Orosei is a Baronie town of seven thousand inhabitants, nestled in the Cedrino valley, two and a half kilometers from the sea. The economy is based on agriculture, marble mining, and, above all, accommodation and tourism services. An enchanted place that combines the magic of the mountains with unspoiled coastal pearls: its gulf, along with the Gennargentu massif, are regional park.
The coast, beautiful by day and lively by summer nights, is twenty kilometers long: white sand alternating with cliffs. At every beach the urge to dive will be overwhelming. As at Cala Liberotto, 11 kilometers from the center, an emerald bay beloved by surfers and diving enthusiasts and characterized by delightful little beaches with emerald sea, such as sas Linnas Siccas and sa Curcurica. Behind it emerges the pond of sos Alinos, habitat of resident and migratory birds. Not far away is Cala Ginepro, with soft sand mixed with smooth pebbles. Close to the town is the Marina di Orosei, a beautiful five-kilometer stretch of beach with enchanting stretches such as su Barone. Other jewels to the south are the wide, long beach on Petrosu and Cala di Osalla, a golden expanse surrounded by greenery halfway to Dorgali, known for seabeds ideal for diving. While, to the north, there is Fuile ‘e Mare, protected by pine forests; Mattanosa, with pinkish-white sand; and the Bidderosa oasis, a natural paradise with few comparisons: five coves of fine white sand overlooking the emerald sea. Behind eucalyptus, junipers and Mediterranean essences.
Orosei’s historic center is dotted with churches-17 consecrated ones-including the Baroque parish church of St. James, celebrated on July 25, the Church of the Souls, with an 18th-century wooden pulpit, and the Church of St. Anthony, with frescoes from the 1400s, next to which the fires of St. Anthony the Abbot are lit on January 16. A tower dedicated to the saint also stands, a legacy from when Urisè was the main center of his curia. The earliest settlement is Roman(Fanum Orisi), from the 2nd century A.D. While the most significant prehistoric remains are nuraghe Rampinu and village of sa Linnarta. Don’t miss sa Prejone vetza (the old Spanish prison) and the Don Nanni Guiso museum that collects miniature theaters from all over Europe, housed in the Palatzos Vetzos, where a portrait of Alberto Moravia by Pier Paolo Pasolini is also housed. The festivals have deep roots, particularly the rites of Holy Week: sos Sepurcros, via crucis, and s’Incontru on Easter Day. In May, St. Isidore and St. Maria ‘e Mare are celebrated with characteristic processions. Seafood flavors stand out in the festivals with an exceptional dessert: seadas drizzled with golden strawberry tree honey.
EXPLORE
The places of culture
The historical evolution of the Alta Baronìa,
a historical subregion of northeastern Sardinia
.