WHAT AND WHERE places: a small guide about the Gallura (text by Antonella Bonacossa) www.turismorurale.org The region Gallura has many contrasts: the asperity of the rock combined with the mild climate and colours, which brings out the poetry in the hearts of many also to those who are apparently heartless. Our approach to food, the aromas and tastes which are absolutely delicious, yet unusual. We invite you to discover through us the beauty and all the less known aspects of nature and culture of Sardinia, so we recommend if you are able to plan your trip in Gallura during the months of April, May, September and October, which are the most beautiful periods: nature awakens in a mild climate that allows you to enjoy the sea and the beach without the typical crowds of the high season. The earth is covered with a bright green, fragrant flowers and plants, the sky is clear and blue. In addition to the sea and beaches, we recommend walking, visits to many archaeological sites, festivals and village festivals, mini tours of one or two days. Hiking, archaeology, museums, water sports, horse riding, golf, the many beaches, these are just a few of the activities that await you in our part of the Gallura. THE NEAREST BEACHES: the Mistral winds), sweeps around and embraces the Tavo- lara. Directions: from our house take the road of the “Spiri- Maria Marina to Santo” up to the main road SS 125, then follow the road Please don’t say to anyone up to Murta Maria and turn at the sign “Porto Istana” you the wonders of this hidden will find the beach after about 2.2 kilometres, this is equip- beach, a step away from Ol- ped with many services: public transport, bar, restaurant, bia. To get there from our beach services, pedal boat hire. house drive along the road of the “Spirito Santo” to the Li Cuncheddi main road 125, then turn Returning from south in the direction to Porto Istana Murta Maria, a charming towards Murta hamlet on the fast growing Maria to a diver- east coast. Marina Maria is sion road on the one of the last coastal right, about two wetlands, besieged by lots, hundred meters and a valuable habitat for before the junc- gulls, crabs, molluscs and cormorants, whose overbearing pre- tion of SS 125, sence is evidenced by the myriad of shells scattered on the incomparable views across the Gulf of Olbia, the road beco- white sand. Take the road Via dei Gladioli, just before ente- mes a dirt track, (hopefully this beautiful environment does ring the village. Leave your car in the parking lot and to not alter), and falls on solitary coast, where there are lovely stretch your legs go for a walk toward and along the beach, beaches such as Li Cuncheddi, Cala sa Figu, the beach Sos that is free from houses, from antennas: this is just the fisher- Passizzeddos, Porto Casu, Porto Vitello, and last but not men’s sea. If not afraid to crush shells and crabs circumven- least the view on the Gulf of Olbia. Carrying on ahead you ted the beach walking in water of the pond, transparent but will find the headland of Capo Ceraso. The pink granite warm until you come to small dunes emerging from the calm rocks, the thick scrub and forests of surviving olive trees behind the white of sand. The pond is a microcosm of mari- grant a truly unique panorama. ne life, with the cold currents coming in the turquoise of the sea. This beach, is also a paradise for experts surfers. Tavolara Set in the Porto Istana Gulf of Ol- If you are going to visit Porto Istana be prepared to be daz- bia, in front zled by the incomparable beauty of this beach that appears of Porto suddenly just left the parking lot. This beautiful bay is sur- San Paolo, rounded by the sea, just in front of Tavolara Island. The looking crystal clear from the water gently mainland, slopes down the Tavola- until it rea- ra offers, in ches a hei- its different ght for perspectives, now a pyramid, now a mountain of white rock swimming, walls overlooking the sea. Below sea level there is a very rich while the world which is of particular interest for divers. Accessible by bay, (almost boat from Porto San Paolo, this narrow isthmus called “Spal- always pro- matore di terra” has a beautiful long beach. Also on the island, tected from there are typical bars and restaurants. Budoni With its heritage of long coastline on the Tyrrhenian www.turismorurale.org Sea, Budoni boa- sts of beautiful scenery, beautiful from Palau or Cannigione. A real mystical experience that sandy beaches you can have with a truly modest cost which is the ticket surrounded by that usually also includes a spaghetti on board. The small walls of rock. The boat is equipped for specialized tours. closest beach, is only 300 meters away from the centre. A characteristic rocky beach with a beautiful pine forest around, Porto Rotondo the bottom of the sea is very clear alternating between sand, Exclusive, unique, not to be missed, here, He played the rocks, and small rocks near the shoreline. More beaches in kind of accuracy by drawing geometrically a perfect cove Porto Ottiolu, these also have facilities such as parking lots, where the village takes its name. The beauty of this mediter- bars, services, rental of paddleboats and surfing. ranean scrub, is that Lido di Pittulongu the coast of Only 6 km granite Iscia from Olbia, Segada joins on the coa- at Punta Vol- stal road to pe, in a Golfo Aran- powerful ci, it is wor- complex of thwhile to bedrock, visit these from which many small one can enjoy the spectacular panorama of the Costa Sme- white sandy ralda, its sea, its islands. From afternoon to night, Porto Ro- beaches, tondo always offers cultural events and theme nights. which are most popular among the locals. Take beautiful walks at sunset taking in the breathtaking views of the Tavo- lara or even better in the early morning when the sun rises NATURE & ARCHAEOLOGY: behind the big island. Pedres castle and the “Tomb of the Giants” On the road AND ALSO ... between Olbia and Loiri, on the Spiaggia del Principe left, the fort was A truly exclusi- built in medie- ve beach, loca- val times by ju- ted at Romaz- dges of Gallura zino, which is to defend the the favourite of territory, and Prince Karim was the scene of for its extraor- fierce battles between Genoa, Pisa and Aragon. There are dinary beauty, two remaining walls which were not completely destroyed, due to the it stands on a fascinating hill, which dominates the whole striking combi- Gulf and can be reached through a path surrounded by scrub. nation of colours: the clear shallow water combined with A few steps from this hill, is the beautiful megalithic burial pink rocks and the glossiness of the sand composed of grani- site of “Monte‘e s’Abe”, XVIII - XVI century. A.C. te fragments. Basilica of San Simplicio in Olbia Archipelago of La Maddalena It is the most important, artistic and ancient religious mo- Colours, co- nument of the lours, an incredi- Gallura and also ble transparen- one of the most cy, you can defi- noble places re- nitely reach it lating to the first easy thanks to beginnings of the barge trips Christianity in that you can Sardinia, the book just a day Basilica stands before departing in the centre of the city. San Simplicio is the patron of the Diocese of Tem- pio Pausania and the city of Olbia. It was built in three di- stinct periods: the second half of the eleventh century until the twelfth century, where the facade was completed. www.turismorurale.org The Archaeological Museum of Olbia The Archaeo- ship of water. From the courtyard, fully paved, you have logical Mu- access to the well through a scale of seventeen steps. At the seum is loca- excavation pit numerous artefacts were found relating to Nu- ted along the ragic, Punic and Roman times, which are signs of a continu- road leading ity of use almost always linked to pagan rituals. To get there: to the Port, coming from Olbia on the Via dei Lidi, you cross the Indu- just in front of strial Zone, arriving at the roundabout you see the signs the old town. that mark the site. Outside, a lar- ge central pa- tio in which A LITTLE MORE DISTANT IN GALLURA you will find some of the San Pantaleo Roman ships A church, a recently square, a small found, and a number of functional areas such as the Library, shop and a han- the Auditorium and Congress Centre. Upstairs advanced te- dful of chnologies have reproduced ships that were sunken and re- stazzi(rural hou- cently found during the construction of the Tunnel. It is a ses) that once multipurpose structure, mainly devoted to archaeology from formed a “Cus- the Neolithic period for the Judicial Age. sorgia” between forests of oaks Nuraghe Riu Mulinu and cork trees in the granite peaks of Punta Cugnana. Eve- Behind the rything here is a surviving piece of the Gallura far away from Industrial “rustic chic” of the Costa Smeralda. San Pantaleo is the re- area of Ol- fuge for those who want to move away from the mundane, a bia, on the refuge for artists and craftsmen who have original laborato- hill, is an ex- ries, which are open to visitors.