10 Things To Do in Sardinia

The Ogliastra’s area (Ollastra for its inhabitants) has become the province in 2005, the chief towns are Lanusei and Tortolì, and is located in the central-eastern Sardinia, inhabited since Neolithic times, now it consists of 23 municipalities, but it appears to be the least populated province of Italy.

This geographical area is 1854 km long, includes part of the Gennargentu Massif with the highest point (La Marmora, 1834 m), part of the Supramonte (Urzulei and Baunei), two lakes of the Flumendosa river, various plains, plateaus, and the part of coast from Baunei to Tertenia, including Tortolì.

Since this area was isolated from roads and railways to the end of the eighteenth century, industrial development has remained low (although there are in the area a wind farm and a military firing range), while the agro-pastoral (although modernized) remained unchanged, except for Tortolì that always living from the sea; this ‘closure ‘ if one part represented different limits for the growth of the place, at the same time has helped to preserve the traditions that always  have characterized it: as the creation of the typical bread Pintau or the textile processing on the frame.

HOW TO GET THERE: By car / motorcycle along the streets: SS125, SS125 dr, SS198, SS389, SS389 var, SS390; by ship to the port of Arbatax, from / to Genoa and Civitavecchia; by plane with a stopover in Tortolì 3rd level; by train, in the neighboring resorts of Nuoro and Isili, or just as a tourist crossing by the Green Train.

WHAT TO SEE:

• Church of Santa Maria Maddalena- Lanusei: is located at the center of  Vittorio Emanuele square and houses some paintings by Mario Delitala, one of the greatest Sardinian artists of the ninetieth century.
• Temple of Don Bosco-Lanusei: home of the Salesian
• Santuario Madonna d’Ogliastra-Lanusei: headquarters of the Capuchin Friars
• Church of Christ the King-Lanusei: House of the Eucharistic Daughters
• Astronomical observatory F. Caliumi-Lanusei: at Mount Armidda, performs the search and disclosure
• Punta la Marmora-Arzana: is the highest Sardinian peak (1,834 m) and of the Gennargentu Massif
• Our Lady of Monserrato- Bari Sardo: one of the most beautiful churches of the island, located in the center of the city, is rich in prized marbles
• Torre di Bari-Bari Sardo: of medieval origin was built with local granite and basalt rock, 13 m high and 11 m wide has a tronconic form; given that this area was frequented by pirates who stopped for fresh water supplies, it is thought that it was used as a lookout right to control the environment (15 km).
• Plateau Teccu- Bari Sardo: naturalistic and archaeological basis
• Santa Maria Navarrese-Baunei: tourist destination for summer holidays, characterized by a small marina and surrounded by old olive trees.
• Su Personeddu-Cardedu: Holy well
• Mount Perda Liana-Gairo: is the highest  heels of Ogliastra (1293 msldm)
• Natural sources-Jerzu: Bau and munsa, the Madonnina, Funtanedda, Sulemoni.
• Castel of Medusa-Lotzorai: Basic Phoenician, but completed in the Middle Ages, then destroyed by the Aragonese, today there are only ruins, albeit accessible
• Steps of San Giorgio-Osini: natural monument
• Hamlet of Arbatax-Tortolì: especially the harbor and beaches.
• Canyon of Gorroppu-Uzulei: largest canyon of Europe

Throughout the area you can visit numerous museums of various types, many caves and dolmen, even the churches to visit are a lot as well as fountains, natural parks, beautiful beaches; not to be missed are the various tombs of the giants, the fairy houses (Domus de Janas), menhirs (megaliths monolithic), nuragic villages and much more, also the various local agencies always offer various activities, such as walking, climbing, tours with quad etc ..

EVENTS:

• Carnival: traditional masks appearances, with folklore customs and usages
• The gold Porcino-Arzana: first week of November, this event aims to raise awareness of this excellence of international territory, hosting every year a different Italian region, and its representatives (politicians, athletes, artists ..) which lead the gift of their typical food and wine, also 3 restaurants of the host region will compete to earn, the ‘golden porcino’, also following masses, exhibitions, and folk dances.
• Festivals: products of various types such as suckling pig, goat, culargiones, oil, cake, cherries, wine (of stars goblets)
• Religious festivals: are conducted throughout the year in all countries, especially in summer

WHAT TO EAT:

• Culargiones: albeit with different names, these ‘ravioli’ are located throughout the island, but originate just in this area (recognized as IGP), their shape resembles a ‘panzerotto’ or ravioli, with a closed form of the ear, depending on the cityy can be stuffed with fresh or aged cheese, potatoes, garlic and mint or calamint; traditionally dressed only with oil, the latest generations have modified the recipe with a base of tomato sauce and grated cheese dressing.
• Gattulis: donuts fried potatoes, grits and Fiscidu (sheep’s cheese in brine)
• Pistoccu: typical local bread, thin and dry, is also eaten wet with water, is very similar to Carasau
• Paniscedda :This typical sweet from Ogliastra is obtained by processing of cooked wine, Sapao, appears on the tables on January 17 in honor of Saint Antonio Abate, before being tasted must  be blessed because it is said that only in this way has been granted a grace.
• Cannonau Jezu: This DOC wine, ruby ​​red color, delicate fragrance and dry taste, born in the ‘City of Wine’, Jezu, precisely, and is expected to make his first appearance dates back to Roman times.
• Casu Agedu / Marsu:  in this area there is the greatest concentration of goats on the island, because of this, these two goat cheeses are perpetually present in all Ogliastra lends
• Bread ispeli / and landi: (acorn bread) even mention geophagia our days  seem strange, the preparation of this bread, dating back to the first century AD, is done by creating a mixture of mature and boiled acorns, clay, ash and herbs , considered strong bread due to the energies it provides.

And therefore, this area is perfect for you if: you are very curious people and want to find out as much as possible of this ancient land, if you want to know somthing about the older people in the world, if you want to be immersed in a jungle of flavors and delicacies that dn’t find by no other hand, if you want to hear the sound of launeddas (similar to the flute, made with three rattan reeds) and the song of the tenor, if it is your intention to make you burst with happiness heart to the sound of traditional dancing, until you convinced yourself which is perhaps one of the ideal places to take root.