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Olbia Tempio Province
Province of Olbia-Tempio

Olbia-Tempio Province: location, history, culture, interest

To the north, the province of Olbia Tempio faces the narrow stretch of water which separates Sardinia from Corsica (Bonifacio Strait), the Tyrrhenian Sea to the east, the province of Sassari to the west and Nuoro to the south. Olbia Tempio is a newly established province which was formed in 2001 when the regional law doubled the number of provinces from four to eight.

Olbia-Tempio-Province
Province of Olbia Tempio, Sardinia

The landscape in this province is varied with spectacular coastlines, mountains, hills, oak forests, plains, cultivated fields and desert areas. Part of the historic Gallura territory is in the province of Olbio Tempio and here you can see amazing granite rocks which have been formed into unusual natural sculptures by the wind and the rain.

The town of Olbia has some interesting architecture such as the Basilica of San Simplicio which was built in the llth and 12th century purely from granite. A short distance from Olbia there is the village of Pittulongu where you can find the 8th-6th century BC Sa Testa sacred well. Olbia is the administative capital of the region, together with Tempio Pausania which is located on a granite plateau 40 kilometers inland from Olbia. Tempio Pausania is famous for therapeutic properties of the oligo-mineral waters of the Rinaggiu Springs.

Inland, the whole of the province of Olbia Tempio is perfect for archeology enthusiasts with remains all over the area of pre-nuragic, nuragic, Punic, Roman and medieval civilizations. There are also many scattered rural settlements (stazzi) which were established during the 17th and 18th centuries by shepherds and their families. These stazzi were inhabited and flourishing until quite recently, until the tourism became big business in the area, when they were gradually abandoned as the owners moved into apartments in the developing towns and cities.

While the interior of Olbia Tempio is pretty and intersting, it is totally overshadowed by the beauty of the coastline and the subsequent tourist industry that has grown up around it. The coastline around this province is one of the most breathtaking in Italy and is a playground for the rich and famous in the summer months. During July and August, super yachts from around the world arrive here to berth in one of the many extremely expensive, totally exclusive marinas.

The coastline includes the beautiful Maddalena archipelago which is a group of granite islands, La Maddalena (the largest island), Santo Stefano, Spargi, Caprera, Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria. The islands are now a geo-marine national park and the natural flora and fauna of the area are very well protected. The tourist industry started in 1962 when Prince Aga Khan noticed the outstanding natural beauty of the coastal area and set up a consortium for high budget tourism. This paradise holiday destination, known as the Costa Smeralda(which is 55 km long and covers over 30 sq.km), is now one of the most exclusive in the whole world.

In the Bay of Olbia there is a large limestone island called Tavolara which is totally unspoiled thanks to it being a marine protected area and having a building ban imposed by the council. Although the interior of the province is charming, undoubtedly the coast gets most of the attention. From Olbia, northward to the tip of the island, past the luxurious village of Porto Rotondo and the Bay of Cignana, the visitor arrives at the legendary Costa Smeralda, whose name refers to the colour of the sea by the green-turquoise shades.

The heart of the Costa Smeralda is Porto Cervo, nestled in a secluded cove and home of great tourist accommodations, a well-equipped marina with space for over 700 boats. The village revolves around the 'piazzetta' and the Stella Maris church. There are many beaches worth visiting: Cala di Volpe, Poltu Quatu, Baja Sardinia, Cannigione, the magnificent Capriccioli and Liscia Ruia beaches. Going north, past Porto Rafael, a sophisticated tourist village set in a small bay, one drives through Palau, one of the most popular destinations with the famous capo d'Orso rock, to arrive in S. Teresa di Gallura, the closest place to Corsica with the unique white limestone of the Bonifacio Coast.

Other remarkable features of the area around S. Teresa di Gallura are Capo Testa, a massive granite promontory connected with the mainland by a narrow isthmus, the bay of Tindari with the coral-red rocks, Isola Rossa and Valle della Luna, a deserted land characterized by the presence of granite rocks carved by natural erosion into animal-like shapes.

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Flag of Sardinia
  • Regional Information

    • Area: 24,090 km²
      Population: 1.6 million
      Density: 69/km²
      Capital: Cagliari

      National Parks:
      Archipelago of La Maddalena National Park
      Asinara National Park
      Gennargentu National Park
Location of Sardinia
Provinces of Sardinia
  • Comunes of Sardinia
    • Cagliari
      • Armungia
        Assemini
        Ballao
        Barrali
        Burcei
        Cagliari
        Capoterra
        Castiadas
        Decimomannu
        Decimoputzu
        Dolianova
        Domus De Maria
        Donori
        Elmas
        Escalaplano
        Escolca
        Esterzili
        Gergei
        Gesico
        Goni
        Guamaggiore
        Guasila
        Isili
        Mandas
        Maracalagonis
        Monastir
        Monserrato
        Muravera
        Nuragus
        Nurallao
        Nuraminis
        Nurri
        Orroli
        Ortacesus
        Pimentel
        Pula
        Quartu Sant’Elena
        Quartucciu
        Sadali
        Samatzai
        San Basilio
        San Nicolò Gerrei
        San Sperate
        San Vito
        Sant’Andrea Frius
        Sarroch
        Selargius
        Selegas
        Senorbì
        Serdiana
        Serri
        Sestu
        Settimo San Pietro
        Seulo
        Siliqua
        Silius
        Sinnai
        Siurgus Donigala
        Soleminis
        Suelli
        Teulada
        Ussana
        Uta
        Vallermosa
        Villa San Pietro
        Villanova Tulo
        Villaputzu
        Villasalto
        Villasimius
        Villasor
        Villaspeciosa

    • Carbonia-Iglesias
      • Buggerru
        Calasetta
        Carbonia
        Carloforte
        Domusnovas
        Fluminimaggiore
        Giba
        Gonnesa
        Iglesias
        Masainas
        Musei
        Narcao
        Nuxis
        Perdaxius
        Piscinas
        Portoscuso
        San Giovanni Suergiu
        Santadi
        Sant’Anna Arresi
        Sant’Antioco
        Tratalias
        Villamassargia
        Villaperuccio

    • Medio Campidano
      • Arbus
        Barumini
        Collinas
        Furtei
        Genuri
        Gesturi
        Gonnosfanadiga
        Guspini
        Las Plassas
        Lunamatrona
        Pabillonis
        Pauli Arbarei
        Samassi
        San Gavino Monreale
        Sanluri
        Sardara
        Segariu
        Serramanna
        Serrenti
        Setzu
        Siddi
        Tuili
        Turri
        Ussaramanna
        Villacidro
        Villamar
        Villanovaforru
        Villanovafranca

    • Nuoro
      • Aritzo
        Atzara
        Austis
        Belvì
        Birori
        Bitti
        Bolotana
        Borore
        Bortigali
        Desulo
        Dorgali
        Dualchi
        Fonni
        Gadoni
        Galtellì
        Gavoi
        Irgoli
        Lei
        Loculi
        Lodè
        Lodine
        Lula
        Macomer
        Mamoiada
        Meana Sardo
        Noragugume
        Nuoro
        Oliena
        Ollolai
        Olzai
        Onanì
        Onifai
        Oniferi
        Orani
        Orgosolo
        Orosei
        Orotelli
        Ortueri
        Orune
        Osidda
        Ottana
        Ovodda
        Posada
        Sarule
        Silanus
        Sindia
        Siniscola
        Sorgono
        Teti
        Tiana
        Tonara
        Torpè

    • Ogliastra
      • Arzana
        Bari Sardo
        Baunei
        Cardedu
        Elini
        Gairo
        Girasole
        Ilbono
        Jerzu
        Lanusei
        Loceri
        Lotzorai
        Osini
        Perdasdefogu
        Seui
        Talana
        Tertenia
        Tortolì
        Triei
        Ulassai
        Urzulei
        Ussassai
        Villagrande Strisaili

    • Olbia-Tempio
      • Aggius
        Aglientu
        Alà dei Sardi
        Arzachena
        Badesi
        Berchidda
        Bortigiadas
        Buddusò
        Budoni
        Calangianus
        Golfo Aranci
        La Maddalena
        Loiri Porto San Paolo
        Luogosanto
        Luras
        Monti
        Olbia
        Oschiri
        Padru
        Palau
        San Teodoro
        Santa Teresa Gallura
        Sant’Antonio di Gallura
        Telti
        Tempio Pausania
        Trinità d’Agultu e Vignola

    • Oristano
      • Abbasanta
        Aidomaggiore
        Albagiara
        Ales
        Allai
        Arborea
        Ardauli
        Assolo
        Asuni
        Baradili
        Baratili San Pietro
        Baressa
        Bauladu
        Bidonì
        Bonarcado
        Boroneddu
        Bosa
        Busachi
        Cabras
        Cuglieri
        Curcuris
        Flussio
        Fordongianus
        Genoni
        Ghilarza
        Gonnoscodina
        Gonnosnò
        Gonnostramatza
        Laconi
        Magomadas
        Marrubiu
        Masullas
        Milis
        Modolo
        Mogorella
        Mogoro
        Montresta
        Morgongiori
        Narbolia
        Neoneli
        Norbello
        Nughedu Santa Vittoria
        Nurachi
        Nureci
        Ollastra
        Oristano
        Palmas Arborea
        Pau
        Paulilatino
        Pompu
        Riola Sardo
        Ruinas
        Sagama
        Samugheo
        San Nicolò d’Arcidano
        San Vero Milis
        Santa Giusta
        Santu Lussurgiu
        Scano di Montiferro
        Sedilo
        Seneghe
        Senis
        Sennariolo
        Siamaggiore
        Siamanna
        Siapiccia
        Simala
        Simaxis
        Sini
        Siris
        Soddì
        Solarussa
        Sorradile
        Suni
        Tadasuni
        Terralba
        Tinnura
        Tramatza
        Tresnuraghes
        Ulà Tirso
        Uras
        Usellus
        Villa Sant’Antonio
        Villa Verde
        Villanova Truschedu
        Villaurbana
        Zeddiani
        Zerfaliu

    • Sassari
      • Alghero
        Anela
        Ardara
        Banari
        Benetutti
        Bessude
        Bonnanaro
        Bono
        Bonorva
        Borutta
        Bottidda
        Bultei
        Bulzi
        Burgos
        Cargeghe
        Castelsardo
        Cheremule
        Chiaramonti
        Codrongianos
        Cossoine
        Erula
        Esporlatu
        Florinas
        Giave
        Illorai
        Ittireddu
        Ittiri
        Laerru
        Mara
        Martis
        Monteleone Rocca Doria
        Mores
        Muros
        Nughedu San Nicolò
        Nule
        Nulvi
        Olmedo
        Osilo
        Ossi
        Ozieri
        Padria
        Pattada
        Perfugas
        Ploaghe
        Porto Torres
        Pozzomaggiore
        Putifigari
        Romana
        Santa Maria Coghinas
        Sassari
        Sedini
        Semestene
        Sennori
        Siligo
        Sorso
        Stintino
        Tergu
        Thiesi
        Tissi
        Torralba
        Tula
        Uri
        Usini
        Valledoria
        Viddalba
        Villanova Monteleone

Hotels in Sardinia
SardiniaWEATHER
Sardinia Climate (Cagliari)
  High Low Sun Rain
Jan 9 2 3 55
Feb 11 3 4 53
Mar 13 4 5 63
Apr 17 7 6 55
May 21 11 8 35
Jun 25 15 9 44
Jul 28 17 10 34
Aug 28 17 9 54
Sep 25 14 7 61
Oct 20 11 6 74
Nov 15 8 4 71
Dec 12 3 3 77
Table Key:
High - Average monthly high temperatures
Low - Average monthly low temperatures
Sun - Average hours of sunshine per day
Rain - Average monthly rainfall in mm
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