Gallura and Costa Smeralda · Provincia della Gallura Nord-Est Sardegna

Things to do in Aglientu

Things to do in Aglientu, Sardinia: Rena Majore, Lu Litarroni and Vignola beaches, Spanish tower, Monti Russu, surfing, seadas and travel tips.

Aglientu, Sardegna — © Gianni Careddu · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

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We are gathering the first experiences for this area. Check back soon, or tell us about an operator you know.

Aglientu is a small municipality in northern Gallura: the village sits on granite hills at about 420 metres, a few kilometres inland, while its territory runs down to a long, largely undeveloped coast facing the Strait of Bonifacio and the Gulf of Asinara. Here you'll find huge beaches such as Rena Majore and Lu Litarroni, the seaside hamlet of Vignola with its tower, and the resort of Portobello. It's the right place if you're after space, nature and clear water away from the crowds, halfway between Santa Teresa Gallura and Isola Rossa.

What to see in Aglientu

The village and the church of San Francesco

The village grew up around the church of San Francesco d'Assisi, built in 1776 at the wish of King Victor Amadeus III; the saint also appears in the village's Gallurese name, Santu Francìscu di l'Aglièntu. From the village the view sweeps over scrub-covered hills to the sea.

The country churches

Out in the countryside stand San Pancrazio, the oldest church, from the 1600s, and San Biagio, rebuilt in 1967, which keeps a wooden statue of the saint carved by Sardinian craftsmen in the 15th–16th century. At Portobello you'll find the little churches of San Giovanni and San Silverio.

Vignola tower

Built by the Spanish in 1606, it stands about 12 metres tall above the hamlet of Vignola Mare. From here the view takes in the sea, the coast and the granite hinterland.

Nuraghi and Monti Russu

Along the coast are the Tuttusoni and Finucchjaglia nuraghi, Bronze Age stone towers. The Monti Russu headland, a dome of pink granite reaching into the sea, is one of the most dramatic spots on this coast.

Things to do in Aglientu

Aglientu's coast is made for outdoor lovers. Days are spent swimming and snorkelling in clear water, walking coastal paths among junipers and granite and, on windy days, surfing and windsurfing in conditions that riders rate highly. You can explore the coast by boat or kayak, cycle country roads between stazzi (traditional farmsteads) and vineyards, or go horse riding. Below this guide you'll find the experiences offered by local operators in and around Aglientu: choose yours and book now.

Beaches of Aglientu

Rena Majore

On the border with Santa Teresa Gallura, this is one of the area's longest beaches: pale sand, dunes and a pine wood behind. There's room even in August, and it suits both families and anyone who loves long walks along the shore.

Lu Litarroni

Another very wide beach, wild and open to the wind, with fine sand and Mediterranean scrub. Ideal if you love nature and big open spaces.

Vignola

The seaside hamlet of Vignola Mare has a lovely beach below the Spanish tower, handy if you want facilities nearby, and it's a well-known spot for surfers.

Naracu Nieddu

Also called Cala Stazzareddu, this is a broad, little-known cove with a sandy bottom and rich marine life, reached along a nature trail: perfect for snorkelling.

History

Stone tools show people lived here as early as the Neolithic, and the many nuraghi tell of the Bronze Age. In Roman times the road linking Olbia and Porto Torres via Santa Teresa crossed this land. For centuries the area was dotted with stazzi, the scattered farmsteads of Gallurese shepherds and farmers; the village itself only grew up around the 18th-century church. Until 1959 Aglientu was part of Tempio Pausania, when it became independent. The name may come from agliu, "white", or from a word recalling the colour of silver. Today beach tourism is the main activity, alongside farming and cattle raising.

What to eat and buy

Gallurese cooking rules here: fresh pasta, hand-made bread and sweets, sausages, cheeses and seadas, pastry discs filled with cheese, fried and drizzled with honey. The countryside produces Vermentino di Gallura DOCG wine. Take home wine, honey, cheese and traditional sweets.

Festivals and traditions

Seadas festival, at the end of June.
Sausage and cheese festival, in mid-August.
Feasts at the country churches, such as San Pancrazio and San Biagio, gatherings for the stazzi community.

The local language is Gallurese.

Nearby

Santa Teresa Gallura and Capo Testa, about 20 minutes away.
Isola Rossa (Trinità d'Agultu), about 20 minutes to the west.
Palau, gateway to the La Maddalena archipelago, about 40 minutes away.
Tempio Pausania and Monte Limbara, about 40 minutes inland.

Getting there and when to go

The nearest airport is Olbia Costa Smeralda, about an hour and a quarter by car; the handiest ports are Olbia, Porto Torres and Santa Teresa Gallura, with ferries to Corsica. The coast is reached by the coastal road between Santa Teresa and Castelsardo. June and September are ideal for the sea and near-empty beaches; July and August are the liveliest months; spring and autumn are perfect for hiking and wind sports.