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.
WILD TORTOISES
AND...
TARTARUGHE
Testudo marginata
(Marginated Tortoise)
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.
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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
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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:
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History: Geological, Botanical, Anthropological.
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Bioacoustics: Soundscape Ecology.
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Habitat Maps: Habitats Directory (PDF), Dark Landmass Maps, Satellite Maps, In-Depth Research Areas.
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In-Depth Research Areas:
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1st Valle - Cala di L'Ea.
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2nd Valle - Cala di Mezzu.
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3rd Valle - Cala Grande.
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4th Valle - Cala Uga.
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5th Valle - Cala Uga Uga.
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6th Valle - Cala Francese.
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7th Valle - Cala Star Trek.
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8th Valle - Cala Tartaruga.
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9th Valle - Cala Polpo.
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The Uga Basin.
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Teschio Woodland.
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Tempio.
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Lavender Hill.
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Rosemary Fields.
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Valli Avenue.
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Goatland.
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The Faro.
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Cala Spinosa/Polutsinu.
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Roman Pastures.
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Bridge Zone (Due Mari).
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Zona Macchia Calcarea.
Dunes, Grassland & Scrub;
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1210 - Annual Vegetated Drift Lines.
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2210 - Fixed Grey Dunes with Pancratium.
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2230 - Malcomietalia Dune Grassland.
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2240 - Brachypodietalia Dune Grassland.
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2250 - Fixed Grey Dunes with Juniperus spp.
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Habitat & Ecosystem Profiles: Profile Template, Profile Specifications, Ecosystem Descriptions.
Gariga, Macchia & Woodland;
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2230 - Thermo-Mediterranean - Tree Spurge Gariga.
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2240 - Endemic Phrygana - Cyrno-Sardian Genista.
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2250 - Western Garrigue - Rosmarino-Cisto Gariga.
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1210 - Arborecent Matorral with Juniperus spp.
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5678 - Meso-Mediterranean Quercus Forests
Rocky Outcrops & Caves;
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1240 - Vegetated Sea Cliffs with Endemic Limonium spp.
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H1.1 - Cave Entrances; 8310 - Caves not open
to the Public.
Plagio-Climax Habitats;
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Malva stands (Malva veneta) - with high ecological value.
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Sasaparilla-Lentisco Gariga - a result of past deforestion.
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Valli Avenue Greenroof - Intensive-type with Orchids.
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Undefined Wildflower Meadow/Grassland
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Botanical History: from 40,000ma, since the last ice age..
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Botanical Inventory: Trees, Shrubs, Sub-Shrubs, Climbers, Herbaceous, Grasses, Geophytes, Bryophytes.
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Invasive & Non-Native Plant Populations: Plant Profiles, Quantitative Analysis of Populations.
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Endemic & Endangered Plant Species, Populations & Communities: Identification, Community Profiles.
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Plant Species with High Ecological Value: Associations with Fauna.
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Ethnobotanical Compendium: Identification of Useful Species, Sustainable Harvesting.
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Invertebrates: Phylogenic Tree, Research Groups, Research Techniques (species within groups to be identified).
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Coleoptera (Beetles).
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Heteroptera - Hemiptera (Bugs).
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Lepidoptera (Butterflies).
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Lepidoptera (Moths).
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Syrphidae - Diptera (Hoverflies).
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Dictyoptera (Mantids)
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Odonata (Dragon/Damselflies).
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Orthoptera (Grasshoppers/Crickets).
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Gastropoda (Snails).
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Isopoda (Woodlice).
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Diplopoda (Millipedes).
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Chilopoda (Centipedes).
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Oligochaeta (Earthworms).
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Homoptera - Hemiptera (Bugs)
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Ephemerodtera (Mayflies).
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Neuroptera (Lacewings).
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Trichoptera (Caddis Flies).
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Mecoptera (Scorpion Flies).
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Plecoptera (Snakeflies).
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Diptera (2-Winged Flies).
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Others Groups possibly added.
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Reptiles & Amphibians: As officially listed by EUNIS/Natura 2000 documentation.
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Tetsudo Marginata (Marginated Tortoise).
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Tetsudo Graeca (Greek Tortoise) - not listed.
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Emys orbicularis (European Pond Turtle).
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Hierophis viridiflavus (Green Whip Snake).
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Bufo viridis (European Green Toad).
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Discoglossus Sardus (Tyrrhenian Painted Frog).
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Hyla sarda (Sardinian Tree-Frog).
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Euleptes europaea (European Leaf-toed Gecko).
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Tarentola mauritanica (Moorish Gecko).
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Chalcides ocellatus (Ocellated Skink).
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Algyroides fitzingeri (Pygmy Algyroides).
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Archaeolacerta bedriagae (Bedriaga's Rock Lizard).
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Podarcis sicula (Italian Wall Lizard).
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Podarcis tiliguerta (Tyrrhenian Wall Lizard).
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Birds: As officially listed by EUNIS/Natura 2000 documentation & from observation.
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Athene noctua (Civetta - Small Owl).
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Alectoris barbara (Sardinian Partridge).
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Calonectris diomedea (Scopoli's Shearwater).
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Caprimulgus europaeus (Nightjar).
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Columba livia (Wild Pigeon).
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Columba palumbus (Wood Pigeon).
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Corvus corax (Imperial Crow).
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Falco peregrinus (Peregrine Falcon).
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Larus andouinii (Andouin's Gull).
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Larus ridibundus (Black Headed Gull).
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Phalacrocorax aristotelis (Common Shag).
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Puffinus yelkouan (Yelkouan Shearwater).
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Sylvia sarda. (Marmora's Warbler).
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Sylvia undata (Dartford Warbler).
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Tyto alba (Barn Owl).
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Mammals: As observed (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum - Greater Horseshoe Bat, EUNIS/Natura 2000 listed).
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Rodentia (Rodents).
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Bats (Chiroptera).
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Weasels (Mustela).
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Rabbits (Lagomorpha).
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Wild Boar (Sus scrofa).
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Goats (Capra).
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Cats (Felis).
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Dogs (Canis).
Observed, but yet to be certified:
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Hegehogs (Erinaceomorpha)
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Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes).
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Recommended Actions (Habitats/Species).
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Potential Restoration & Rewilding.
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Valle Della Luna Biodiversity Action Plan.
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Anticipating Future Change.
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Short Stories.
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Valle Music.
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Valle Fashion.
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The Art of Fire.
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Arts & Crafts.
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News.
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Valle Conduct Guide.
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Sustainable Food Recycling.
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What did the Sea bring? Plastic.