests survive today, preserved along the courses of torrential rivers, such as the Rio Mannu.
Between the post-World War II period and the 1960s, the Nurra underwent extensive land reclamation projects. These works allowed the marshes to be reclaimed and malaria to be definitively eradicated, a plague that since ancient times had hindered the agricultural exploitation of these lands, historically among the most uncultivated and depopulated on the island.
The Nurrese landscape, of extraordinary natural value, boasts a heterogeneous morphology: alluvial basins alternate with hilly ridges and lake areas in the central and northern sectors, while the western coastline is marked by imposing, steep promontories overlooking the sea. Despite this variety, the region maintains a scenic harmony that blends high cliffs and pristine coves with the tranquility of the inland plains.
The area is dotted with numerous rural villages, including La Corte, Villassunta, Palmadula, Tottubella, La Pedraia, Biancareddu, Campanedda, Canaglia, and Bacchileddu. Among these, the village of Argentiera stands out, dominated by the austere and evocative architecture of the old mine, now a prized example of industrial archaeology. Another unique feature is Lake Baratz, Sardinia's only natural lake; a precious refuge for birdlife, the lake is connected by a majestic dune system to the bay of Porto Ferro, guarded by 17th-century coastal towers.
Moving northeast, a short distance from Sassari, lies the Platamona coastline: a long stretch of fine sand that extends for about ten kilometers from the 16th-century Abbacurrente tower (1571-1578) to Punta Tramontana, framed by ponds and a lush pine forest.
The defining characteristic of Nurra is water, in its marine, fresh, and brackish forms. This constant presence shapes the area's natural resources, fostering a high level of biodiversity. The wetlands, including ponds and lagoons, enrich an already significant flora and fauna, while the marine ecosystem, due to the variety of species that inhabit its seabed, is confirmed as one of the areas of greatest scientific interest for marine biology in the entire Mediterranean basin.
Video - Historical documentary: ”Dawn on the wall”, the remediation, Etfas, Sixties.
The documentary, made by Fiorenzo Serra, testifies to the land transformation activity carried out in Sardinia after World War II. The film belongs to a series of short films produced by ETFAS (Authority for land and agrarian transformation in Sardinia).
Structure category: natural monument
Content type:
Environmental site
Province: Sassari
Common: Sassari
Macro Territorial Area: Nord Sardegna
POSTAL CODE: 07100
Address: la Nurra - Provincia di Sassari
Website: turismosassari.it/it/esplora-it/mare-e-natura/item/589-mare-e-natura-nella-nurra-di-sassari
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Sassari, la Nurra Images number: 12
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Year : 1958
Year : 1958
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