Maybe in
Italy

Martis: A Small Village in Sardinia’s Anglona Hills

Martis is a small village in Anglona, an inland area of northern Sardinia in the province of Sassari. It is a quiet, rural place rather than a resort, with stone buildings, a notable medieval church and countryside that holds an unusual petrified forest. The nearby Triulintas waterfall adds another reason to explore beyond the village streets. Martis makes most sense for travelers interested in Sardinia’s smaller settlements, especially those with a car and time to follow local roads rather than a packed sightseeing schedule.

A village shaped by its countryside

Martis sits among the hills and cultivated land of Anglona, away from the coastal towns that dominate many Sardinia itineraries. The surrounding landscape is part of its character: fields, scattered trees and rocky ground take over quickly beyond the compact settlement. It is the sort of place where the village and its countryside are best understood together. Daily life here is on a small scale. A walk through Martis gives a sense of an inhabited rural community, not a historic center arranged primarily for visitors. There are no long lists of attractions or busy shopping streets. Its appeal lies partly in that modest scale, and partly in the chance to see a quieter side of northern Sardinia while traveling through Anglona.

Stonework and an older layer of history

The Church of San Pantaleo is Martis’s most distinctive building. This medieval church gives the village a landmark beyond its everyday streets and is worth seeking out for its architecture and weathered appearance. It also hints at how long this small settlement has had a place in the surrounding agricultural landscape. Martis’s other standout heritage is much older. At Carrucana, fossilized tree trunks preserve evidence of a landscape that existed long before the present hills and farms. The petrified forest is not a conventional woodland: the interest is in the stone remains and what they reveal about the area’s distant natural past. Together, the church and fossils make Martis more varied than its size might suggest.

Exploring slowly, with a car

The Triulintas waterfall is another local highlight, though its appearance depends on recent rainfall. Like the petrified forest, it draws attention away from the village center and into the countryside. These places reward a slower visit and sensible expectations; Martis is better suited to a few focused stops than to a full day of organized activities. A car is the practical way to explore the village and its surroundings. Rural roads connect Martis with other Anglona settlements, but the sights are spread out and public transportation is not well suited to linking them on a visitor’s schedule. Check current access conditions before setting out for countryside sites, particularly after wet weather. For an overnight stay, expect a quiet base with limited choices for dining and services, not the convenience of a larger town.

What is there in Martis?

A quick overview of the most notable things you can find in Martis.

Medieval church architecture

The Church of San Pantaleo gives the small village its clearest architectural landmark.

Petrified tree remains

Fossilized trunks at Carrucana are an unusual reminder of the area’s ancient natural history.

Triulintas waterfall

This countryside waterfall is most striking when recent rain has provided a good flow of water.

Village streets

The compact settlement provides a glimpse of everyday life in rural northern Sardinia.

Anglona countryside

Fields, hills and rocky stretches surround Martis and shape the experience of getting around.

What to see in Martis?

Notable places and attractions connected to Martis.

01

Church of San Pantaleo

A medieval church and Martis’s principal historic landmark, notable for its surviving stonework and weathered character.

02

Petrified Forest of Carrucana

An area near Martis where fossilized tree trunks can be seen, giving a rare look at the region’s distant past.

03

Triulintas Waterfall

A waterfall in the countryside around Martis; water levels vary with the season and recent rainfall.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • ✓Distinctive sights for a small village, including a medieval church and fossilized trees.
  • ✓Quiet rural setting away from Sardinia’s busier coastal resorts.
  • ✓Good fit for a driving route through Anglona’s villages and countryside.
  • ✓A compact village that is easy to explore at an unhurried pace.

Cons

  • −A car is useful for reaching the countryside sights.
  • −Limited dining, lodging and other visitor services compared with larger towns.
  • −The waterfall may be less impressive during dry periods.
  • −Too few sights and activities for travelers seeking a busy, multi-day base.

Location

Martis is located in Sardinia.

Martis, Sardinia, Italy
40.778039, 8.808966
Open in Google Maps

Explore more places in Italy

Discover more cities, towns and destinations across Italy.

Piedmont

Andrate

Andrate is a small village in Piedmont, set high above the Ivrea plain near the northern end of the Serra d'Ivrea. The long, wooded ridge is the village's defining feature: it gives Andrate its views, walking routes and sense of distance from the busier towns below. This is a place to understand through its setting rather than a long list of sights. People come for a quiet stay, a walk in the hills or a change of pace while exploring the Canavese area.

→
Basilicata

Armento

Armento is a small hill village in Basilicata, in southern Italy’s province of Potenza. Its compact historic center looks out over the countryside of the Agri Valley, and its name is tied to ancient objects discovered in the area. This is a quiet, lived-in place rather than a town built around major attractions. It will appeal most to people traveling through inland Basilicata who want to see an old village, take in the landscape and understand a little of the region beyond its better-known stops.

→
Calabria

Acri

Acri is an inland town in Calabria’s province of Cosenza, set on hills above the Crati valley where the land rises toward the Sila. It is a lived-in town rather than a resort: old streets and churches sit alongside ordinary shops, homes and surrounding rural neighborhoods. Its strongest landmarks are the Basilica di Sant’Angelo d’Acri and the contemporary art museum in Palazzo Sanseverino-Falcone. Acri makes sense for travelers interested in smaller Calabrian towns, religious heritage and the changing landscape between the valley and the mountains.

→
Lazio

Canino

Canino is a small town in northern Lazio, set among the olive groves and farmland of the Maremma, inland from the Tyrrhenian coast. Its name is closely tied to Canino olive oil and to Vulci, an important ancient Etruscan city whose ruins lie nearby. The town itself has a compact historic center rather than a busy tourist district. It makes sense as a base for travelers interested in archaeology, rural landscapes and the quieter side of the Viterbo area.

→
Calabria

Aiello Calabro

Aiello Calabro is a small hill town in the province of Cosenza, inland from Calabria’s Tyrrhenian coast. Its old center, castle ruins and elevated setting give it a character quite different from the seaside towns nearby. This is a lived-in place rather than a resort: the main reasons to come are to walk its older streets, take in the surrounding hills and see another side of western Calabria. A visit suits people who enjoy modest historic towns and do not need a long list of organized attractions.

→