Tempio Pausania and Gallura
The immense spaces of the Gallura advise two different itineraries of
two-three days each. Next to which that from Olbia goes back along the
Costa Smeralda until Arzachena and from the Maddalena Archipelago, another
one is proposed, without neglecting the balneary localities, penetrating
through the mountains and the granite plateau. In this way you can visit
the most important centres inside Gallura.
TEMPIO PAUSANIA
This Temple is easily reachable from Sassari with 67 Km of flowing road that
avoids the inhabited centres and with 45 Km from Olbia across a fine
landscape. The Temple is the most important centre of the inside Gallura.
The Vermentino and the Moscato are the fine products of the vineyards of the
plateau and its carnival is ancient and characteristic. The most
significant monuments are concentrated around the Gallura square.
MONTE LIMBARA (detour)
Go out from the Pausania Temple towards south, on the government street for
Oschiri, and after 7 Km turn on left among the woods of the first Limbara
slopes. The mountainous complex is covered by a pines and spruce
reforestation and by the original patch of junipers and mediterranean
essences.
CALANGIANUS AND LURAS (detour)
A route among sweet hills carries to the Calagianus Temple, on the road in
direction of Olbia. The town is characterized by a fecund craftsmanship
which uses the cortex of the characteristic tree of Gallura: the cork. In
the close town of Luras there are considerable Neolithic dolmen burials, the
graves constituted by slabs of stone plunged into the ground and covered by
a flat boulder.
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AGGIUS
Aggius gets on an attractive position, potected by northern winds and by a
crown of splendid granite mountains. The town has a very agreeable
appearance, with tight paved roads and attractive grey granite houses. The
parochial church of 1700 is worth a visit. The forests and the
mediterranean patch offer an evocative show. The boulders of granite emerge
from a bare plain, spread on the ground as meteorites rained from the space.
TRINITA' D'AGULTU AND THE RED ISLAND
On the provincial street you can observe the hinterland of Gallura with
corks woods and fields destined to pasture. Going ahead opposite the sea
there are the wonderful poriferous rocks of the Red Island and of the
nearest coasts.
COSTA PARADISO E VIGNOLA
From the crossroad to Red Island, take on the right the government street
for Santa Teresa di Gallura and proceed among high covered patch necks and
isolated enclosures. A gross written signal shows the deviation to Costa
Paradiso. Enjoy the splendid panorama with overhanging red rocks emerging
from the sea.
SANTA TERESA DI GALLURA
After Vignola the road runs to short-term distance from the sea; opposite it
appears high and attractive the Capo Testa rocks. Santa Teresa is among
the nicest and agreeable localities of Gallura. It doesn't preserve a lot
of its ancient story, but it is certain that on the isthmus of Capo Testa
there was the Roman town of Tibula, terminal sting of a Consular road. The
protection offered to ships by inlets and granite caves were the most
important elements for constructing a village.
CAPO TESTA
The promontory of Capo Testa is connected to Sardinia by an isthmus on whose
sides open the attractive inlets of Santa Reparata and of the Colba. Along
the promontory succeed granite rocks, smoothly or folded taking on
fantastic forms, and some small sandy coves. Stop in front of the
lighthouse and continue on foot on the paths that permit to enter the
promontory. On the sea you can see granite caves, opened by the Romans,
with large blocks just cut and columns already blunted, similar to those you
see in Rome in the Pantheon and in Sardinian temples.
LUOGOSANTO
Along the road to Palau there is the beauty Porto Pozzo bay, place in which
according to the tradition, Ulysses met the Lestrigoni, who were cannibal
giant shepherds. Still ahead it cuts inside of Gallura in a nice
Mediterranean landscape with granite scattered rocks. The unique important
centre on the 60 Km route is Luogosanto, at 2 Km from the government street.
Inhabited place from the hermits in the high medieval age, it hides in its
territory small ancient churches and ruins of castles.
THE RETURN
Continuing on the 133 government street you arrive directly at the Tempio Pausania
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