Ferrata degli Angeli

Overview

The Ferrata degli Angeli is a spectacular route that leads to the summit of Tavolara Island, in the heart of Sardinia's Tyrrhenian Sea. The itinerary starts from Punta la Mandria and follows the ridges of the island's western side, offering exceptional views over the sea and the Gallura coast. The environment is unique and the experience is highly recommended. Note an update: the original start of the route has been modified; you must follow the existing tracks on the ground.

Approach

The starting point is near Punta la Mandria on Tavolara Island. To reach it, take the ferry from Porto San Paolo to Tavolara, which quickly lands at Spalmatore Beach. From here, a well-marked trail leads toward Punta la Mandria, where the equipped route begins. From Punta la Mandria, a track heading east climbs steeply up the walls; a challenging section is aided by a fixed rope that helps with the friction ascent, eventually leading to the plaque marking the official start of the Ferrata degli Angeli. The approach from the beach takes about 20 minutes.

Via Ferrata

From the plaque, a red arrow indicates going around a corner, where the steel cable begins. You tackle a sloping stepped ramp, followed by a vertical wall with some holds. The terrain is characterized by compact limestone, forming ledges and polished slabs. After this, you encounter a first distinctive wooden log that allows you to traverse a very exposed horizontal section. The view of the sea is already magnificent, but you must stay focused.

You then enter a rocky recess and climb an exposed ridge, aided by some metal fixtures. Reaching a new traverse, another log provides footholds before tackling a distinctive passage: a juniper wood ladder lets you ascend a vertical wall in full exposure, with a sturdy safety chain alongside the cable. This section, while not technically complex, requires steady, controlled progression due to the lack of natural footholds.

After the ladder, turn left onto a horizontal traverse where, given the scarcity of holds, you need to pull on the cable. Continue with a diagonal ascent that is not difficult but lacks footholds, then overcome a short vertical wall that concludes this first section of the ferrata. The cables temporarily end.

Now follow a trail, climbing some small rocks marked in red. After a few minutes, you find the cable again for the second section, which develops mainly along the ridge. Start by climbing diagonally up a wall with an easy traverse, reaching the ridge crest, where you initially proceed on the right side, just below the summit. The progression is fun and the view magnificent. The rhythm becomes more undulating, with continuous ups and downs along the rocky outcrops of the spine.

Alternate between ups and downs along the rocky ridge outcrops until you reach a dihedral of a few meters, climbed nimbly up to a small terrace. From here, turn right and continue diagonally on a stepped ramp. The cable ends definitively, and over small rocks, you gain the summit cross in about 2 hours from the start. It is recommended not to remove your harness, as the return trail has equipped sections.

Descent

From the summit, continue along the ridge toward Punta Cannone, reachable in about 30 minutes. Near a small saddle between Sella di Lucca and Punta Cannone, take a clear equipped descent trail marked with red waymarks. This leads down to Spalmatore Beach. The return takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes from the end of the ferrata, for a total of about 4 hours for the entire loop.

Useful Notes

The Ferrata degli Angeli is magnificent from a scenic standpoint, and while not technically extreme, it should not be underestimated. The exposure is constant and the elevation gain requires good physical fitness. In the more challenging sections, the metal fixtures assist progression. Some passages feature unique juniper logs used as supports. The cable is of small diameter but well-tensioned; at one of the most exposed points, it is accompanied by a sturdy chain. Tavolara Island also offers opportunities for multi-pitch rock climbing, but no other via ferratas. For other equipped experiences in the area, from the base of Porto San Paolo you can reach several via ferratas in Sardinia.