Parco di Monte Claro (Monte Claro Park), Cagliari

Monte Claro Park is a large park located in the city of Cagliari on the east coast of Sardinia. The park features walking and jogging paths, two dog parks, a pond, and abundant wildlife viewing. It is completely out of the tourist circuit and is fully authentic, with hills that offer panoramic views of the eastern and north-eastern parts of town.

The Monte Claro park is a city park in Cagliari, under the jurisdiction of the metropolitan city, located between the districts of Is Mirrionis, La Vega, Fonsarda and the municipality of Pirri. The park extends for 25 hectares, divided between a predominantly flat part and the elevation of the hill, which reaches its maximum altitude here. Vaguely trapezoidal in shape, it borders to the north with via Cadello, to the west with via Mattei and via Liguria, to the south with the Cittadella della Salute and to the east with the residential area of via Monte Claro. With the exception of the south side, the park is delimited by the border walls of the old asylum. Five tree-lined avenues branch off from the main entrance on Via Cadello; the middle one heads towards the central fountain where there is a large decoration inspired by that of the bottom of a pintadera found accompanying the underground tomb discovered in 1905 during the construction works of the provincial mental hospital. The work is registered in the General Catalog of Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Culture. Various Mediterranean trees and shrubs, hedges and lawns have been planted throughout the extension, alongside several children's play areas and fitness areas, a dog run and a conference room. In the park there is also an artificial lake, where there are water turtles, ducks, geese and swans. Among the fauna there is also a cat colony owned by the metropolitan mayor.

The Monte Claro Park is an urban park located on the slopes of the hill of the same name, in Cagliari, between the districts of Is Mirrionis, Fonsarda and the municipality of Pirri. With its 25 hectares of surface area, it is one of the largest green spaces in the capital, as well as one of the most popular. Born following the redevelopment of the agricultural colony of the former Provincial Psychiatric Hospital of Cagliari, which began in 1995, the park was opened to the public in 1997 partially, and in 2001 in its current structure. The works, financed by the then Province of Cagliari, involved the repopulation of the vegetation with trees, shrubs typical of the Mediterranean scrub, meadows and hedges. A small lake is home to water turtles, ducks, geese and swans. The Park's fauna includes a cat colony. One of the largest urban parks in the capital, it covers an area of over 0.25 km². The Park has the following services: - A children's play area, a refreshment point, spaces for games, sports and recreational activities, also capable of hosting cultural events, shows and other events; - A sports complex that includes a roller skating rink, an A/11 football field, an A/5 football field, three A/7 football fields - all in synthetic grass - and a structure with bathrooms and showers; -An area dedicated to dogs adjacent to the sports fields and delimited so that dogs can run without being lost sight of by their owners, is divided into two spaces: the first, approximately three thousand square meters large, is intended for small dogs; the second, of 2,500 square metres, is intended for larger dogs. In each of the two areas there are spaces in the shade thanks to the presence of tall trees, there are three benches, two drinking troughs, a basket and a bag dispenser for collecting animal waste (this last operation is the responsibility of the conductors). Inside the area there is a ban on training and the provision of meals; - A multimedia room capable of hosting conferences and congresses.

The walls embrace a large garden where nature, history, culture and wellness reign. Monte Claro park sits on the summit of the eponymous hill, in the centre of Cagliari, a short distance from another of the seven hills on which the capital was built, San Michele hill. This park spreads out over 25 hectares delineated by walls that once encircled an old psychiatric hospital. In the late 19th century, the Province of Cagliari rented the area to house the unwell, and over time it became the pavilions of the hospital. All around were orchards, vineyards and crop fields where sometimes even the patients worked. The hospital was shut down in 1998 and the entire area was repurposed as a city park, opening in 2001. The main building, Villa Clara, where the hospital’s director once lived, is now the metropolitan library. ***PH***