Things to do in Lodine
Lodine, Sardinia: San Giorgio church, nuraghi and rock tombs, Lake Gusana, hiking and canoeing, traditional sweets and village festivals.
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Lodine is one of Sardinia's smallest villages: a few hundred people on a plateau at around 900 m in the Barbagia di Ollolai, about 6 km from Gavoi and 30 km from Nuoro. It is a quiet farming and shepherding village surrounded by woods and overlooking Lake Gusana. Perfect if you are after silence, mountain air, archaeology and an unfiltered Sardinia.
What to see in Lodine
San Giorgio and the square
In the upper village stands the 16th-century stone church of San Giorgio martire, with a statue of the saint on horseback above the altar. In front, piazza San Giorgio is the village «living room», with views over the mountains and the lake. The modern parish church is dedicated to San Giuseppe, and just outside town is the Benedictine monastery Mater Unitatis.
Archaeology
- The Sas Trintas Battaglias nuraghe, a single stone tower, a short walk from the square.
- The domus de janas of Uniai, rock-cut tombs, and the pre-Nuragic tombs of Iscritzola.
- The Soroeni site, with a nuraghe and a village from the late Bronze and Iron Ages.
Things to do in Lodine
Lake Gusana, shared with Gavoi, is the hub for outdoor fun: canoeing, fishing, horse riding and walks along the shore. Holm and downy oak woods, granite rock formations and springs are ideal for hiking and mountain biking. Browse the experiences offered by local operators below and book your day between lake and mountains.
History
The area was settled in pre-Nuragic and Nuragic times. In the Middle Ages Lodine belonged to the Giudicato of Arborea; it passed to the Aragonese in 1478, joined the Duchy of Mandas in 1604 and was freed from feudal lords in 1839. In 1928 it was merged into Gavoi and only regained its independence in 1988. Locals still use the «glottal stop», a feature of Sardinian spoken in just a handful of Barbagia villages.
What to eat and buy
Food is classic Barbagia shepherd fare, with local cheeses and meat. Typical sweets include su papassinu, white and dark, and sas caschettas. In the old centre, look up at the roofs of sas teulas, tiles once fired in the village kilns.
Festivals and traditions
- Sant'Antonio abate bonfires, mid-January, with traditional sweets.
- Su harrasehare lodinesu, the village carnival.
- Madonna d'Itria, late July, with a novena and horse races on the Pratobello plateau.
- San Liberato in mid-August and the patron saint's feast in mid-September.
Nearby
- Gavoi, with its granite old town.
- Ollolai and Monte Santu Basili.
- Fonni and the Gennargentu.
- Mamoiada and its Mamuthones masks.
Getting there and when to go
From Nuoro it is about 40 minutes by car via Gavoi. The nearest airports are Olbia, about an hour and a half away, and Cagliari, about two hours. Spring, early summer and autumn are ideal for the lake and the trails.
FAQ
How long do you need for Lodine?
A couple of hours for the village; spend the rest of the day at Lake Gusana.
Is Lodine good for families?
Yes: the lake, the woods and the nuraghe by the square are great for children too.
Is Lodine near the sea?
No, it is an inland mountain village; the nearest beaches are about an hour and a half away.
