The Territory of Barisardo: A Mosaic of Biodiversity Between Sea and Mountain
The Territory of Barisardo: A Mosaic of Biodiversity Between Sea and Mountain
The territory of Barisardo, with its 38 km², offers an exceptional variety of environments, each with unique characteristics and landscapes of rare beauty. The coast, a succession of breathtaking scenery, begins in the north with the dark cliffs of Punta Niedda and Punta Su Mastixi, which anticipate the enchanting beach of Cea, famous for its red porphyry stacks emerging from the crystal-clear sea. Continuing southwards, the wide beaches of Planargia and La Torre open up, stretches of golden sand ideal for relaxation and beach activities.
A Hinterland Rich in Contrasts
The Barisardo hinterland is a mosaic of landscapes ranging from the fertile plains of Planargia and Goleri, ideal for agriculture, to the rolling hills of Su Pranu and Pizzu'e Monti, covered in Mediterranean scrub, up to the imposing Teccu plateau, of volcanic origin. The Mediterranean scrub, with its scents and colors, dominates the landscape, embracing the coast and creating views of incomparable beauty.
Oases of Biodiversity and Wetlands
The wetlands of Bau'e Nì and the Planargia lakes represent precious oases of biodiversity, rich in unique flora and fauna. The presence of man, discreet and respectful, is manifested in the vast cultivated areas of the plains and in the vineyards and olive groves that dot the hills, creating a harmonious landscape.
Fauna and Flora: An Invaluable Natural Heritage
The variety of environments and the richness of the flora are home to a diverse fauna. The skies of Barisardo are furrowed by majestic birds of prey such as kestrels, buzzards, and hawks, while the wetlands are the realm of migratory and resident birds such as ducks, coots, storks, purple swamphens, cormorants, and black-winged stilts. The Mediterranean scrub provides shelter for rodents and mammals such as weasels, wild cats, hedgehogs, and foxes, which share the habitat with wild boars, hares, and wild rabbits.
A Rich and Varied Ecosystem
The Barisardo area is home to various plant environments, among which the Mediterranean scrub stands out, with strawberry trees, heather, cistus, rosemary, wild lavender, phillyrea, wild pear, juniper, broom, and mastic. The wooded pastures, with cork oaks, downy oaks, and holm oaks, create a picturesque landscape. The areas devoid of arboreal vegetation are dominated by grasses, legumes, and typical plants such as asphodel, myrtle, euphorbia, sage, ferula, star anemone, common poppy, white fumaria, vetch, wild pea, star clover, wild flax, common yellow chanterelle, common fennel, various types of wild thistles, numerous endemic species, and small orchids.
Biodiversity and Coastal Wetlands
At the edges of the woods and pastures, hedges of wild rose, pellitory, black bryony, and bramble enrich the landscape. The coastal wetlands are home to species such as giant horsetail, Tyrrhenian heather, three-cornered garlic, yellow narcissus, reed, and domestic cane, while oleander blooms along the watercourses. Over forty endemic species, including ranunculus cymbalarifolius, mentha insularis, and morisia monantha, testify to the area's botanical richness, along with about thirty species of orchids.
Coastal Strip and Seabeds
The coastal strip, in close contact with the sea, is characterized by wild fennel, Phoenician juniper, and endemic species such as aromatic helichrysum, wild olive, mastic, and black bryony. The seabed, rich in flora and fauna, is home to damselfish, wrasses, sargoes, gilthead seabreams, groupers, moray eels, dentex, amberjacks, crustaceans, and mollusks, as well as colorful formations of gorgonians.
Variety of Coasts and Hilly Areas
The Barisardo coast, with long beaches, coves, rocks, and inlets, offers diverse and suggestive scenery. To the north, basalt cliffs and small white sandy coves alternate with the renowned Cea beach. The promontory of the Saracen Tower divides the coast, leaving space to the south for the immense sandy expanse of Planargia, with its shady pine forest. The hilly hinterland, with the hills of Su Pranu and the Teccu plateau, completes the picture of a territory rich in contrasts and great beauty.
A Unique Sensory Experience
The Barisardo countryside, with its colors and scents, offers a unique sensory experience in every season. Walks in nature, among breathtaking landscapes and surprising biodiversity, offer unforgettable emotions.
