Dorgali, a microcosm of all the island’s peculiarities
Dorgali is 456 metres above sea level, with eight thousand inhabitants divided between the main village and the seaside village Cala Gonone. It is one of the largest municipalities in Sardinia and with a great variety of natural landscape beauties; it represents a sort of microcosm where you find all the typical characteristics of the island.
The crystal clear blue sea in the Gulf of Orosei and the wild mountains of the Supramonte are its extraordinary natural heritage. This represents an important resource for growing tourism, especially combined with its traditional agro-pastoral production (some of the best food and wines of Sardinia) and with its local handicrafts of leather, ceramics, gold filigree jewelry and carpet weaving.
Dorgali old centre is characterized by old houses built with the dark volcanic rock typical of the island. Among the many historic churches scattered about the village the churches of San Lussorio, Our Lady of Itria and Maddalena are notable. In the central Piazza Vittorio Emanuele stands the facade of the parish of St. Caterina. In the village it is possible to visit the Archaeological Museum which contains an important collection of artifacts from the Nuragic, Punic and Roman periods (including ones from the nearby nuragic site of Serra Orrios).
Along Dorgali coast we find some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, including Cala Luna. Amog the best known natural sites in this area there are the prehistoric cave village of Tiscali and the Grotta del Bue Marino. At the southern entrance to the cave you find the petroglyphs called the “Dance of the Sun”: dating 3500 B.C. these anthropomorphic carvings represent dancing figures around a central solar motif.
Cala Gonone
In Dorgali territory there is one of the most beautiful seaside resorts of Sardinia: Cala Gonone.
The area is dominated by the steep and wooded ridge of Mount Bardia, with the wall of lscrittioré (called The Armchair), one of the best known climbing areas in Sardinia. Here you find dozens of climbing routes, with all of difficulty levels. Various paths nearby lead through the forest to a large number of lookout points where it is possible to enjoy magnificent views.
Situated in the middle of the Gulf of Orosei, Cala Gonone is a also natural marine reserve. It extends from Cala Cartoe to Pedra Longa of Baunei and represents the boundary of the Supramonte mountains with the sea. It includes the magnificent beaches of Cala Luna, Cala Sisine, Cala Biriola, Cala Mariolu, Cala Goloritze and the famous Grotta del Bue Marino. Since 2010, the Aquarium of Cala Gonone has invited visitors to experience the thrill of a stroll through displays of sharks, snappers, barracudas and piranhas.
Cala Gonone has an efficient tourist port and various accommodation facilities (hotels, restaurants, residences, etc.) that are perfectly integrated into the surrounding nature, as well as all the necessary services (banks, post offices, etc.) which optimally support the tourist offer.
The seaside area is reached by a tunnel dug near the SS125 Orientale Sarda crossing the saddle that separates Monte Bardia on the left (882 meters) and Monte Tului (915 meters) on the right.
Cala Gonone is easily reachable from the main cities of Sardinia (Cagliari, Sassari, Oristano, Nuoro and Olbia) along the S.S. 131.