The Monte Arcosu Park covers a forest area of great value and interest because of its flora and fauna. It offers the ideal habitat for numerous species, among which the Sardinian deer (cervus elaphus corsicanus), also to be found in the Sette Fratelli National Park.

In 1984 the WWF acquired the area covering Monte Arcosu in an attempt at reducing the poaching, which was slowly wiping out the entire colony of Sardinian deer, as well as many other species. The intervention of the WWF, in fact, saved one of the most beautiful and suggestive areas of Sardinia.

The park stretches over a range of hills and mountains which border on the Gutturumannu valley and a dense forest of holm oak and cork trees covers 450 sq. m. of the area, making it the largest expanse of shrub land in the Mediterranean. Besides this magnificent forest, the park presents a vast expanse of greenery, sculptured by ridges, planes and mountaintops, interrupted only by the Guttureddu and Is Frocciddus rivers.


The vegetation is rich and varied. Walking along the paths, visitors will come across myrtle, cistus and lentisk plants, whilst near the streams there are willows and numerous oleander trees. The mountain slopes are decorated with strawberry plants, heather and juniper bushes, while the woodland is made up of mainly holm oak and cork trees.

The area also boasts an incredible range of flowers: orchids, "gagea granatelli", "terrinalis" heather, "barbarea rupicola", helicrysum montelinasaun and "anchusa Formosa", of which there are about 100 specimens.
The Sardinian deer has become the symbol of the park, however, there are numerous other species to see, such as fallow deer, wild boar, weasels, martens, mountain cats and foxes.
Among the birds of prey there are kestrels and buzzards, peregrine falcon, goshawks and golden eagles.


There are also numerous species of reptile, such as grass snakes and ring snakes, the latter is the rarest ophidian in Italy.
Monte Arcosu is the perfect place for excursions and the many paths guide visitors passed splendid views, striking sights and allow them a glimpse of the true king of the park, the Sardinian deer.

The protected area of Monte Arcosu can be reached from Cagliari on the SS 195 road for Pula. After 10 km, there is a turning for Capoterra, which leads to the country church of S. Lucia, from here the WWF park is well sign-posted.