Discover Tonara

Tonara offers a variety of experiences: festivals bring local traditions to life, churches and prehistoric remains tell stories from different eras, and trails lead from here to higher peaks. The town’s elevation and extensive forests also shape its character. When planning your trip, you can explore these themes individually or combine them, depending on whether you are mainly interested in culture, scenery or activities.

Festivals and crafts in Tonara

The Sagra del Torrone takes place every year at Easter, on Easter Monday, and features folk performances. It gives the festival calendar a clear seasonal focus. The Campanaccio d’oro is also held as part of the Sagra: in this competition, craftspeople from Tonara make livestock and herd bells. Torrone and bell-making are therefore both in the spotlight at the same festival, while remaining distinct themes.

The Sagra’s programme does not automatically stay the same from year to year. For the 2026 edition, the traditional production of torrone and livestock bells at the sa forredda ovens is documented. If you are planning a trip around the festival, it is therefore worth checking information about the specific edition as well as the annual date.

Autunno in Barbagia in Tonara also rotates among the historic districts of Toneri, Teliseri and Arasulè. Local products and traditions are presented there. The changing district gives the event a different structure from the festival tied to Easter: here, different historic parts of Tonara take turns in the spotlight.

Forests and elevation

About 90 percent of the municipal area is covered by dense forests. These include chestnut, hazel, holm oak, downy oak and holly trees. This mix describes the forest landscape more precisely than a general impression of “greenery”: several different tree species together account for the municipality’s large wooded area.

The built-up area lies at about 860 to 1,030 metres above sea level. The Tonara mountain ridge reaches approximately 1,499 to 1,500 metres at Punta Giuanni Fais. The two elevation figures therefore refer to different areas: the built-up area on the one hand, and a peak on the mountain ridge on the other.

Churches and historic traces

Tonara’s churches reflect different historical and artistic influences. Santa Anastasia was built around the turn of the 14th century, between the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Three pointed arches with Gothic features are among the building’s distinctive characteristics. The church of Sant’Antonio da Padova preserves murals and other artworks from around 1750. They are attributed to the school of Pietro and Gregorio Are; this attribution indicates their artistic classification.

Santa Maria stands in the higher part of the Arasulè district and was restored recently. The Domus de Janas Is Forreddos opens a window onto a different period: the site dates to approximately 3200–3000 BC and consists of three interconnected rooms. Tonara thus brings together evidence from widely separated eras, from prehistoric chambers to churches and their artworks.

The Funtana ‘e Latzarinu spring is also part of the town’s history. Dating from the 18th century, it once served as a resting place for farmers. The mural art trail runs through the districts and conveys the town’s identity and the connection between past and present. While the churches and spring are tangible historical evidence, the trail places this local history in the context of Tonara’s present-day identity.

Trails to the higher peaks

From Tonara, trails for hiking, mountain biking and horse riding lead to the higher peaks. The options first differ in how you travel: on foot, by mountain bike or on horseback. If you choose an activity focus for your stay, you can consider these as different ways to experience Tonara’s landscape. Which one suits your plans depends on your personal interests.

Discover more destinations: Belvi, Capo Comino, Tiana, Oliena, La Caletta, Talavà, Torpè, Sarule.

For the main travel overview: Nuoro.