Cape Marrargiu, Bosa, Oristano Province, Sardinia, Italyi

Regional Level Types
Cape Marrargiu	Cape
Bosa	Commune
Oristano Province	Province
Sardinia	Autonomous Region
Italy	Country

Capo Marrargiu (or Marargiu) is a promontory on the northwestern coast of Sardinia located in the municipality of Bosa, south of Alghero, on the so-called Grifoni coast, named after the very rare specimens of this species of vulture (Eurasian griffon vulture) that nest there.

The cape was known as Ermaeum akron (Mercury's hill) in ancient times. The sea coves in the area were presumably used by many ancient peoples as landing places for small ships. There are numerous caves in the rocky walls overlooking the sea, formed by the erosion carried out by the wave motion of the sea. The hypothesis has also been put forward that the Phoenicians had found a way to extract gold and that part of this was used in the construction of the nearby city of Tharros.

Cape Marrargiu is at the centre of a regional nature reserve for wildlife protection of approximately 160 hectares which takes its name from it. It is of particular importance for the quality and quantity of protected and rare species it hosts.

Furthermore, until recent times, coral fishing was practised there, carried out by coral fishermen from Alghero and Bosa using the freediving method.

The griffon vulture nests on these impervious coasts represent its most important colonies in the national territory. Among other birds, the presence of now-rare species such as the golden eagle and the Bonelli's eagle, as well as the peregrine falcon, Audouin's gull, the common kingfisher and the red kite, is notable.

The area is characterized geologically by a conspicuous presence of rock of volcanic origin and by a constellation of erosive caves, many of which open onto the sea. In some of these, the sighting of Mediterranean monk seal specimens was reported, but there has never been certain data on the presence of this animal.

The reserve includes a biomarine park which extends from the islet of Sa Pagliosa in the north to the Temo River (which crosses the city of Bosa) in the south.

Other Databases

Wikipedia:	https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capo_Marrargiu
Wikidata ID:	Q1034741

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References