About five thousand years ago, it was completely covered with earth, to protect the repose of the deceased inside it, while today it reveals its charm and the distinctive trait of being one of the very rare corridor dolmens in Sardinia. The tomb of Motorra is located on a plateau in the territory of Dorgali, about 200 metres above sea level and just over two kilometres from the residential area. It has a hexagonal layout, it is built entirely from basaltic stone, with walls made up of eight rectangular slabs, and is covered by a single unevenly shaped slab.

You can go inside via an entrance that still has a manhole cover, albeit fragmented, and then you can continue along the corridor. The space is made up of four orthostats and was originally covered by three slabs, now no longer in situ. The dolmen is surrounded by a ‘peristalite’, a circle of stones, with an oval shape. Eleven slabs are still standing and their function was to support the mound of earth and stone that covered the tomb. To the north-west of the dolmen you will notice three other slabs standing upright on the ground, the function of which is still a mystery. For some, these are the remains of a reinforcement wall on the side most exposed to the elements, while another theory suggests that there were really two circles of stones, with an outermost circle enclosing the first, which in turn contained the dolmen. The oldest materials found in Motorra date back to the Ozieri culture, i.e. the Final Neolithic period, between 3200 and 2800 BC, while the last period of its use appears to be between 1800 and 1600 BC.

The southwestern slopes of the limestone ridge of Monte s’Ospile, where the tomb stands, are dotted with prehistoric evidence: a short distance away are the Mariughia and Pistiddori dolmens and the settlement of Neulè. The sanctuary-village of Serra Orrios, with around a hundred huts, two megalithic tombs and two sacred areas, each with a megaron temple, dates back to the Early Bronze Age (16th century BC). The Giants’ Tomb of s’Ena e Thomes, which is contemporary and not far away, is one of the largest and best preserved. The most fascinating archaeological site from the point of view of the landscape, is the nuraghe Mannu, a single-tower type made of vulcanite and basalt, overlooking the sea of the Gulf of Orosei. You can get to it via a detour along the road to the seaside village of Cala Gonone or along a path from the beach of Cala Fuili. If you then want to add a further natural jewel to your itinerary, a panoramic trek of an hour and a half will take you to Cala Luna, an inlet with golden sand, set between the cliffs and washed by the blue sea.