Gallura

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map of Gallura

Gallura is a region of northern Sardinia, Italy.

The name Gallùra (Sardinian: Gaddùra; local pronunciation: [gaˈɖːuɾa]) means "area located on high ground".

Contents

Geography

Gallùra has a surface of 1,370 square miles and it is situated between 40°55'20"64 latitude north and 09°29'11"76 east longitude. It is 187 kilometers far from the Italian peninsula and 11 kilometers far from the French Island of Corsica. The coast of Gallura is very jagged and continues along in a continuous series of small fiords, rock-cliffs and little islands that form the Archipelago of La Maddalena, a natural bridge towards nearby Corsica. The landscape is characterised by granite rocks and harsh mountains that, even if not particularly high ,have constituted for millennia a barrier between this region and the nearby territories of Baronie and Montalbo. Monte Limbara is the highest mountain (1,362 m/4,469 ft). It represents the boundary between Gallura and the near-by region called Logudoro. Its highest peak is Punta Balestrieri (1362 m above the sea level). In the past, Monte Limbara used to be the location of an important NATO long rage radar base and a Carabinieri’s barrack. Today it is used as a telecommunications center for the Italian Air Force and a heliport for the Servizio Antincendi. It is also the location of all the major TV relay stations of West Sardinia. Another small mountain is Monte Cruzitta (666 m). Even if it is not very high, it offers a very characteristic landscape. The climate is typical of the Mediterranean. The weather is clear. During the year approximately 300 days are sunny and the few others are rainy, with a major concentration of rainfall in the winter and autumn, some heavy showers in the spring, and snowfalls on the highest massifs and highlands. The mistral is the dominant wind, fresh, strong, and usually dry and cold, blowing from the northwest throughout the year, but most frequently in winter and spring.

History

Prehistory

The first human settlements in Gallura date back to 700.000 years ago, when the first populations crossed the strait between Tuscany and Sardinia. This historic period is known as the Stone Age. Foreign populations decided to invade Gallura due to its numerous natural resources. Many people from the near by French island of Corsica came as well to Gallura during this historic period.

Roman Age

Romans conquered Gallura in 238 B.C. and founded the city of Olbia, which represented the most important seaport in Sardinia. The historic period that goes from 1700 B.C. to the Roman Age is also know in Sardinia as the epoca nuragica. The particular name of this historic period takes after the Nuraghi, the biggest megalithic edifices ever found in Europe, which still today represent a symbol for Sardinia.

The Giudicato of Gallura

During the Middle Ages, Gallura represented one of the four Giudicati of Sardinia. These Giudicati consist of four independent kingdoms in which Sardinia was divided at that time. Civita (which today is known as Olbia) represented the capital of the Giudicato of Gallura and also the bishop’s see. The Giudicato of Gallura included the today’s area of Gallura, the area surrounding the city of Nuoro, and the area called Baronie.

End of Middle Age, Sixteenth Century, and Eighteenth Century

At the end of Middle Age, the city of Civita (today’s Olbia) takes the name of Terranova. Pirates from Arabia invaded the coasts of Gallura and people moved consequently from there to the hinterland. The city of Tempio became especially populated. Between 1500 and 1700 there was a big emigration of people from the near by French island of Corsica to Gallura. People from Corsica deeply influenced the language and the culture of Gallura, which still today is considered quiet different from the culture and the dialects of the rest of Sardinia.

Nineteenth Century

During the nineteen century the bishop’s see was transferred from the city of Olbia to the city of Tempio, which also became a district’s capital.

Twentieth Century and Today

By the end of 1800 people started to move from the hinterland to the coasts. Eventually, tourism increased this tendency even more, especially in the areas of Costa Smeralda, Santa Teresa di Gallura, and San Teodoro. Today, Gallura represents the highest head income of the entire Sardinia.

Demographics

Gallura has a population of 143,921 people. The population density has remarkably increased in small centers along the eastern coast and in the cities of Arzachena and Olbia. The population density of 12 municipalities out of 26 has however decreased (-4%) in centers located in the country -side and on the mountains. This tendency depends on the increase of the seaside tourism.

In general, Sardinia represents the Italian region with the lowest fertility rate (1.087 births per woman), and the region with the second lowest birth rate. These factors result positive towards the preservation of the natural environment.

Main Towns

Olbia Olbia is a town of approximately 45.000 inhabitants. It represents the city with the highest population density of the entire Gallura. In 2005 it became an administrative capital together with Tempio-Pausania. They form the province called Olbia-Tempio. Founded in 350 B.C., it used to be one of the most important trade areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Today, it represents the economic center of Sardinia due to its airport, its seaport and also to its closeness to the famous Costa Smeralda tourist area.

Tempio Pausania Tempio Pausania is a town of 13.800 inhabitants. Together with Olbia, it is the administrative capital of the province Olbia-Tempio. Founded around 250 B.C., Tempio Pausania is located 560m above the sea level. It represents both the geographical and the cultural capital of Gallura. Every year, thousands of tourists come to visit Tempio Pausania to assist to the characteristic carnevale (carnival), which takes place at the end of February.

Arzachena Arzachena is a town of 12,080 inhabitants. It represents the administrative capital of the “Costa Smeralda” tourist area. Founded in 1961 by the prince Karim Aga Khan, Costa Smeralda represents the most exclusive tourist area of Gallura. Arzachena is also famous for its archeology. Its archeological sites include the LiMuri Tomba dei Giganti (Giants’ Grave).

La Maddalena La Maddalena is part of an archipelago called Arcipelago della Maddalena. It is situated in the Straits of Bonifacio, which divide Sardinia from Corsica. La Maddalena represents the largest town of this archipelago, which includes the islands of Caprera, S. Stefano, Spargi, Budelli, S. Maria and Razzoli. La Maddalena represents an important tourist site in Gallura and the island of Caprera is famous for being the residence of the Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Economy

The economy of Gallura is based mostly on tourism and hospitality due to the presence of Costa Smeralda and other world-famous sea sites. The primary sector is not as important as in the rest of Sardinia. It is based mostly on wine production. Also sheep breeding, dairy production, and poultry farm are relevant.

The secondary sector is quite important. It is mostly based on cork work and mineral processing of granite. In fact, it is easy to find cork oaks in many parts of the region and the whole area is rich in granite, especially in vicinity of Monte Limbara.

Santa Teresa di Gallura

Transportation

Gallura has one international airport (Olbia-Costa Smeralda Airport), which is situated in the city of Olbia. It represents one of the three international airports of Sardinia and the base of the Sardinian airline Meridiana, Italy’s third largest airline. Another way to reach the region of Gallura is by ferry. The ferry companies operating on the Island are Tirrenia di Navigazione, Moby Lines, Corsica Ferry, Grandi Navi Veloci, Snav, SNCM, and CMN. They link the harbors of Olbia, Golfo Aranci, Santa Teresa di Gallura and Palau to the harbors of the Italian peninsula, France, Corsica, and Spain.

Culture

Language

Italian is the official language of Sardinia. However, different dialects characterize different areas of the island. This dissimilarity is due to the various influences that immigrant populations from all over the world have brought along with them throughout history . In Gallura, the main dialects are called Logudorese and Gallurese. Logudorese was influenced by the dialects of the Italian regions of Tuscany and Liguria. Gallurese is not officially considered a Sardinian dialect since it is quite different from the most part of the other Sardinian dialects. It was influenced by the dialect spoken in the near-by French island of Corsica and by the one spoken in the Italian region of Tuscany. Luras, a small town in the province of Olbia-Tempio, is the only area in Gallura in where Gallurese is not spoken.

Environment

With 1,213,250 hectares of woods, Sardinia represents the Italian region with the largest forest extension. Regional landscape plans regulate bulding activities along the coasts, the forests, and other natural sites. National Parks

Sardinia has ten regional parks and three national parks. One out of these three national parks is located in Gallura and it is the Archipelago of La Maddalena’s National Park. This park is a world-famous tourist area due to the beauty of its beaches and to the one of its landscape, where granite rocks alternate with green areas. Today, the Archipelago of La Maddalena’s National Park represents the headquarters of the US navy in Italy.

La Maddalena's National Park

Renewable Energies Renewable energies have increased impressively during the recent years in Sardinia. Due to the windy climate, the most important renewable energy in Gallura is the wind power. During the past years however, the installation of wind power systems has been the subject of controversial debates due to its landscape impact.

External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallura"

More about Gallura: santa teresa gallura,

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