VALLi

VIRTUAL TOUR

A Birds Eye View .- A Short Video Flying around Capo Testa.
Capo Testa SAC Overview - General Facts of Nature.
A Stroll Down the Valle - Cala Di L'Ea - Slideshow.
Valle Della Luna Navigation Map - Google Map/Video.
Cala di Mezzu to Cala Grande - Under Construction.
Arcabaleno to the 7th Valle - Under Construction.
Valle Star Trek to Cala Polpo - Under Construction.
The Teschio Woodlands - Under Construction.
Valle of the Goats & Valli Uga - Under Construction.
Website Menu (Blueprint)

1. A Birds Eye View

From the TESTA DI CAPO TESTA to the DERETANO DI CAPO TESTA via VALLE UGA UGA, CALA GRANDE, VALLE STAR TREK & CALA POLPO. Gaze down from THE ALIEN'S HEAD & THE SKULL at the Valli below. Roll up, Roll up Welcome to the Valle Virtual Tour.

2. CAPO TESTA SAC OVERVIEW:

a NATURA 2000 Site

CAPO TESTA

SPECIAL AREA OF CONSERVATION (SAC)

On-land from cliffs, caves, dunes & meadows to forest, macchia & gariga.

In the sea with underwater meadows, reefs, lagoons and rocky shallow bays.

European Union Nature Information Service (EUNIS) Classifications:

1240: Vegetated Sea Cliffs of the Mediterranean Coasts with Endemic Limonium species, 2210: Crucianellion Maritimae Fixed Beach Dunes, 2240: Brachypodietalia Dune Grassland with Annuals, 2230: Malcomietalia Dune Grasslands, 2250: Coastal Dunes with Juniperus species, 5210: Arborescent Matorral with Juniperus species, 5430: Endemic Phrygana of the Euphorbio Verbascion, 5330: Thermo-Mediterranean Pre-Desert Scrub, 5320: Low Formations of Euphorbia Close to Cliffs, 9340: Quercus ilex/rotundifolia Forests, 8310: Caves, 1210: Annnual Vegetation of Drift-Lines, 1110: Sandbanks, 1150: Coastal Lagoons, 1160: Large Shallow Inlets & Bays, 1120: Posidonia Beds & 1170: Reefs.

17 EU ANNEX 1 HABITATS: 12 Terrestrial & 5 Marine.

FASCINATING ZOOMORPHIC

ROCKS

Rosa-Beta Granite (otherwise known as Pink Sardinian Granite), previously used to build the 'Pantheon' in Rome during the 1st Century AD, the Renaissance Cathedral in Pisa & prehistoric 'Tomba di Giganti' in Sardinia. Naturally forged & contorted into unusual & sometimes surreal Dali-esque shapes & forms by the mighty Maestrale amongst other winds & rain since the Varsican Orogeny (a time period spanning somewhere between 251-541 million years ago within the Paleozoic era). Mined in Capo Testa by Romans.

Containing more than 200 Vascular Plant Species & Many varieties of Lichens.

a garden of nature

Approximately 30 ENDEMIC SPECIES & 10+ IUCN Red Listed

EUNIS HABITAT 5430; Endemic Phyrganas of Euphorbio Verbascion:

Pal. 33.9; CYRNO-SARDIAN GENISTA PHRYGANA - SARDINIAN GENISTA GARIGA

a wide variety of

INSECTS

& other INVERTEBRATES

Macroglossum stellatarum

(Hummingbird Hawkmoth)

REPTILEs & AMPHIBIANs

Approximately 14 IUCN Red Listed Species

INCLUDING:

Algyroides fitzingeri (Pygmy Algyroides), Archaeolacerta bedriaga (Bedriaga's Rock Lizard), Bufotes balearicus (syn. Bufo viriis - European Green Toad ), Chalcides occellatus (Ocellated Skink), Discoglossus sardus (Tyrrhenian Painted Frog), Emys orbicularis (European Pond Turtle), Euleptes europaeus (European Leaf-toed Ghecko), Hierophis viridiflavus (Rat-Snake or Green Whip Snake), Hyla sarda (Sardinian Tree-Frog), Podarcis sicula (Italian Wall-Lizard), Podarcis tiliguerta (Tyrrhenian Wall-Lizard), Tarentola mauritanica (Moorish Ghecko).

WILD TORTOISES

AND...

TARTARUGHE

Testudo marginata

(Marginated Tortoise)

also

13+ Species IUCN Red Listed

BIRDS

Falco peregrinus

(Peregrine Falcon)

and..

Sus scrofa

(Wild Boar/Cinghiale)

mammals

with the occasional lovely..

human

Homo Sapiens

(Uncle Gora)

YET TO BE RECORDED!

plus, MANY UNKOWN CREATURES..

The Valle Della Luna Ecology Project, aims to survey all major terrestrial lifeforms in Capo Testa (2017-2021). With increased depth research towards Invertebrates, Non-Vascular Plants (Lichens & Mosses), Fungi, Microbial & Marine life following in the years after.

3. A Stroll Down the Valle - Cala Di L'Ea

Along Valli Avenue with the Teschio Woodland in distant view, descending down the rocks to the Uga Basin, past the fountain (& possibly a Tortoise), straight on to the 'Spaccata' (Split Roman Rock). Wetting your feet in the stream during winter, Cala di L'Ea sits in front of you with a view to the Sea (Bocca della Luna). Perhaps a vibrant Meadow with purple Matthiola & yellow Lotus or a Desert punctuated with the occasional white Pancratium on the dunes depending on the time of year. Maybe a wind tunnel if the gusty Maestrale is blowing. This is the area that alot of people will associate as being the Valle Della Luna, a location for past music concerts, moon parties, German tour groups & all. Cala di L'Ea is in fact mainly composed by rare Dune Grassland along the valley base with Tree-Spurge Gariga & Arborescent Ginepro Macchia running along its sides. In earlier times when the river was higher the Romans mined the high quality Granite and removed it by boat.

4. Valle Della Luna Navigation Map

The Map is undergoing construction but viewable. Please expand the Map by clicking on the top-right hand corner icon.

The satellite map provided depicts all terrestrial areas of Capo Testa segmented into habitat-types with each specific area named and described. This includes all EUNIS (European Union Nature Information System) classifications and also novel habitats. Each Valle area (1-9) within the Valli Della Luna is marked (map icons), together with main entry paths, the water fountain , particular sites of interest and locations of specific importance for conservation of habitat & species. Photographs are attached to the map icons to give the user an increased virtual experience with eyes on the ground. More icons & photographs will be added over time. For information about how to responsibly visit the sites of specific habitat/species importance when in the Valle, please read the recommended 'Code of Conduct Guide'. Enjoy.

a closer look...

delightful photographic montage set to haunting piano music.

high quality drone footage of the Valli from the Teschio & around Capo Testa.

5. Cala Di Mezzu to Cala Grande

website menu (blueprint)

Click on a chosen element in the blueprint for direct access to the page. Elements underlined or shaded light green are completed for viewing, those shaded blue are currently under construction & those in white to be constructed during the specified research projects timeframe (2019-2021+). For more info ABOUT projects & the condesed menu page please click on the headings below:

About: what, why & how?
Geography: Location, Climate & Weather, Geology & Soils.
History: Geological, Botanical, Anthropological.
Multimedia: Records Database, Photograhy, Valle Cinema.
Bioacoustics: Soundscape Ecology.

HABITATS

Habitat Maps: Habitats Directory (PDF), Dark Landmass Maps, Satellite Maps, In-Depth Research Areas.
In-Depth Research Areas:

1st Valle - Cala di L'Ea.
2nd Valle - Cala di Mezzu.
3rd Valle - Cala Grande.
4th Valle - Cala Uga.
5th Valle - Cala Uga Uga.
6th Valle - Cala Francese.
7th Valle - Cala Star Trek.

8th Valle - Cala Tartaruga.
9th Valle - Cala Polpo.
The Uga Basin.
Teschio Woodland.
Tempio.
Lavender Hill.
Rosemary Fields.

Valli Avenue.
Goatland.
The Faro.
Cala Spinosa/Polutsinu.
Roman Pastures.
Bridge Zone (Due Mari).
Zona Macchia Calcarea.

Dunes, Grassland & Scrub;

1210 - Annual Vegetated Drift Lines.
2210 - Fixed Grey Dunes with Pancratium.
2230 - Malcomietalia Dune Grassland.
2240 - Brachypodietalia Dune Grassland.
2250 - Fixed Grey Dunes with Juniperus spp.

Habitat & Ecosystem Profiles: Profile Template, Profile Specifications, Ecosystem Descriptions.

Gariga, Macchia & Woodland;

2210 - Coastal Elicriso Gariga.
2230 - Thermo-Mediterranean - Tree Spurge Gariga.
2240 - Endemic Phrygana - Cyrno-Sardian Genista.
2250 - Western Garrigue - Rosmarino-Cisto Gariga.
1210 - Arborecent Matorral with Juniperus spp.
5678 - Meso-Mediterranean Quercus Forests

Rocky Outcrops & Caves;

1240 - Vegetated Sea Cliffs with Endemic Limonium spp.
H1.1 - Cave Entrances; 8310 - Caves not open

to the Public.

Plagio-Climax Habitats;

Malva stands (Malva veneta) - with high ecological value.
Sasaparilla-Lentisco Gariga - a result of past deforestion.
Valli Avenue Greenroof - Intensive-type with Orchids.
Undefined Wildflower Meadow/Grassland

Botanical History: from 40,000ma, since the last ice age..
Botanical Inventory: Trees, Shrubs, Sub-Shrubs, Climbers, Herbaceous, Grasses, Geophytes, Bryophytes.
Invasive & Non-Native Plant Populations: Plant Profiles, Quantitative Analysis of Populations.
Endemic & Endangered Plant Species, Populations & Communities: Identification, Community Profiles.
Plant Species with High Ecological Value: Associations with Fauna.
Ethnobotanical Compendium: Identification of Useful Species, Sustainable Harvesting.

FLORAE (Plants)

FAUNAE (Animals)

Invertebrates: Phylogenic Tree, Research Groups, Research Techniques (species within groups to be identified).

Anophila - Hymenoptera (Bees).
Araneae - Arachnida (Spiders).
Coleoptera (Beetles).
Dermaptera (Earwigs).
Heteroptera - Hemiptera (Bugs).
Lepidoptera (Butterflies).
Lepidoptera (Moths).
Syrphidae - Diptera (Hoverflies).

Dictyoptera (Mantids)
Odonata (Dragon/Damselflies).
Orthoptera (Grasshoppers/Crickets).
Gastropoda (Snails).
Isopoda (Woodlice).
Diplopoda (Millipedes).
Chilopoda (Centipedes).
Oligochaeta (Earthworms).

Homoptera - Hemiptera (Bugs)
Ephemerodtera (Mayflies).
Neuroptera (Lacewings).
Trichoptera (Caddis Flies).
Mecoptera (Scorpion Flies).
Plecoptera (Snakeflies).
Diptera (2-Winged Flies).
Others Groups possibly added.

Reptiles & Amphibians: As officially listed by EUNIS/Natura 2000 documentation.

Tetsudo Marginata (Marginated Tortoise).
Tetsudo Graeca (Greek Tortoise) - not listed.
Emys orbicularis (European Pond Turtle).
Hierophis viridiflavus (Green Whip Snake).
Bufo viridis (European Green Toad).
Discoglossus Sardus (Tyrrhenian Painted Frog).
Hyla sarda (Sardinian Tree-Frog).

Euleptes europaea (European Leaf-toed Gecko).
Tarentola mauritanica (Moorish Gecko).
Chalcides ocellatus (Ocellated Skink).
Algyroides fitzingeri (Pygmy Algyroides).
Archaeolacerta bedriagae (Bedriaga's Rock Lizard).
Podarcis sicula (Italian Wall Lizard).
Podarcis tiliguerta (Tyrrhenian Wall Lizard).

Birds: As officially listed by EUNIS/Natura 2000 documentation & from observation.

Athene noctua (Civetta - Small Owl).
Alectoris barbara (Sardinian Partridge).
Calonectris diomedea (Scopoli's Shearwater).
Caprimulgus europaeus (Nightjar).
Columba livia (Wild Pigeon).
Columba palumbus (Wood Pigeon).
Corvus corax (Imperial Crow).
Falco peregrinus (Peregrine Falcon).

Larus andouinii (Andouin's Gull).
Larus ridibundus (Black Headed Gull).
Phalacrocorax aristotelis (Common Shag).
Puffinus yelkouan (Yelkouan Shearwater).
Sylvia sarda. (Marmora's Warbler).
Sylvia undata (Dartford Warbler).
Tyto alba (Barn Owl).

Mammals: As observed (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum - Greater Horseshoe Bat, EUNIS/Natura 2000 listed).

Rodentia (Rodents).
Bats (Chiroptera).
Weasels (Mustela).
Rabbits (Lagomorpha).

Wild Boar (Sus scrofa).
Goats (Capra).
Cats (Felis).
Dogs (Canis).

Observed, but yet to be certified:

Hegehogs (Erinaceomorpha)
Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes).

HUMANS

Recommended Actions (Habitats/Species).
Potential Restoration & Rewilding.
Valle Della Luna Biodiversity Action Plan.
Anticipating Future Change.

Conservation:

Anthropology:

Short Stories.
Valle Music.
Valle Fashion.
The Art of Fire.
Arts & Crafts.

News.
Valle Conduct Guide.
Sustainable Food Recycling.
What did the Sea bring? Plastic.

Community

Downloads: Including IUCN Red Lists, all relevant documentation used & created documentation.
Glossary: Including all technical, scientific & bespoke terminology used on the website.
Shop: To Be Added.
Contacts