By bike, through vineyards, dirt roads and granite landscapes

Once upon a time, a train ran through these woods and granite cliffs. It was the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the carriages mainly carried Gallura's prized cork. The railway extended just 27 kilometers, crossing an almost uninhabited land, yet it was considered one of the most scenic routes on the island. Starting at Monti station, the tracks wound their way through the landscape, diving into Mediterranean scrub, crossing cork oak forests, climbing the eastern slopes of Mount Limbara, and passing old stops, guardhouses, and bridges before arriving at Calangianus station.

Today, wheels and pedals have taken the place of steel tracks. The silence—broken only by the crunch of gravel under tires—accompanies your ride along an itinerary that feels like a journey back in time. From the still-active Monti-Telti stop, for long stretches you'll ride right where the railway once ran. From Calangianus, known as the 'cork town', it’s worth continuing westward, where nuraghi, Giants' Tombs, and still-flowing sacred springs lie hidden. End your trip in Tempio Pausania, where granite buildings and squares tell stories of the past, and the spirit of Fabrizio De André lingers.

Over the course of three stages, it’s impossible not to stop and taste the area's 'royal' white wine: you’re in the land of Vermentino di Gallura DOCG, whose vineyards dot this evocative corner of Sardinia.