Gran Carro Underwater Archaeological Trail

The underwater discovery activity dates back to August 12, 1959, when Engineer Alessandro Fioravanti, a pioneer of spearfishing, on a calm lake day, was alerted by his wife, the first to discover “a suspicious pottery shard” at 5 meters depth. He had already identified the site through aerial photos from the 1930s and traces of grooves similar to cart tracks, but only in the presence of that shard did everything make sense.
That moment marked the beginning of studies of what would be called “The Villanovan pile-dwelling village of Gran Carro” and also marked the beginning of extensive research that has continued to the present day and still allows us to savor history.

Here hundreds of wooden poles have been found documenting the settlement structure and, nearby, there is an accumulation of various stones called by fishermen “l’Aiuola” (the flowerbed) due to its elliptical profile almost emerging from the water surface. But there is also much material found in the investigated area: spherical containers, vases, pitchers, millstones and terracotta objects that allow us to reconstruct the life of these original populations.

The latest archaeological investigations, also conducted with the help of advanced technologies such as drones, have made it possible to map the site and identify different areas. Recent discoveries, such as a Nuragic bronze statuette, testify to ancient contacts between different populations. The Gran Carro underwater archaeological trail represents a unique opportunity to discover an important chapter in the ancient history of the territory.

* An underwater trail is being created that will allow visitors to explore the submerged remains. The project also includes accessibility for blind divers, with guided routes and braille panels. The openings of the underwater trail are scheduled for 2025.