Ogliastra · Provincia dell'Ogliastra

Things to do in Arzana

Things to do in Arzana, Sardinia: Ruinas Nuragic village, ancient trees, waterfalls, Gennargentu hikes up to Punta La Marmora and culurgionis.

Arzana, Sardegna — © trolvag · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Arzana is a mountain village in Ogliastra at around 670 metres, at the foot of Monte Idòlo on the sea-facing side of the Gennargentu: from the village you can see the Ogliastra plain and the Gulf of Arbatax. Its territory reaches Punta La Marmora (1,834 m), Sardinia's highest peak. With ancient woods, waterfalls and Nuragic villages, it is perfect for hikers and nature lovers, and is one of the symbols of Ogliastra's “blue zone”, known for the longevity of its people.

What to see in Arzana

Ruinas Nuragic village

In the heart of the Gennargentu, Ruinas is the village's most important archaeological site: a Nuragic (Bronze Age) village set in a beautiful mountain landscape.

Monumental trees

S'Ilixi 'e Perreddu: a holm oak considered one of the largest and oldest in Europe, with a canopy over 30 metres across.
Tedderieddu wood: home to three of Europe's oldest yew trees.

Other archaeological sites

The area also has the Perdixi necropolis of domus de janas (rock-cut tombs), several Nuragic complexes and Roman remains, including a bath complex at Su Baingiu and the abandoned village of Silisè.

Churches

The parish church of San Giovanni Battista, rebuilt in the mid-1800s, keeps a medieval cross from Silisè and a 17th-century monstrance. There is also San Martino and the church of San Vincenzo Ferrer, co-patron, in the park of the same name.

Things to do in Arzana

Arzana is a gateway to hiking in the Gennargentu: trails among junipers, holm oaks and alders, where you may spot mouflon, wild boar and deer. Don't miss the Funtana Orrubia spring, the Pirincanis waterfall in a narrow gorge and the shores of Lake Alto Flumendosa. Autumn is mushroom season, and the Trenino Verde stops at three stations here: Arzana, Villagrande and Sella Elecci. To explore the mountains safely, check the experiences offered by local operators just below.

History

The area was inhabited in the Nuragic age, as Ruinas and other villages show. In the Middle Ages Arzana belonged to the Giudicato of Cagliari, then shared the fortunes of Pisa and the Crown of Aragon; it was a fief of the Carroz and later the Osorio families until 1839, when it became an independent municipality. Painter Stanis Dessy and Anselmo Contu, first president of the Sardinian Regional Council, were born here.

What to eat and buy

The signature dish is culurgionis, potato and cheese ravioli served with tomato sauce. In autumn the woods yield porcini mushrooms, alongside cheeses, cured meats and roast meats from the shepherding tradition.

Festivals and traditions

Sagra del Porcino d'Oro, November, at the height of mushroom season.
San Giovanni Battista and San Vincenzo Ferrer, patron and co-patron, honoured with religious rites and community gatherings.

Nearby

Villagrande Strisaili: Lake Flumendosa and Santa Barbara park.
Elini and Ilbono: small villages of olive groves and archaeology.
Lanusei: the cathedral and Seleni wood.
Tortolì-Arbatax: the nearest sea.

Getting there and when to go

Reach Arzana from Lanusei and Tortolì on Ogliastra's provincial roads. Arbatax port and Tortolì airport are about 30 minutes away; Cagliari about two and a quarter hours. Winters are cold and often snowy; hike from late spring to autumn, and come in November for mushrooms.