Those who visit it, cannot help but describe it with just one adjective: enchanted. The Niala forest, in the territory of Ussassai, next to the state-owned forest of Montarbu, is an oasis set in nature and full of attractions: lush expanses of holm oaks and Mediterranean scrub are crossed by torrents that generate waterfalls. The natural pools of Tuvu Nieddu, stand out and, during the hot season, you can enjoy a refreshing swim here. In springtime, you can admire several paths as they turn pink, thanks to the peonies in bloom.
Niala can be reached via various routes with a view of the distinctive ‘buttes’ of Ogliastra, including the Italia trail, along the Z20 section. Otherwise, you can get there from the Sentiero delle Aquile (Path of the Eagles) - to the west of Gairo Taquisara -, crossing through is Tostoinus, a place where you can admire a picturesque cuile, a small stone bridge and the remains of a Nuragic village. Part of the forest is crossed by railway tracks where, until recently, the Trenino Verde (Green Train) travelled along the Mandas – Arbatax stretch, so coming across a little station is no surprise, after which you can take a look at the fascinating bridge of Irtzioni, also called the San Girolamo bridge, from the name of the place in which it is located. It is an iron structure dating back to the late 19th century, considered by many to be one of the most distinctive features of the entire network that the little ‘trenino’ tourist train travels along.
Not far from the bridge, you’ll find a resting area, embellished by an installation, created by the artist Pinuccio Sciola: it is made up of ‘balls’, rocky spheres lying near a spring and a small lake. Here, there are also some rock arches and a few karstic cavities. One of the caves of Niala is called the ‘cave of the Madonna’, due to the shape of a rocky protrusion inside it, which brings to mind a Madonna with Child.
From the Niala forest you can carry on until you come to the Montarbu forest, through the forestry base of Taccu Mannu. In the most downstream part, the paths run through Mediterranean greenery, surrounded by strawberry trees, junipers and mastic trees. Montarbu is also a wildlife oasis, inhabited by deer, wild boars, foxes, squirrels, fallow deer and mouflons.
The immense natural heritage is the pride of Ussassai and so is the residential area. An excellent opportunity to visit it, is the apple festival in October, when the apple variety typical of the village, the trempa orrubia, or ‘red cheek'’ apple, is celebrated. You will be able to taste typical dishes such as culurgiones cun sa mècuda and is coccois prenas. Last stop is Trebigei, seven kilometres from the town, where the Romanesque sanctuary of San Salvatore stands, surrounded by stone cumbessias (dwellings for pilgrims).
