A Wall Of Beautiful Photos

After three editions our album of memories is full of beautiful images.

Images of concentrated and often smiling athletes who give us the energy to organize a new edition, the 2019 edition!

 

(Italiano) GPS – Mappe – Altimetrie 2019

The GPS tracks, maps and final altimeters are available for the three competitive races of the 2019 Trail del Marganai.

 

The routes are renewed, compared to last year about a third of the race is on a new track. For each of the three!

As anticipated, the nuraghe S’omu e s’orcu will see the start. The basis of all the operations and the arrivals area is pasta party always the tried and tested Cartiera of the Consorzio Natura Viva Sardegna.

The last kilometers also change. From Punta San Michele until the arrival the track is new. New descent and new passage through the gallery of Su Passu ‘e su Vagoni, small and narrow tunnel dug along the path that allowed to pass over the Cave of San Giovanni carrying the ore of the mines on small wagons.

All that remains is to sign up to enjoy the trail day with us on March 10th.

Only on our trails: the San Giovanni Cave

Lucky you, athletes: in the first part of the race, you cross the Cave of San Giovanni, a very few km from the starting line…in this way you can get immediately an idea of the natural beauty of this corner of southwest Sardinia. Located in the territory of Domusnovas, nearby Iglesias, the natural cave is a fine example of a karst phenomenon generated by the flow of an underground river and is excavated in the oldest limestone rocks of the island, dated millions of years. The cave was already used in ancient times, as evidenced by the last remains of a megalithic wall, that probably closed the southern entrance during the pre-nuraghic age.

Its uniqueness is due to the presence within its tortuous and sinuous tunnel, of a paved road that extends for all its length of 850 m, making it the longest road-crossed natural cavity in the world! Only two other similar caves exist on the entire planet: one in France (the Grotte du Mas-d’Azil, in the Pyrenees) and one in Australia (in the Grand Arch of the Jenolan Caves, in Oberon).

The road was created in the 19th century in order to facilitate the transport of material from the nearby Sa Duchessa mine. Today it is no longer suitable for vehicles, since it was recognized as a natural monument and subject to restrictions.

Currently the road is used by visitors to admire the beauty of the cave, in which flows a stream, originating from the Oridda valley. Stalactites and stalagmites decorate it remarkably. Large calcareous basins overlapping each other form real rock falls.
Both the North and the South entrances are well-known among the climbers, who chose these walls all year round as an challenging training option!

 

 

 

 

Good to know:
– entering from the south side on the left opens a cavity called “Su stampu de Pireddu” (Pireddu’s cavity), which is the most interesting active branch, consisting of a series of galleries and narrow tunnels for a total development of 2 km, characterized by the presence of underground lakes. The name is due to an ancient bandit (Pireddu is a Sardinian family name) who, it seems, found shelter there.

– The name of the cave of San Giovanni derives from a cavity in the interior used in the past as a rock chapel dedicated to Saint John and demolished when the construction of the road began. Thus the small church of San Giovanni was built in the immediate proximity of the south entrance.

For information:

Consorzio Natura Viva Sardegna: 0039.3480553309; Email: consorzionaturaviva@gmail.com

Only on our trails!

Our Trail del Marganai staff wants you to experience time traveling without the need for a special machine, but simply “running”. Your feet will take you to discover the testimonies of human activities of the past and all this will happen with you runners surrounded by breathtaking natural landscapes! Enjoy and run!

The nuraghe Sa Domu e s’Orku is our starting point for all races of the Marganai Trail 2019. It is located on a small hill at the foot of Monte Mannu, a few minutes walk from the village of Domusnovas and it was built in several phases from 1600 BC up to 1000 B.C. It is the largest nuragic complex in the whole South-East, probably, in other times, it was one of the biggest in Sardinia. Nowadays, different parts collapsed and Mother Nature decided to “embrace” the ancient building, abandoned for about 3000 years, with its fragrant shrubs … hence the difficulty of accessing the interior rooms. The name of the building means “the house of the ogre” and it is said that the inhabitants of the area invented the name, in order to prevent the children from approaching.

 

 

 

The central tower, is part of a bastion with three towers, which is surrounded by a rampart that includes 5 more external towers, as well as two  curtains with independent entrances. The main tower has a diameter of 8,80m at the ground and a staircase leads from inside to the upper floor. Its entrance, now partially buried, gives access to the courtyard, where metals were melted. Around the nuraghe there are numerous traces of huts that were part of a village.

 

 

 

Good to know: these constructions have the peculiarity of being built without the use of mortar (dry-laid walls) and the massive stones could weigh several tons. Today, after millennia, over 7000 towers are spread all over the surface of Sardinia, thanks to the technical ability of the nuragic people (see for example the use of an architrave and the small opening above the entrances, that allows to distribute the weight sideways).

For information and guided tours:

Consorzio Natura Viva Sardegna: 0039.3480553309; Email: consorzionaturaviva@gmail.com

Many news for the edition 2019 Trail del Marganai

Nuraghe Sa Dommu ‘e s’Orcu

The event is scheduled for March 10th, 2019 in Domusnovas, the heart of south-west Sardinia.

Many news for the 2019 edition of the Trail del Marganai.

First of all, the three distances for the competitive races are going to change: the 55 km replaces the 52 km, the 30 km replaces the 27 km and the 20 km replaces the 17 km.

The non-competitive 10 km route remains unchanged on the distance, but the itinerary could be different.

The reference point of the whole event remains “La Cartiera di Domusnovas”, run by the Consorzio Natura Viva, but the races will start from the ‘Nuraghe Sa Dommu’ and s’Orcu ‘, about 10 minutes from the Cartiera.

For the long race there part of the itineray changes before and after the refreshment stand of the abandoned mining village of Arenas. In addition there will be small changes crossing the abandoned facilities of Malacalzetta.

Finally, for all the races, the last descent changes, the one that from Punta San Michele leads to the arrival, and there will be a passing on the path that crosses the small rocky tunnel of ‘ Su passu ‘e su vagoni’.

The route for the Punic-Roman Temple of Antas will not change.

For the new intermediate race of 30 km, after the eighth kilometer, reached the mines of Sa Duchessa, you will abandon the dirt road to take an internal path, that in the last part turns into single track, to rejoin the path that leads to Punta Campu Spina, the highest point of all races.

The shorter competitive distance of 20 km shares with the other two races the departure from the ‘Nuraghe Sa Dommu’ e s’Orcu‘ and the new descent from Punta San Michele and the passage through ‘ Su passu ‘e su vagoni’.

As for the other editions, the gem of our trail remains the passage through the Cave of San Giovanni, a natural tunnel excavated from the water through the limestone rock of the mountain.

 

We are doing everything to confirm the trust you have placed in us the past editions, you just have to sign up.

(Italiano) Informazioni Importanti

Dear Athletes,

the third edition of our Trail del Marganai is close!

IMPORTANT: REMEMBER TO TAKE AND SHOW THE MANDATORY EQUIPMENT WHEN YOU GET THE RACE PACK, OTHERWISE BIBS CAN NOT BE DELIVERED!

The whole event takes place at the “Cartiera del Consorzio Natura Viva” in Domusnovas, including the bib and race pack delivery stand, starting and arrival line and the pasta party after the race.

How to arrive: once you arrive in Domusnovas, follow the indications for “Grotte di S.Giovanni”, which are situated at about 2 km from the village’s center (Google Maps -> https://www.traildelmarganai.org/en/come-arrivare/)
Immediately after the Cartiera on the way to the San Giovanni Cave, you will find a parking area.

For those who are staying in Domusnovas already on Saturday, maybe you find useful consulting our website https://www.traildelmarganai.org/en/dove-dormire-e-dove-mangiare/.

We would like to remind and underline some main points:

For all athletes participating in one of the three races

You already should know the trail’s regulations. Anyway you find it on our website https://www.traildelmarganai.org/en/regolamento/ and you can download it here:https://www.traildelmarganai.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Regulations-Trail-del-Marganai-2018.pdf
We highly recommend to use a headlamp (or a small torch) when you run through the caves, because there is no illumination inside!
Please check the mandatory equipment carefully.
In order to participate, a prerequisite condition is proving possession of a medical certificate for participating in athletics competitive events. Deadline is on Thursday 08 March.
Without medical certificate we will deliver the race pack, but not the bib! This means you are not considered as a participating runner and your eventual presence on the race route would be under your own full responsibility.
The timing chip will be read before start and after arrival. Only for the 52km race there is an intermedium record at the stand situated nearby the Temple of Antas.
Each food and drink stand, is also a checkpoint for the athletes passage. Please, be helpful with the person in charge of reading your bib number. The missing record of your passage may lead to disqualification.
With the race pack delivery we are going to ask confirmation of your mobile number (the one we can find you at during the race). You will find a number for emergencies on the bib, but we also recommend to store it on your phone: 3339447383. We suggest to disconnect data services, in order to keep your phone battery charged.
The more athletes collect the race pack and bib on Saturday afternoon, the less the pre-race procedures are going last on Sunday morning.
Important to know for the 52 km-race

Bib and race pack delivery is on Saturday 10 MARCH from 04 pm to 07.30 pm or on Sunday 11 MARCH from 5:30 am to 6:30 am.
Appointment at 6:30 am Sunday 11 MARCH for the pre-race procedures: briefing and chip reading.
The race starts at 07:00 am, Sunday 11 MARCH.
There is one more drink stand and checkpoint, besides those mentioned in the regulations, situated in loc. Gutturu Pala at 19 km from the start line.
At the food and drink stand nearby the Temple of Antas, you will find someone in charge of intermediate chip reading.
Important to know for the 27 km-race

Bib and race pack delivery is on Saturday 10 MARCH from 04 pm to 07.30 pm or on Sunday 11 MARCH from 7:30 am to 8:30 am.
Appointment at 8:30 am Sunday 11 MARCH for the pre-race procedures: briefing and chip reading.
The race starts at 09:00 am, Sunday 11 MARCH.
Important: even if not indicated as mandatory, we strongly recommend taking a survival blanket with you!

Important to know for the 17 km-race

Bib and race pack delivery is on Saturday 10 MARCH from 04 pm to 07.30 pm or on Sunday 11 MARCH from 8:30 am to 9:30 am.
Appointment at 9:30 am Sunday 11 MARCH for the pre-race procedures: briefing and chip reading.
The race starts at 10:00 am, Sunday 11 MARCH.
Important: even if not indicated as mandatory, we strongly recommend taking a survival blanket with you!

We ask you kindly to complete your registration and upload all requested documents within Thursday 08 March on your personal profile on the website wedosport. Please do not send them via e-mail in attachment.
Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.

 

Many flags for the Trail del Marganai

Just a few more days, until March, 1st (midnight) to register for a multi-flag edition of the Trail del Marganai.
For now 9 different countries are going to be present, but there is still time for last days news! This is a record for our competition and we are very happy and proud of this surprising result.
Here is an alphabetical list:

  • Italy
  • Belgium
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Germany
  • UK
  • Lithuania
  • Peru
  • Spain

register