Ferrata della Regina

Overview

The Ferrata della Regina unfolds along the broad limestone ledges of Su Monte, a rocky bastion towering over the surrounding countryside near Monteleone Rocca Doria, south of Sassari. The route traverses horizontally across these natural balconies, suspended above the placid waters of the artificial Lake Temo, making it a distinctly panoramic itinerary with a predominantly airy character-typical of Sardinia's adventurous heritage.

Approach

Access to the hike is located along the Strada Panoramica Subramonte, which sweeps in a wide arc around the village of Monteleone Rocca Doria. A wooden information board marks the trailhead; park your car nearby. From here, take a dirt road, where a sign soon indicates a right turn onto a descending path. The well-marked trail initially drops down earthen steps, then bends right and continues descending to a rocky overhang. From here, you skirt the imposing base of the cliff, with the path featuring some moderate ups and downs, until you reach a spring. This point coincides with the official start of the Ferrata della Regina, marked by another wooden sign. The approach from the parking area takes about 20 minutes.

Via Ferrata

The entrance to the via ferrata is unusual and distinctive: you begin by climbing a metal net made of cables, a suspended ladder-like structure. After this first airy section, you tackle a vertical wall equipped with a dense sequence of metal rungs, in a stretch that starts slightly overhanging. Gaining height quickly, the steel cable veers sharply left, allowing you to overcome a very exposed corner with a horizontal traverse, always on the rungs. The route then resumes vertically with a steep climb well-supplied with holds, ending with another brief, slightly overhanging passage before emerging onto a wide, panoramic ledge, partly sheltered by a roof.

You walk along this ledge, enjoying breathtaking views of Lake Temo and its dam, until reaching a clear fork: to the left, the escape route branches off, while to continue, you descend to the right along the path. Following the signs, you arrive at a fixed metal ladder, which you descend carefully. From the ledge below, you continue with a horizontal traverse until you encounter a series of descending metal rungs, from which you can already spot the Tibetan bridge further down. You then cross the thrilling three-rope Tibetan bridge, about 15-20 meters long.

Beyond the bridge, a long horizontal ledge leads to the foot of another vertical wall, this time to be climbed using the metal rungs. After completing the ascent, you traverse a ledge to the right, passing under a rocky roof, before tackling a final descending section that concludes the adventure not far from the starting point. The via ferrata itself takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes, for a total of 1 hour and 30 minutes from the start of the approach.

Descent

From the end of the via ferrata, take the return path, which with a short, clear route quickly leads back to the approach trail. Climbing back up, you return to the parking area in about 20 minutes. The entire excursion thus takes about 1 hour and 50 minutes total.

Useful Notes

The Ferrata della Regina is richly equipped with metal rungs along all vertical sections, which significantly lowers its pure technical difficulty. However, exposure is marked and constant for most of the route, requiring solid comfort with heights and good mental balance. The crossing of the Tibetan bridge provides the biggest adrenaline rush. The pace of the itinerary is uneven, alternating short but intense vertical climbs with long stretches of horizontal walking along ledges, offering a varied experience that prioritizes panoramic views and airy exposure over sustained physical effort. The route fits into Sardinia's rich via ferrata scene, located just a few hours' drive from other famous routes such as those of Cabirol, Castello Medusa, Badde Pentumas, Giorrè, Angeli a Tavolara, Pan di Zucchero, and Gutturu Xeu.