More than a forest, it is a true natural treasure: a third of its surface is a wildlife protection oasis, containing the most extensive holm oak forest in the world and the largest eucalyptus tree in Sardinia, and it is also home to an unusual ‘hybrid’ plant species. The state-owned forest of Pantaleo stretches for approximately 4200 hectares in the territories of Santadi and Nuxis and is part of the Regional Nature Park of Gutturu Mannu. Among the tree varieties, the holm oak is dominant, but you can also admire cork oaks, yews, hollies, Mount Etna brooms and examples of elder and Montpellier maple trees. Curious holm oak-cork oak hybrid trees have also developed and can be seen along the paths marked out for excursions. In spring, you can also admire colourful peonies.

The forest ‘rests’ on rocks that have various origins from all eras, starting from the Palaeozoic period. Much of it extends between granite formations, which you can see in pinkish coloured spikes, while there is limestone in the western part. The wildlife is equally interesting: Pantaleo is one of the habitats of the Sardinian deer and it also hosts colonies of fallow deer and weasels, while wild cats, martens and foxes find refuge there. Sardinian hares - at risk of extinction until a few decades ago - are bred in a wildlife centre, with around 200 specimens, and the centre can also be visited via an educational path. The birds of the forest are mainly migratory and various birds of prey, including the golden eagle, goshawk, peregrine falcon and sparrowhawk, nest here.

In the locality of is Figueras a resting place awaits you, equipped with tables, with streams flowing around it and hiking paths branching off. Walking along them, you will be able to see the tallest eucalyptus tree on the Island, which is 27 metres high and has a diameter of more than five metres, as well as traces of the activities of charcoal production and distillation of wood, which started at the beginning of the 20th century and continued until 1981. The charcoal produced in the forest was transported via railway, the route of which can still be seen, loaded on ships at Porto Botte heading to the French ports.

Pantaleo is nestled in a natural area of inestimable value, as it is adjacent to the state-owned forests of Pixinamanna, is Cannoneris, Monti Nieddu, Gutturu Mannu and Tamara Piriccu. In all, the complex stretches over 22 thousand hectares of greenery. In these oases, you can admire a huge patrimony of plant life and wildlife, as well as archaeological sites and traces of mining activity. If you then want to learn more about some species, you can move further north to the Oasis of Monte Arcosu, the largest WWF reserve in Italy: it is ‘inhabited’ by about a thousand Sardinian deer.