During the Paleozoic Era, approximately 500 million years ago, Sardinia was part of large continental masses that, over time, underwent numerous movements and transformations due to continental drift. Subsequently, between 30 and 20 million years ago, the Sardinian-Corsican block began to separate from the area corresponding to present-day southern France and the Iberian Peninsula, slowly rotating until it reached its current position in the western Mediterranean.

This long and complex evolution has given rise to an extraordinary variety of landscapes and geological formations. Throughout the island, granite, schists, limestones, and other rocks can be seen, revealing events that occurred millions of years ago, such as ancient volcanic eruptions, continental collisions, and periods when the sea covered much of the land. The Gennargentu mountains, the limestone cliffs of Supramonte, and the vast plains of Campidano are some of the most striking testimonies to this millennia-old history.

Thanks to its ancient geological origins, Sardinia is not only one of the most fascinating regions from a naturalistic perspective, but also a place where, through the rocks and landscape, one can read the traces of so-called "deep time," the immense timescale that characterizes the Earth's history.

Elisa Zedda

2025-2026