Perda Liana, Natural monument in Gairo, Italy

Perda Liana is a limestone monument in Gairo featuring a cylindrical tower with steep vertical walls rising approximately 50 meters above the surrounding landscape. The formation stands at roughly 1300 meters in elevation and is accessed by a circular hiking path from several nearby villages.

Perda 'e Liana was established as a protected natural area in 1993 by a decree of the regional councillor for environmental protection. The limestone tower itself formed in the Jurassic, 130 to 150 million years ago, through sedimentation on a sea floor, while the schists at its base date from the Palaeozoic, 360 to 500 million years ago. Its height of 1,293 metres makes it the highest of the Ogliastra tacchi.

The name Perda 'e Liana is Sardinian for "stone of the plain", referring to the trachytic plateau of Pranedda at its base. The surrounding land is grazed by free-ranging flocks, and the vegetation near the summit thins to a steppe-like cover of rock rose, thyme and rosemary. Hikers reach the slopes on marked trails, preferably with a guide.

A circular hiking path departs from Arcu de su Pirastu Trottu with various entry points from nearby villages including Gairo, Villagrande Strisaili, and Seui. Sturdy footwear and ample water are essential, especially during warmer months.

The summit contains marine fossils from the Jurassic period, roughly 130 to 150 million years old, revealing that this area once lay beneath ancient seas. These preserved remains tell a story of profound geological transformation.