The best road cycling routes around Bidda Matzràxia/Villamassargia

A pleasant, scenic walk along the harbor and the calm waters of the lagoon. From here, you can admire the sunset over the gulf, watch the fishing boats return, or simply enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the seaside village.

According to legend, the Acquafredda Castle was built by the Gherardesca family, Counts of Donoratico, when they acquired southeastern Sardinia. In fact, in 1257, the fortress came into the possession of Ugolino of Donoratico, lord of the Cagliarani territory, immortalized by Dante in Canto 23 of the Inferno. However, the castle is older, as it is already mentioned in a papal bull of 1215. After Ugolino's death (1288), it passed into the possession of Pisa, then to the Aragonese (1324), and subsequently to several feudal lords until it was redeemed by Victor Amadeus III (1785). From the top of a mountain, the castle dominates the territory of Siliqua, four kilometers away. Climbing its slopes, the view sweeps from the green valley of the Cixerri to Cagliari, from the Marmilla to the Iglesias area. At dawn and dusk, their shadows extend across the valley.

Iglesiente, the region at the center of the Sardinian mining epic and of which it is the capital, derives its name. It has a population of 27,000 and is the episcopal see and heir to the ancient diocese of Sulcis. Iglesias means "churches" in Spanish. It is no coincidence that in a city with a glorious past, especially under Catalan-Aragonese rule (when it was a royal city), the celebrations surrounding the Good Friday customs stand out, recalling Spanish customs in form and color. The mystery processions on Holy Tuesday and Holy Friday are particularly impressive. Among the churches, the Cathedral of Santa Chiara (dating back to the 13th century), the churches of Madonna delle Grazie, Del Collegio, a Jesuit temple, and San Francesco, one of Sardinia's best-preserved and most important buildings in the Gothic-Catalan style, which houses an altarpiece dating back to 1560, are particularly worth seeing.

I recommend the Sant Antioco-Calasetta trek, walking all along the coast and passing through Cussorgia, 24 km round trip, an experience not to be missed!!

In the distance, beyond the first bend, after abandoning the few remaining houses, you can see a church, the church of Sant'Angelo, on which you can see two dates (1734 and 1914), the dates of construction and renovation of the church.

The mountain village of Sant'Angelo was founded with the founding of Fluminimaggiore (of which it is a hamlet) in the early 1700s. It consists of a few houses, scattered throughout a lush surrounding woodland, and charming but abandoned villas. In the second half of the 19th century, the village was part of an area (representing the largest agricultural and pastoral estate in Sardinia) known as "Sa Tanca de Modigliani." The associated mining activity brought Emanuele and Flaminio Modigliani (grandfather and father, respectively, of the artist Amedeo Modigliani) to the area, making it plausible that Amedeo frequented it.

At 549 meters above sea level, the Genna Bogai Pass is one of the most scenic passes in the area. Reaching the summit is easier and shorter from Iglesias (about 10 km and 380 m of elevation gain) than from Fluminimaggiore (about 12 km and 500 m of elevation gain), but it's a beautiful climb regardless of your starting point. The road has little traffic, but caution is required due to the numerous sharp bends behind which vehicles, as well as herds of sheep and cows roaming freely, can hide!

Newly built (06/2025), the facade that looks directly onto the street looks more like a Pokemon (Moltres) than a hawk or any other bird it should represent!