-> Olbia Tempio Route

OLBIA-TEMPIO PROVINCE

Olbia - Porto Rotondo - Porto Cervo La Maddalena - Caprera - Tempio Pausania

Time: one day - Length: approx. 155 km

The Olbia city district has been frequented since Neolithic times.

Archaeology has not confirmed that the city was founded by the Greeks, but it has highlighted continuous settlements in the area, as is the case with all Sardinia’s most important ports.

The Romanesque church of San Simplicio, built in granite in the early 12th century, stands in Via San Simplicio, not far from the railway station. Once you have left the northern outskirts of Olbia behind you, take the Costa Smeralda provincial road and, after around 20 Km, you will come to Porto Rotonda, a prestigious tourist resort with a well-equipped tourist port. This town is characterised by the buildings around Piazzetta San Marco. We should mention the open air theatre, with its broad semicircular terraces in rough granite. Based on an idea of the artist Mario Ceroli, who designed the local church of San Lorenzo, the theatre was inaugurated in 1995. The structure hosts performances of various kinds and can seat around 700 people. Proceed west from the crossroads, returning to the Costa Smeralda provincial road at 24.5 Km. The road winds round towards Porto Cervo, which is around  27 Km away.

This is the biggest town on the Costa Smeralda and the site of the first operations carried out in the area by the consortium from 1962 onwards. The church of Stella Maris stands in a very panoramic position. It was designed by Michele Busiri Vici, in the Mediterranean style typical of the Costa Smeralda. After driving 18 Km inland, take the SS 125 main road north and, after around 18 Km, you will come to Palau, where you can embark for La Maddalena, the only town in the archipelago of the same name.

From Piazza Garibaldi, also known as the red square because of the colour of its paving, follow Largo Matteotti until coming to the parish church of Santa Maria Maddalena. The church still houses two silver candlesticks and a crucifix presented by Admiral Nelson, together with his autograph. Leaving the town behind and following the promenade from Piazza Umberto I, through the suburb of Moneta, we come to the dyke that links the island to Caprera. A slow climb leads to a pinewood, where the road forks.

Take the road on the left, which leads to the vast area housing the Garibaldi Estate. The complex comprises the buildings, relics and all the property that once belonged to Giuseppe Garibaldi. It is now the property of the Italian state, which has restored it and opened a museum. The key focus of the visit is Garibaldi’s house. It has been arranged to reflect the original purposes of the various rooms, although this has changed repeatedly over the years: the arms, flags, apparel, furniture, numerous photographs and paintings, including the portrait of Garibaldi by Saverio Altamura painted from life in 1860, bear witness to the last 26 years of the general’s life. Returning to the SP 133 road, turn left and continue for 23 Km, following signs to Tempio Pausania.

The main body of the town occupies the top of a terrace to the north-west of the Limbara massif. The Railway Station is well worth a look, as the painter Giuseppe Biasi contributed to its decoration. The artist’s contribution is a long frieze that runs all the way around the ticket hall, above the wooden panels that clad the walls. Biasi depicts his favourite subjects with highly effective ornamental language: the women of Osilo, drinkers and scenes of daily life that are extremely appropriate for a railway building.

 Source (Assessorato Turismo)