Oliena between Monte Corrasi and Sardinian history
Accommodation in Oliena
Oliena between mountain landscapes and local traditions
Oliena brings together Monte Corrasi, the Su Gologone karst spring, archaeological evidence and vibrant local traditions. This creates a destination where mountain landscapes, nature observation, early Sardinian history, crafts, festival culture and wine offer different focal points. When planning your trip, you can therefore first decide whether your days should focus mainly on hiking, archaeology or everyday cultural life.
Monte Corrasi and botanical highlights
The B-401 trail connects the centre of Oliena with the summit of Monte Corrasi and provides access to Pradu. Monte Corrasi is considered a trekking destination in Sardinia. It is home to more than 70 endemic flowering plant species, including the rare Ribes sardoum Martelli. For hikers, this creates a combination of trail, mountain destination and botanical highlight. The route and its plants make Monte Corrasi appealing if you would like to combine physical activity with nature observation.
Karst springs and cave spaces
Su Gologone is a karst spring that forms a small lake between high dolomitic rock walls and lies at the foot of Monte Uddè in the Supramonte of Oliena. Its clear and remarkably deep waters regularly attract numerous cave divers from around the world, who venture into the underground meanders. The combination of the small lake, rock walls and underground meanders appeals to different ways of experiencing nature.
The lower entrance to Sa Nurre de su Hoda is an artificially enlarged passage. It leads visitors into a magnificent chamber richly adorned with calcareous sinter formations and adds an impressive cave space to the landscape.
From the Copper Age to the Nuragic period
Biriai is a Copper Age village and an archaeologically exceptional site. Excavations at Biriai uncovered a megalithic sanctuary and a group of twelve menhirs in 1979; two of them are still standing today. Sa Sedda ’e sos Carros was a Nuragic village inhabited between 1200 and 700 BC. It has a circular sacred spring with limestone ram heads and a stepped ceremonial basin. The spring and basin were connected with water ceremonies; people probably performed purification rituals in the basin.
The oldest traces of Homo sapiens in Sardinia were found in Grotta Corbeddu, including a 22,000-year-old hand phalanx. The work of the female embroiderers in Oliena is still thriving and highly sought after; it has developed into a tourist attraction in its own right. Thus, Oliena’s cultural perspective extends from early human history to a craft tradition that remains present to this day.
Wine, festival pastries and wild olive trees
Gabriele D’Annunzio gave Oliena’s wine the name Nepente. Each of Oliena’s public festivals—including Easter, Sant’Antonio Abate, San Lussorio, All Saints’ Day and Carnival—features a typical sweet pastry. The Oliena area is also home to several wild olive trees with a circumference of up to 6 metres. Wine, festival pastries and olive trees add a local touch to your stay, complementing the experiences of nature and history.
More destinations
For further travel planning, you can also discover Cala Liberotto, Ollolai, Birori, Tonara, Lollove, Capo Comino, Concas and Mamoiada.
To the higher-level travel overview: Nuoro.
