Olbia
Encyclopedia
Olbia (ˈɔlbja, or locally ˈolbja; Gallurese Tarranòa) is a town and comune
of 56,231 inhabitants (2010) in northeastern Sardinia
(Italy
), in the Gallura
sub-region. Called Olbia in the Roman age, Civita in the Middle Ages (Giudicati
period) and Terranova Pausania before the 1940s, Olbia was again the official name of the town after the period of Fascism
.
It is the economic centre of this part of the island (commercial centres, food industry) and is very close to the famous Costa Smeralda
tourist area. It is an administrative capital (together with Tempio Pausania
) of the province of Olbia-Tempio
, operative since 2005.
A dynamic city, which presents itself as a tourist destination, for the beauty sea and beaches and also for the large number of places of cultural interest to visit.
, one of the four independent states of Sardinia.
), a passenger port (Olbia-Isola Bianca), and a railway from Olbia railway station
to Porto Torres
, Golfo Aranci
and Cagliari
. There is an expressway to Nuoro
and Cagliari
(SS131) and national roads to Sassari
(SS199-E840), Tempio Pausania
(SS127), and Palau
(SS125).
.
Comune
In Italy, the comune is the basic administrative division, and may be properly approximated in casual speech by the English word township or municipality.-Importance and function:...
of 56,231 inhabitants (2010) in northeastern Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
(Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
), in the Gallura
Gallura
Gallura is a region of northern Sardinia, Italy.The name Gallùra means "area located on high ground".-Geography:...
sub-region. Called Olbia in the Roman age, Civita in the Middle Ages (Giudicati
Giudicati
The giudicati were the indigenous kingdoms of Sardinia from about 900 until 1410, when the last fell to the Aragonese. The rulers of the giudicati were giudici , from the Latin iudice , often translates as "judge". The Latin for giudicato was iudicatus The giudicati (singular giudicato) were the...
period) and Terranova Pausania before the 1940s, Olbia was again the official name of the town after the period of Fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
.
Geography
Costa Smeralda
The Costa Smeralda is a coastal area and tourist destination in northern Sardinia, 55 km long and covering more than 30 km². With white sand beaches, a golf club, private jet and helicopter service, and hotels costing up to US$2,000 - 3,000 per night in the peak season, the area has...
tourist area. It is an administrative capital (together with Tempio Pausania
Tempio Pausania
Tempio Pausania is a town c. 14,000 inhabitants in the Gallura region of northern Sardinia, Italy, the administrative capital of the province of Olbia-Tempio.- History :...
) of the province of Olbia-Tempio
Province of Olbia-Tempio
Olbia-Tempio is the name of a province in the autonomous region of Sardinia, Italy.The territory includes the historical region of Gallura , the northeastern coast of Sardinia , and the island of La Maddalena ....
, operative since 2005.
A dynamic city, which presents itself as a tourist destination, for the beauty sea and beaches and also for the large number of places of cultural interest to visit.
History
Olbia (the name is of Greek origin) is very ancient and was possibly founded by the Punics, according to the archaeological findings. It contains ruins from Phoenician and Carthaginian settlement to the Roman Era, when it was an important port, and the Middle Ages, when it was the capital of the Giudicato of GalluraGiudicato of Gallura
The Giudicato of Gallura was one of four Sardinian giudicati of the Middle Ages. These were de facto independent states ruled by judges bearing the title iudex . Gallura, a name which comes from gallus, meaning rooster , was subdivided into ten curatoriae governed by curatores under the judge...
, one of the four independent states of Sardinia.
Main sights
- the Romanesque former cathedral of San SimplicioSan Simplicio, Olbiathumb|250px|The Basilica of San Simplicio.The Basilica of San Simplicio is a church in Olbia, northern Sardinia, Italy.It was built in the late 11th century on a short hill, once located outside the city's walls, used since the Carthaginian times as a cemetery area...
(11th-12th century). - the Church of St. Paul Apostle (medieval period)
- National Archaeology Museum
Transportation
Olbia is the main connection between Sardinia and the Italian peninsula, with an airport (Olbia - Costa SmeraldaOlbia - Costa Smeralda Airport
Olbia - Costa Smeralda Airport is an international airport in Olbia, Sardinia .-Airlines and destinations:-External links:*-External links:...
), a passenger port (Olbia-Isola Bianca), and a railway from Olbia railway station
Olbia railway station
Olbia railway station serves the town and comune of Olbia, in the northeast of the island and region of Sardinia, Italy. Opened in 1881, it forms part of the Cagliari–Golfo Aranci railway, the main railway line in Sardinia....
to Porto Torres
Porto Torres
Porto Torres is a comune and city in northern Sardinia, in the Province of Sassari.It is situated on the north coast about 25 km east of the Gorditanian promontory , and on the spacious bay of the Gulf of Asinara.-History:...
, Golfo Aranci
Golfo Aranci
Golfo Aranci is a comune in the Province of Olbia-Tempio in the Italian region Sardinia, located about 200 km north of Cagliari and about 13 km northeast of Olbia.-History:...
and Cagliari
Cagliari
Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu...
. There is an expressway to Nuoro
Nuoro
Nuoro is a city and comune in central-eastern Sardinia, Italy, situated on the slopes of the Monte Ortobene. It is the capital of the Province of Nuoro. With a population of 36,443 Nuoro is a city and comune (municipality) in central-eastern Sardinia, Italy, situated on the slopes of the Monte...
and Cagliari
Cagliari
Cagliari is the capital of the island of Sardinia, a region of Italy. Cagliari's Sardinian name Casteddu literally means castle. It has about 156,000 inhabitants, or about 480,000 including the outlying townships : Elmas, Assemini, Capoterra, Selargius, Sestu, Monserrato, Quartucciu, Quartu...
(SS131) and national roads to Sassari
Sassari
Sassari is an Italian city. It is the second-largest city of Sardinia in terms of population with about 130,000 inhabitants, or about 300,000 including the greater metropolitan area...
(SS199-E840), Tempio Pausania
Tempio Pausania
Tempio Pausania is a town c. 14,000 inhabitants in the Gallura region of northern Sardinia, Italy, the administrative capital of the province of Olbia-Tempio.- History :...
(SS127), and Palau
Palau (disambiguation)
Palau may refer to:* Palau, an island nation in the Pacific Ocean* Palauan language, an Austronesian language, spoken in Palau and Guam* Survivor: Palau, the tenth installment of the reality program Survivor...
(SS125).
Economy
Meridiana Fly has its head office on the grounds of Olbia - Costa Smeralda AirportOlbia - Costa Smeralda Airport
Olbia - Costa Smeralda Airport is an international airport in Olbia, Sardinia .-Airlines and destinations:-External links:*-External links:...
.