There are places where water not only flows, but speaks – with a thunderous voice, with silvery songs, with a sound that merges with the heartbeat of the earth. One of these places lies hidden in the green heart of Sardinia, near Villacidro, where the rocks sing and the forests smell of myrtle, moss, and magic. The locals call it Sa Spendula – simply "the waterfall." But what sounds so sober is in fact a wild poem of light and spray, shaped by the hand of nature.
The dance of water over granite and time
Imagine a stream of water cutting through a mountain like a crystal dagger. Imagine it cascading from the heights of Santu Miali—not once, not twice, but in three graceful leaps, as if blessing the valley with a triple call of awakening. Here, the Rio Coxinas plunges over 60 meters into the depths, and with each leap, it carves a little deeper into the soul of the granite.
The waterfalls form three emerald-green natural pools, hidden between mossy rocks, kissed by the sun and embraced by the wind. The water rushes, bubbles, and sparkles—seemingly revealing ancient secrets.
A waterfall that enchants poets
When the poet Gabriele D'Annunzio traveled to Sardinia in 1882, it wasn't the sound of the sea or the splendor of the cities that inspired him to write a sonnet. It was this waterfall, this liquid wonder that glides through the greenery like a white veil. In his poem, Sa Spendula resonates like a muse kissing the sky and setting the beholder's heart ablaze.
For once you stand there—amidst the dense forest, with the fine spray on your face, the echo of the water in your ears—you sense: Here, nature is not silent, but in full flux. Here, the wildness, the purity, the poetry of the elements live.
Granite needles and green gorges
The landscape surrounding Sa Spendula is more than just a backdrop—it's a living temple of nature. The gorge into which the waterfall cascades is a source of wild beauty: granite rising like frozen waves, gnarled trees stretching their branches toward the sky like fingers. And watching over it all is the Campanas de Sisinni Conti, a rocky spire so sharp and majestic, as if a giant had erected it there in honor of the water.
For all who want to follow the water
Location: Villacidro, Medio Campidano
Hike: An easily accessible path leads through shady forests directly to the waterfall
Best time: Spring and autumn – when the Rio Coxinas powerfully raises its voice
Tip: Especially after a rain shower, the waterfall looks like a living painting
