The best walks and hikes in Funtanamela

Monumental cedar tree

Sardinia's largest urban park is located on the border between the provinces of Oristano and Nuoro, a botanical paradise of rare plants and a wonderful destination for nature lovers. In the historical area of Sarcidano, there is a place where you can take beautiful walks on nature trails, surrounded by countless plant species and medieval ruins: the Aymerich Park, a 22-hectare oasis that was the property of the Marquises until 1990, the feudal owners of this oasis-like stretch of land. The creator of this nature reserve was Don Ignazio Aymerich Ripoli, a botanist who brought rare plants from his numerous trips abroad starting from the mid-19th century. It is an unusual excursion, as it is located in the heart of the town of Laconi, about 60 km from Oristano and 90 km from Cagliari. The walk will take you through alleys adorned with a fresh and vibrant atmosphere. It begins in a forest of oaks, olive groves, and locust trees, dotted with natural ponds, streams, waterfalls, and pools. As you venture deeper into the park, you will see a wide variety of orchids, including native ones like Ophris laconensis and Sarcidanis. Among the tree-lined avenues, you will find unusual forms of vegetation such as Pyracantha coccinea and Collectia cruciata, whose leaves are reminiscent of military aircraft, as well as exotic plants like the majestic Lebanon and Himalayan cedar, trees of extraordinary size. Then there are plants from not far away but not common ones such as the Corsican pine, the Fagus sylvatica, the Southern Magnolia, and the Taxus baccata, known as the “tree of death”. Water is a recurring theme and a source of life for the park. It flows abundantly all year round, forming rivers that then fall, such as the Cascata Maggiore or “great waterfalls,” one of the park's many attractions. Source: https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/explore/parco-aymerich

The parish church, dedicated to S. Ambrogio and, from 1952, also to S. Ignazio, was built in the 16th century in Gothic-Aragonese style in the heart of the historic center of Laconi. The facade, rebuilt in the 18th century, is preceded by a wide staircase, at the top of which opens a beautiful portal with high-relief decorations, above which there is a simple round rose window. The facade is completed by an elaborate tympanum with five towers, into which a rectangular window is embedded. A large octagonal dome stands out at the back. On the left side of the building stands the tall and massive square bell tower. The bell tower is lit by four ogival windows equipped with bells, while the upper part ends with a small, pointed dome with a cross. On the right wall of the building there is a large image of Saint Ignatius. Inside the church you can admire the chapel dedicated to the saint, whose walls have mosaic depictions of episodes from his life, as well as the baptismal font in which he was baptized. In the square in front of the building, a beautiful statue of Fra Ignazio was placed on a very high pedestal made of red trachyte. In addition to the church, the Museum of S. Ignazio can also be visited. Source: https://chiesedisardegna.weebly.com/laconi.html

There are some great caves to discover here, some of which you can actually go into.

From the viewpoint you have a great view of Laconi. A bench invites you to take a break.

Really a great impressive tree!

The Cascata Maggiore is the largest waterfall in the park. Unfortunately the path to the small waterfall is closed.

The picnic area invites you to take a break. It is wonderfully quiet and all you can hear is the babbling of the fountain.