The Gesturi Jar

The Giara di Gesturi, Sardinian: Sa Jara Manna, is a high, steep-sided basaltic plateau which extends for about 42 km2 in the districts of Gesturi, Tuili and Setzu in the province of Medio Campidano, and Genoni in the province of Oristano, in the southern central part of the island of Sardinia, Italy.

The plateau was formed some 2.7 million years ago when lava from the cones of Zepparedda and Zeppara Manna covered older sedimentary rock. The average height of the plateau is approximately 550 m; it is accessible in only a few places, known as scalas. Along the perimeter of the plateau are the remains of 23 Nuraghi; the Nuraghic complex of Su Nuraxi di Barumini is a few kilometres to the south. Monte Arci, another basaltic geological formation, is located to the west of the Giara di Gesturi.