Punta Sa Berritta, an awe-inspiring drive in Sardinia

Punta Sa Berritta (also known as Punta Balestreri) is a mountain peak at an elevation of 1.362m (4,469ft) above the sea level, located in the Gallura region of northern Sardinia, Italy, in the province of Sassari.

The peak lies within the Mount Limbara massif in north-eastern Sardinia. The road to the summit is called Strada Provinciale 51 (SP51). It’s paved in pretty bad conditions, and usually narrow. The road is bumply with plenty of hairpin turns. There are some nasty bumps along the way which are hard to see and even harder to dodge.

Chains or snow tyres can be required in winters. Weather is worse during the winter months but there won't be much snowfall there. The climb is pretty steep. Starting from Strada Statale 392, the ascent is 10.6 km long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 775 meters. The average gradient is 7.31%.

At the top there is a military complex for the Italian Air Force, a heliport for the Servizio Antincendi and a huge array of TV towers. Although not reaching an elevated height (at just over 1300m), the Limbara appears imposing and evocative, characterised by rocky summits modelled by the elements that over the millennia have given them strange and eccentric forms. This peak dominates the Costa Smeralda, and it’s the most coveted mountain on Sardinia for cyclists from all over Europe.