Passo di Genna Silana

Sardinia's most dramatic mountain pass cuts through the heart of the Supramonte — the wild limestone plateau of the Barbagia region that shelters some of the island's most remote and traditional villages. The climb from Dorgali on the eastern side is the classic approach: 14.5km at a measured 5.7% average through increasingly sparse maquis scrubland, with the final 4km above the treeline delivering views that extend east to the Gulf of Orosei. The pass sits at 1,017m and regularly carries a cool headwind even in warm months, making the summit temperature substantially lower than the coastal start. The road quality is good on the Dorgali side; the western descent towards Orgosolo is rougher in places. This is a genuine mountain pass with the remoteness to match — carry sufficient water and a spare tube.