The Majesty Of Giara di Gesturi
The Giara di Gesturi is a huge basalt plateau that is mostly volcanic in origin and drops steeply to the surrounding hills. It dominates the northern part of the Marmilla. Cork oaks and rock roses also called Cictus monspeliensis covers most of the plateau.
During the rainy seasons a number of shallow lakes also know as pauli gather on the impermeable layer of basalt. The word pauli is derived from the Latin palus which means “swamp”.
Yellow and white flowering buttercups (Ranunculus aquatilis) can be found growing in these paulis during the rainy season. A beautiful blue sky spans the almost infinite plateau that’s very reminiscent of the African Savannahs. Along the shores of the paulis, small half-wild horses can often be seen. They can be found roaming about on the Giara feasting on the lush aquatic plants.
The walk will take you to Monte Zeparedda, one of the two flat volcanoes that spewed lava over the entire plateau aeons ago.
