Baunei, set on the slopes of Mount Santo,
includes 30 kilometres of matchless coastal beauty. The
economy, which is mainly based on farming and agriculture,
today is directed towards tourism and the services that
go with it that have been developing on the Golgo tableland,
in the Baunei Supramonte and in the hamlet of Santa Maria
Navarrese, which, positioned in the most southern part of
the territory, has become a renowned seaside location.
The territory is very rich in prehistoric evidence, like
for example the cave of Su Marinaiu where there are traces
of the first human presence in Sardinia. The stone of Neolithic
age positioned at the bottom of the rock face overlooking
the built-up area is particularly important. There is a
high concentration of nuragic monuments (such as nuraghes,
nuragic villages, sacred areas) in the Golgo valley.
The territory of Baunei is also rich in natural attractions
such as the Depth of the Golgo, an impressive chasm over
300 m deep; the Pedra Longa point, a limestone spire North
of Santa Maria Navarrese 128 m high that drops vertically
into the sea.
This area of Sardinia is rich in karst caves that are partially
accessible with the use of a local guide. In particular
Su Meraculu Grotto and the Cave of the Fig, which has been
the last refuge for a flock of monk seals, can be easily
visited.
The Baunei Supramonte, the subject of much Sardinian folklore,
rich in holm-oaks, junipers, yews and very thick Mediterranean
vegetation, hosts some rare natural species with pressing
environmental emergencies.
An easy uphill leads up to the Golgo tableland, where many
footpaths lead inland or towards the coastal cliffs, with
the highest nest building rate of the Royal Falcon in the
whole of the Mediterranean.
For the seaside lovers the territory of Baunei embraces
some of the most beautiful beaches in the whole of Sardinia.
Starting South, Santa Maria Navarrese beach is the first
one. After passing Capu Monte Santu, with its high drops
into the sea, there is Cala Goritze’, a small white
sandy stretch overlooked by the 128 m high Punta Caroddi,
a.k.a. Aguglia. Proceeding in a northern direction there
is Cala Mariolu with really fine sand and smooth pebbles.
Then there is the Seagulls Beach, a little further we find
Cala Biriala with a reddish rock face. Further North Cala
Sisine and the renowned Cala Luna (Cala Elune) are also
worth a visit.
