Discover Oliena

For a trip focused on hiking, nature and archaeology, Oliena offers several specific points of interest. At Monte Corrasi, a trekking destination meets exceptional plant diversity; Su Gologone brings karst waters and rock walls into view. Archaeological sites, embroidery, wine and festive pastries round out the themes you can consider when planning your trip.

Hiking and plants at Monte Corrasi

Trail B-401 connects the centre of Oliena with the summit of Monte Corrasi and provides access to Pradu. The mountain is considered a trekking destination in Sardinia. This brings together a specifically named trail and Monte Corrasi as a broader trekking destination. More than 70 endemic flowering plant species grow on Monte Corrasi, including the rare Ribes sardoum Martelli. The mountain experience therefore encompasses both the hiking landscape and remarkable botanical diversity.

Karst waters and caves

Su Gologone is a karst spring in the Supramonte of Oliena, at the foot of Monte Uddè. It forms a small lake between high dolomitic rock walls. This natural feature is quite different from the mountain: here, the focus is on the spring, water and rock walls. The clear and notably deep waters of Su Gologone regularly attract numerous cave divers from around the world, who venture into the underground meanders.

Sa Nurre de su Hoda is a cave of particular interest. Its lower entrance is an artificially widened passage that leads into a magnificent chamber richly adorned with flowstone formations. The description of this entrance draws attention to the shape of the cave chamber and its flowstone formations.

Archaeological sites and their periods

Biriai is a Copper Age village and an exceptionally significant archaeological site. Excavations in 1979 uncovered a megalithic sanctuary and a group of twelve menhirs there; two are still standing today. Biriai’s significance therefore encompasses both its period and the sanctuary and menhir finds.

Sa Sedda ’e sos Carros was a Nuragic village inhabited between 1200 and 700 BC. Its structures include a circular sacred spring with limestone ram heads and a stepped ceremonial basin. Both were associated with water ceremonies; people probably performed purification rituals in the basin. This probable interpretation of the rituals should be distinguished from the described structures and their association with water ceremonies.

Grotta Corbeddu offers another glimpse into Sardinia’s early human history: the island’s oldest traces of Homo sapiens were found there, including a 22,000-year-old hand phalanx. Taken together, the sites provide different historical points of reference, from the Copper Age and the Nuragic period to the early traces of Homo sapiens.

Embroidery, wine and local festive traditions

The work of Oliena’s embroiderers is still thriving and in great demand, and has become a tourist attraction in its own right. The wine is also associated with a specific name: Gabriele D’Annunzio gave the wine of Oliena the name Nepente.

Oliena’s public festivals include Easter, Sant’Antonio Abate, San Lussorio, All Saints’ Day and Carnival; each has its own typical sweet pastry. Another feature of the area around Oliena is a number of wild olive trees with circumferences of up to six metres. These themes complement the town’s archaeological and landscape attractions with craftsmanship, wine and festive traditions.

Discover more destinations: Mamone, Lodine, Orgosolo, Ollolai, Sarule, Belvi, Bolotana, Lollove

For the broader travel overview: Nuoro.