The site falls almost entirely within the Campidano State Forest – Santu Barzolu, which consists of an area covering approximately 3,953 acres (1,600 hectares), of which 1208,35 (489 hectares) falls within the area known as Santu Barzolu.
The connection between the two forests extends between Bruncu Cirronis and Cuccuru sa Cruxitta and stretches eastwards to include the catchment area of the river locally known as Rio Santu ‘Atzolu, near the artificial lake that still supplies the local aqueduct.
From a geological point of view, the area lies in a fluvial valley bedded on Palaeozoic schists belonging to the Sarrabus rock formation, located on the south-western side of the Serpeddì mountains. A portion of the river known as Riu Santu ‘Atzolu is included in the area, near the artificial lakes that act as a barrage over its course.
Framing the river are a number of mountain ridges, among which the most notable are: Bruncu Cirronis (672 m), Cuccuru Coca Santina (520 m), Cuccuru sa Cresia (420 m) and Monte Taulaxa (444 m). This is an area covered in Mediterranean scrub with wild olive and mastic trees, phillyrea and junipers, as well as rockrose undergrowth, and strawberry trees in cooler areas. Although not very tall, the area also presents holm oaks and juniper thickets consisting of Juniperus turbinata, a slow-growing species characterised by small evergreen shrubs with a branchy trunk and reddish bark.
The Santu Barzolu SAC area is also home to an interesting faunal diversity, and is, therefore, a valuable site for the protection of multiple species of conservation interest.
The most numerous group is represented by birds, with the possibility to observe the following species: Common Pochard, Woodchat and Red-backed Shrike, Willow Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, African Stonechat, Dartford Warbler, Common Linnet, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and the Barbary Partridge. Although none of them are currently listed as critically endangered or extinct at a national level, all these species are classified according to their level of extinction risk.
Amphibians and reptiles are also well represented in the area, including a number of interesting endemic and endangered species. Among the ‘endangered’ reptiles is the Emys orbicularis, the European pond turtle.
Amphibians also include the Bufotes viridis (also known as the European green toad), the common toad and the Hyla sarda (the Sardinian tree frog), as well as the Discoglossus sardus (also known as the Tyrrhenian painted frog). This is a toad with a thin body, measuring up to 8 cm long, and is one of the endangered species in the area. This toad has a triangular, wide and short head, which can hardly be differentiated from its torso, and presents protruding eyes with heart-shaped pupils.
The SAC area and the river running through it fall within the area known in toponymy as Santu Barzolu. This name comes from Saint Bartholomew to whom the church, whose origins are uncertain, is consecrated. In the local variety of Sardinian language, this Saint is called ‘Atzolu but, as frequently happens in history, there was an alteration of the term during transcription, renaming it as Barzolu and thus resulting in the new toponym.
The area is identified as Santu Barzolu, as it appears in the toponymy and maps, due to the registration of the SAC area under the name Santu Barzolu, and in consideration of the confusion that the use of a different name may cause, particularly to those unfamiliar with the Sardinian language.
Further information
Page updated on 15/01/2025