Cuile, shepherds’ huts in Sardinia

The Sardagine mountains are home to many huts known as cuile (or coile). Very common in the Supramonte massif, they provide shelter from the heat and rain and a roof over their heads for the night. They are traditional shepherds’ huts, former highland sheepfolds. During the pastoral period, Sardinian shepherds would settle here with their flocks.

A cuile consists of one, sometimes several, main structures called pinnettu or barraccu, a circular hut with no windows. The lower part is built of stone, topped with a conical roof of juniper trunks, covered with foliage. The floor is paved with stone, with space for a fire, and the roof allows smoke to escape naturally. Inside, there are boxes and high shelves to store the food and cheese produced. Perfectly adapted to the region and climate, these huts provide protection from the heat and rain.

Other structures were built alongside them to house the livestock. Sa mandra, or sa corte, was a large enclosure built from inward-sloping trunks. Most were abandoned after the Second World War. Today, many are in ruins, but many have also been restored by volunteers and are in exceptional condition. A few have been reused and are privately owned, but the majority are open to the public and serve as shelters for hikers.

Discover cuiles while hiking in Gennargentu & Supramonte in Sardinia, Italy.