Nuoro

Holiday Sardinia – Nuoro

With its rural character and limited industrialization, Nuoro is one of the most beautiful provinces on the island. The province of Nuoro has a total of 164.260 inhabitants and an area of 3934 m². This gives the province the lowest population density in all of Italy, with only 40 inhabitants per square meter. Furthermore, the province consists of 52 municipalities and covers 16,3% of Sardinia. It is also interesting to note that only 1% of the territory in the province of Nuoro consists of urban areas.

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A piece of history

Nuoro originated in prehistoric times. Between 1500 BC and 250 BC, Nuoro grew into the center of the Nuragic civilization. This is still evident in one of the 30 Nuraghi villages. In the year 1147, a small village appeared on a medieval map under the name Nugor. In the 12th and 13th centuries, this village grew to more than 1000 inhabitants. This village was later named Nuoro and was of moderate importance under the Aragonese and Spanish rule of Sardinia. In the 17th century, the city faced famine and was also struck by the plague, causing it to fall into decline. When the entire island became part of Italy in 1814, Nuoro became the administrative center of the province and was even granted city status in 1836.

Art and culture in Nuoro

The island's most important archaeological heritage consists of the nuraghi towers. These are towers that were built in Sardinia during the Bronze Age. The towers could reach a height of up to 19 meters. Sometimes a village was situated around a nuraghe, or a complex structure consisting of multiple nuraghi existed. Various nuraghi villages can still be found, particularly in the area surrounding Nuoro. In addition to the nuraghi, Nuoro has much more to offer in terms of art and culture.

Museum dell'Arte di Nuoro

This museum opened in 1999 and is the youngest museum in Nuoro. The museum is housed in a historic 19th-century building in the old town. Contemporary art by various Sardinian artists is exhibited across approximately 600 square meters. The first and second floors of the museum are used to display one hundred paintings and images. Together, these two floors form the basis of the “Sardinian Collection of Modern Art”. The ground floor and the third floor are used for alternating exhibitions by Italian and international artists.

Santa Maria della Neve Cathedral

Santa Maria della Neve, the mother cathedral of Nuoro. The cathedral is dedicated to the patron saint of Nuoro, Madonna della Neve. It is a monumental neoclassical building overlooking a large square in the old town. Inside the cathedral, you can admire works by Alessandro Tiarini and works from the Sardinian art school of the 19th century.^e in 20^e century.

orgosolo

The small town of Orgosolo is located approximately 20 km from the old city of Nuoro. This town is known for its murals, which were painted on more than a hundred walls in the city during the 70s. The murals are also known as murales and carry a socio-political message regarding the violent past of this region.

Exploring Nuoro city:

Deleddiano Museum: former home of the Sardinian writer Grazia Deledda, housing her work and her passion for her native city and country.
Tiscali: trek to this ancient Nuraghe village.
Monte Ortobene: monument with a fantastic viewpoint over the surrounding area.
Step into one of the small restaurants or coffee bars to try local delicacies.

Exploring the province of Nuoro:

Gennargentu Massif: with the highest peak on the island, Punta Marmora (1834m).

Bue Marino Cave: boat excursion to Bue Marino and Cala Luna Beach.

Gola di Su Gorroppu: deepest gorge in Europe.

Sa Oche and Su Bentu: 'the voice' and 'the wind' explain the sound made by the strong air current because there is water in the caves. Both caves have an extensive cave system.

Oliena: a village consisting of white-walled houses and castle ruins

Orosei: a city with various sights such as the Giovanni Guiso Museum and the parish church of San Giacomo Maggiore in Moorish architecture.

Sail along and view one of the most beautiful waterways.

The former province of Ogliastra has been merged with the province of Nuoro and is situated on the east coast of the island, stretching from the peaks of the Gennargentu mountains to the Tyrrhenian Sea. The capitals Tortoli and Lanusei, the mountains, and the white sandy beaches and rugged rock formations that meet the sea create a beautiful environment where various hiking and cycling routes are located to explore the surroundings.

View the beautiful surroundings

Numbers

The province has approximately 59.000 inhabitants spread across 1854 km². The surroundings are still unspoiled, and with only 31 inhabitants per km², the 23 municipalities have not yet been discovered by mass tourism.

A piece of history

Around 1800 BC, a new group of inhabitants arrived in Sardinia. These residents came from the area where Spain and Portugal are located today. They established grain fields, and the villages surrounding them were called Nuraghe villages. These villages are made of stones from the mountainous region, including the province of Ogliastra. To this day, at least 6500 remains of Nuraghe villages can still be found on the island. During this time, trade with the Greeks also began to flourish. Historically, the region was known for the wool trade and the production of colorful carpets. The island remained under Spanish rule until 1708, when Spain lost its position of power in Europe and its influence over Sardinia. Sardinia remained in European hands until it became an autonomous region in 1946. Since 2001, Ogliastra has been an official province of Sardinia.

Art and culture in Tortoli

Tortoli is situated on the Corongiu River, just a few kilometers from the sea, and is one of the two capitals of the province.

St. Andrew's Church

The Church of St. Anfreas is one of the most important places of Catholic worship in Tortoli. The former cathedral of the Diocese of Ogliastra is located in the historic center of the city on Piazza Cathedrale.

Torre di Arbatax Tortoli

This massive tower dominates the edge of the municipality, where one of the island's most important ports is located. The tower is situated by the harbor, from which ferry services to mainland Italy, among others, depart.

Museo su Logu de S'Iscultura Tortoli

This new open-air museum is located in Tortoli and features exhibitions by contemporary artists. In addition, there are also temporary exhibitions to visit at this open-air museum.

View the open-air museum

Out and about in Lanusei

Upper Flumendosa Lake

This reservoir is located northeast of the city of Lanusei. The Flumendosa River, with a length of 122 km, is the second longest river in Sardinia. The area surrounding the reservoir is covered with chestnut trees and the famous cork oak that grows in Sardinia. The nearby village of Villanova Strisaili, with 3900 inhabitants, is also worth a visit.

Nuraghe Sceri

This area contains many remains from the Neolithic period, including nuraghe towers and other remains that were excavated between 1994 and 2003.

On the road in the province of Ogliastra

Mount Limbara

This mountain range in the north of Ogliastra, with Punta Sa Berritta (1362m), is the highest point in this part of the province.

Gennargentu Mountains

Sardinia's largest mountain range has foothills in the province of Ogliastra, where many cycling and hiking routes are located.

Giorgio's Scale

These enormous rock formations offer excellent hiking and climbing opportunities with a beautiful view of the surrounding area.

baunei

This mountain village is situated at an altitude of 1000m with terraces built against the mountainside. In the immediate vicinity of this village, you can go hiking, mountain biking, or relax on one of the secluded bays with beautiful rock formations that open out into the sea.

Discover Nuoro with Tritt – Case in Sardegna

View all the gems in Nuoro