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Ogliastra Tourism - Comune of Urzulei
THE AREA
Via Mazzini, 2 - 08040 - Urzulei - phone number: +39.0782.649023 - fax number: +39.0782.649297
e-mail: postmaster@comunediurzulei.it - web site of the comune: www.comunediurzulei.it
INFO ABOUT URZULEI
Where to stay
- Hotels
- Bed and Breakfast
- Guesthouses
Where to eat
- Restaurants
Urzulei is situated at more than 500m amsl, on a steep slope at the foot of the plateau of the Supramonte at the very north tip of Ogliastra, protected by the imposing Monte Gruttas. The town's origins are in the distant past, as are the roots of its name: for some, it's from a type of bramble, from the Greek placename Urthula, for others, on the other hand, there's the word Orkulě, which was found on a bell (unfortunately melted in 1954) of the local church of S. Antonio of 1556. Urzulei's territory is characterised by outstanding natural beauty. It's an intricate labyrinth of canyons, gorges, cliffs, holes in the ground, limestone pinnacles, unexplored caves, huge forests of oak and holm oak, and endemic animals and plants. The gola di Gorroppu, with its 500m-high walls, is Europe's deepest gorge: visited by thousands of people each year, its wild beauty making it a truly special place. At Urzulei there are many nuragic villages and tombe dei giganti, as well as large tress, holm oaks, cork oaks, yews and junipers and Mediterranean macchia: corbezzolo (strawberry trees), filiere, and erica scoparia heather. Some rare endemic botanic species are only found here, such as the very beautiful Ofris Morisi, the rare Ofris Branciforti, the white Pancrazio Illirico and the better-known Peony or Mountain Rose (Peonia Mascula). Such a large area is the habitat of many species of animals: boar, mouflon, partridges, hares, wild rabbits, doves, Golden Eagles...
Urzulei is famous for its handicrafts: rugs, arazzi, curtains, embroidery, asphodel baskets, pipes, wood carvings, carving boards and benches. The town's 3 ancient churches, dedicated to San Giorgio, the town's patron saint, San Giovanni Battista and Sant'Antonio are famous. They were all built around 1600, and the church of San Basilio was rebuilt in the last ten or twenty years at Mannari. Urzulei is often chosen as a venue for meetings for scholars and students, as well as for trekking on horseback or on foot, and for caving, with well-equipped specialised guides. Typical Urzulei dishes are: the famous hams, culurgiones, casadinas, cheese made in the stomach of a baby goat, porchetto (roast pork), goat from the Supramonte, goat and sheep's cheese, bitter corbezzolo honey and fine Cannonau wines.
THE COMUNI OF OGLIASTRA