DISCOVERING OGLIASTRA
Ogliastra, a historical-geographical region located in central-eastern Sardinia, is one of the most evocative and pristine areas on the entire island. With its wild views, its numerous nature trails ranging from the sea to the hinterland, and thanks to its beautiful sandy beaches that alternate with caves and imposing granite cliffs, this place is certainly one of the most popular destinations for the many tourists who choose to spend a holiday in Sardinia. Whether families with children or trekking and hiking enthusiasts, the area offers endless opportunities to relax in coves with Caribbean overtones, such as the famous Cala Goloritzè and Cala Mariolu in the Baunei area or the beautiful Lido di Orrì located in the municipality of Tortolì, and fun activities such as snorkelling, trails immersed in the vegetation with panoramic views and adventurous excursions by land, discovering natural moments such as Pedra Longa.
In addition to its naturalistic pearls, the whole of Ogliastra and, in particular, the Gulf of Arbatax area, holds a number of treasures of enviable historical and cultural value, bearing witness to the history of the peoples who have inhabited the area over the millennia. These include the archaeological remains of the s’Orstali ‘e Su Monti complex, the watchtowers scattered throughout the area, to which the Gulf owes its name (in Arabic ‘Arbatax’ means ‘fourteenth’ because the fourteenth watchtower was built on this stretch of coastline), or the more recent defence posts and trenches of the 1st and 2nd World Wars.
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ISLET OF OGLIASTRA
A small archipelago of three granite and porphyry rocks
Situated in front of the beach of Lotzorai, of whose territory it is part, it is commonly called ‘Isolotto d’Ogliastra’, but in actually it is a small archipelago of three main rocks made of pink granite and red porphyry to which are added several other minor rocks that emerge from the water and are just over a kilometre from the coast. If on the maps it is little more than a rock, for all nature lovers it is a paradise to be reached by canoe or private boat, to spend pleasant moments discovering quiet coves, rocks shaped by the sea and wind that have now become natural sculptures, lush vegetation and rare bird species. On the summit of the main islet, you can admire the statue of the Madonna dell’Ogliastra, a work by the sculptor Pinuccio Sciola.
1.8km | 5 minutes by boat from the tourist port of Santa Maria Navarrese
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SUPRAMONTE TRAIN
A journey to the Golgo Plateau, amidst breathtaking scenery, history and archaeology
An itinerary, for adults and children, perfect for exploring the Golgo Plateau area in comfort and discovering unique landscapes, sites of archaeological interest and ancient legends. On board the small train, departing from Baunei, we travel along the breathtaking hairpin bends of the road to the Golgo, with panoramic views of the entire valley below, until we reach the basaltic ‘As Piscinas’ areas and the spectacular ‘Su Sterru’ karstic chasm, which, with its 295 metres of depth, has contributed to making the plateau famous. The tour then continues to the country church dedicated to St Peter, to discover its interesting archaeological-religious implications, and ends with a visit to the mysterious Stone Mask, hidden in a rock face and the result of the erosive action of atmospheric agents.
10km | 10 minutes by car
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TORTOLÌ
The gateway to the wonders of Ogliastra
The beautiful municipality of Tortolì is the most important center on the central-eastern coast of Sardinia and the main gateway to the Ogliastra region. It is frequented and appreciated by many summer tourists for its unspoilt territory, as well as for the variety of local food products, such as Culurgiones (Sardinian stuffed pockets. The dough is made from semolina flour, white floor, eggs, water and salt giving a soft crust to the ravioli), soups and roast suckling pig. The coastline is a true enchantment, with hidden coves and delightful beaches of fine sand, smooth pebbles and crystal-clear water, awarded the prestigious ‘blue flag’, a symbol of clean beaches, safe beaches and quality services. For enthusiasts, the area also provides the opportunity to discover more than two hundred monuments from the Nuragic Age, as well as numerous Romanesque shipwrecks and Spanish watchtowers.
9km | 10 minutes by car
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S’ORTALI ‘E SU MONTI
A site that has spanned millennia and narrates the Sardinian prehistoric age
The archaeological park of s’Ortali ‘e su Monti, in the Tortolì area, offers interesting evidence of the pre-Nuragic and Nuragic periods, thanks to the presence of numerous works dating back to different cultures that followed one another over the three millennia of prehistory. In fact, the archaeological site includes a nuraghe with a rare elliptical shape, a Giants’ tomb, two menhirs and a Domu de Janas (a type of pre-Nuragic rock-cut chamber tomb found in Sardinia), which constitute three different expressions of the cult of the dead and, finally, the remains of a second nuraghe. All these archaeological remains have made it possible to reconstruct how the daily life of the inhabitants of the area took place and what their main production activities, social dynamics and religiosity were.
12km | 14 minutes by car
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ARBATAX
A postcard of breathtaking landscapes
Arbatax, a hamlet of the municipality of Tortolì, offers visitors some of the most breathtaking views in the entire region. Among the unmissable attractions of the place are the characteristic red rocks, now a symbol par excellence of the place. These are imposing red porphyry boulders that rise from the sea, giving the water a special and unique colour. This location, so evocative, was also the protagonist of the last scenes of the famous film ‘Swept Away by an Unusual Destiny in the Blue Sea of August’. Remaining near the Bellavista hill, but in a panoramic position, you can visit the lighthouse of the same name, dating back to the 17th century and still in operation today, restored to its former glory to indicate the route to ships.
13km | 14 minutes by car
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TOWER OF SAN GEMILIANO
The tower known as ‘large-view’ for its unique view
The Tower of San Gemiliano, located a few hundred meters from the town of Arbatax, is part of the complex of structures that in ancient times constituted the system of sighting, defence and communication of the coastal strip of Sardinia. Built between the end of the 16th and the beginning of the 17th century with granite rocks, it has a slender shape that makes it immediately recognisable and one of the symbols of Arbatax. At present, the tower, which can be easily reached from the beach or via a small road, can be visited thanks to some metal stairs that allow access to the casemate and the parade ground from which one can enjoy an enchanting view of the bay, with more than 25 km of views, so that one can easily admire the beautiful beaches of Orrì and Cea.
13km | 17 minutes by car
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