For two hundred years, Talmone Battery has watched over the coast opposite the La Maddalena Archipelago, a refuge scented with juniper and myrtle by the sea
A holiday in Gallura also means outdoor activities. These experiences become even more valuable when postcard-worthy landscapes are paired with the discovery of a piece of our country’s history. One such experience is the excursion to Talmone Battery, a military fortress in Palau, located at Punta Don Diego, the first FAI site in Sardinia.
Visiting the battery offers an opportunity to step back in time and imagine the harsh life of the soldiers, the hours spent in the barracks or on the lookout tower, the silence and solitude interrupted only in the troop hall, where forty-six hammocks awaited them for sleep. In front of you is the sea of Northern Sardinia, that stretch of coastline rich in Mediterranean scrub between the beaches of the village of Palau and Costa Serena.
Talmone Battery, a two-hundred-year history
Built at the end of the 18th century along with around fifty other forts and military batteries scattered across the La Maddalena Archipelago, this complex gained significance after the Unification of Italy when the royal fleet was transferred to La Maddalena. From then until the Second World War, the lookout soldiers at Talmone Battery witnessed numerous battles in the stretch of sea separating Sardinia from the island of Spargi. With the Paris Peace Treaty of 1947, this apparatus was dismantled, and the fortifications were forgotten for decades.
FAI’s restoration and enhancement efforts
In 2002, this military fortress was granted in concession by the Sardinia Region to FAI, the Italian National Trust, which began significant and challenging restoration work on the living quarters, kitchens, accommodations, and sanitary facilities, making it accessible to the public with the support of the Palau Municipality. In addition to these restoration efforts, FAI has always carried out promotion and enhancement activities. Delphina hotels & resorts also supports FAI as a Corporate Golden Donor for the protection of the country’s beauty, culture, and natural heritage.
The nature walk and visit to the military fortress
Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, this year it is also possible to combine the visit to Talmone Military Battery with a short 45-minute nature walk accompanied by a guide. Offered every Saturday and Sunday, the excursion can also be booked online and organised on any day of the week, with the option to plan small private events and sunset treks. The trail to reach the fortress starts at Cala Serena, just a ten-minute drive from Palau and the Hotel Capo d’Orso Thalasso & SPA, where you can park to begin your adventure on foot. Amidst the scents of juniper, laurel, and myrtle, you will walk a few kilometres through granite rocks in the most peculiar shapes, creating a magical atmosphere. Along the way, you can take a break at Cala Scilla, a small bay nestled among spectacular rocks.
After visiting the fortress, the more adventurous can choose to extend the route to the intimate and wild Cala di Trana beach or even reach the picturesque village of Porto Rafael and admire the scenery surrounding its unique square.
