Barbagia and Nuoro area · Provincia di Nuoro

Things to do in Ortueri

Things to do in Ortueri, Sardinia: Mui Muscas donkey park, San Nicolò church, Punta Pedrarba views, cork crafts, orbace and festivals.

Ortueri, Sardegna — © Lupani at Italian Wikipedia · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

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Ortueri is a village in the Mandrolisai, the westernmost of the Barbagia regions, roughly halfway between Oristano and Nuoro. It's surrounded by cork oaks, holm oaks and vineyards, and has a park where the little Sardinian donkey roams free. Its tall bell tower rises above the hills, announcing a village that lives on wine, cork and tradition. It's an ideal stop for families, lovers of quiet nature and anyone curious about crafts.

What to see in Ortueri

Church of San Nicolò

The parish church, built between the 18th and 19th centuries, has a bell tower almost 40 metres high including the cross, one of the tallest in the area.

Mui Muscas park

An area of woodland and Mediterranean scrub with cork oaks, home to about fifty protected Sardinian donkeys that you can spot roaming freely.

Punta Pedrarba

A panoramic hill topped by the rock known as Sa Conca 'e s'Isteddu.

Archaeology

The area has nuraghi and the Peales menhir, about three metres tall. Pedra Litterada was the site of a Roman necropolis with a funerary inscription, and stone knives from Mui Muscas are on display at the Archaeological Museum in Cagliari.

Things to do in Ortueri

Walk through cork and holm oaks to Mui Muscas to see the donkeys, climb Punta Pedrarba for the view and visit cellars producing Mandrolisai wine. The area also suits bike rides and horse riding. For hikes, tastings and craft experiences, explore what local operators offer below.

History

Settlement goes back to the Neolithic, with obsidian tools from Monte Arci. Then came the Nuragic people and Roman presence at Travi and Alas Ruinas, where the forerunner of today's village stood. In the Middle Ages Ortueri belonged to the Judicate of Arborea, then passed to the Aragonese. In 1716 it joined the county of San Martino and in 1839 it was bought back from the Valentino family.

What to eat and buy

The signature sweet is s'angule, made for the feasts of San Nicola and of very ancient origin. Local wine is a must. Crafts include cork objects, known for their originality and skill, and weaving of orbace, the wool cloth used for traditional winter clothing.

Festivals and traditions

San Nicola di Bari, in May, when s'angule is prepared.
Santa Maria, 8 September, at the country sanctuary.
Madonna Addolorata, 18 September.
San Nicolò, the patron saint, 6 December, with procession, dances and traditional choirs.
Autunno in Barbagia, when houses and courtyards open to visitors.

Nearby

Atzara, with its art museum and wine.
Sorgono, San Mauro and the Biru 'e Concas menhirs.
Austis and the Sa Crabarissa rock.
Lake Omodeo, towards the Barigadu.

Getting there and when to go

It's about 50 minutes by car from Oristano and about an hour and three quarters from Cagliari-Elmas airport, via the SS 131 and then inland roads. Spring and autumn are best for woodland walks; December brings together the patron's feast and Autunno in Barbagia.