Baronia and Gulf of Orosei · Provincia di Nuoro

Things to do in Irgoli

Things to see in Irgoli, Sardinia: murals, the Nuragic sanctuary of Janna 'e Pruna, the Antiquarium, Monte Senes, Monte Albo and Baronia festivals.

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Irgoli is a village of about 2,200 people in the Baronia, in the Cedrino valley between the Nuoro area and Gallura. The landscape climbs from green hills to the granite ridges of Monte Senes and includes part of Monte Albo, while the Gulf of Orosei is just fifteen minutes away. It's known for its murals, a major Nuragic sanctuary and lively festivals.

What to see in Irgoli

The old centre and its murals

The historic centre is covered in murals on houses and courtyards, showing rural life, music and imaginative scenes.

The churches

Irgoli has ten churches. The parish church of San Nicola di Bari (1634) has kept, since the 16th century, a relic believed to be a thorn from Christ's crown, at the heart of the Holy Week rites. Santu Miali, the oldest, dates from the 13th century and was built over a giants' tomb, one of whose slabs serves as the altar. The country church of Sant'Antioco stands on top of a nuraghe.

Janna 'e Pruna and Su Notante

On the slopes of Senes lies the Nuragic sacred complex of Janna 'e Pruna (12th–9th century BC), with a round-celled temple and a sacred enclosure; about 200 metres away is the sacred spring of S'Untana 'e su Zigante, built of squared basalt. At Su Notante you'll find a nuraghe and a spring with its well shaft. Don't miss the domus de janas (prehistoric rock-cut tomb) of Conca 'e Mortu, carved into a granite boulder.

The Antiquarium

In the old town hall, the Antiquarium displays finds from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages: pottery, ingots, casting moulds, bronze jewellery, a pintadera (bread stamp) and a basalt model of a nuraghe.

Things to do in Irgoli

Monte Senes, the highest peak of the Remule hills, offers views from Tavolara to the Gulf of Orosei and from the Gennargentu to Monte Albo. On Monte Albo, hiking trails climb to Punta Sos Aspros, past pinnettos (old shepherds' huts) and the ancient holm oak wood of Talachè, home to mouflon and golden eagles. Pick your experience from the local operators listed below.

History

More than fifty archaeological sites have been recorded here, from the Neolithic to the Nuragic age. In Roman times the settlement was probably Fanum Carisi, on the road between Olbia and Cagliari. In the Middle Ages it belonged to the Giudicato of Gallura, curatoria of Orosei; then came Pisa, the Aragonese and the barony of Orosei until 1839. From 1927 to 1946 it headed the merged municipality of Irgoli di Galtellì.

What to eat and buy

Excellent cured meats and cheeses, pane carasau and, in January, pistiddu, the traditional sweet of the Sant'Antonio feast. Local crafts include wood, wrought iron and ceramics.

Festivals and traditions

Sant'Antonio Abate (16 January): huge bonfire and pistiddu-making.
Holy Week: rites around the parish relic.
San Nicola, patron saint (first weekend of May): guitar singing, folk groups and Sardinian dances in costume.
Sant'Antioco (first weekend of August): improvised poetry contest and a procession with the saint on an ox-drawn cart, escorted by riders in costume.
Organetto Festival in August, an international accordion festival since 1986; a collection of around 120 bellows instruments is on show all year.

Nearby

Galtellì and Monte Tuttavista.
Onifai and Loculi, with nuraghi and rock-cut tombs.
Orosei and the beaches of the Marina and Su Barone.
Capo Comino, via the scenic SP 72 road.

Getting there and when to go

The SP 25 links Irgoli to the SS 131 DCN (for Nuoro and Olbia) and to the SS 129 (for Orosei). Olbia airport and port are about an hour's drive away. May and August are festival months; spring and autumn are best for hiking.