Olbia tourist information
Olbia
The territory of Olbia has been inhabited starting from the VIII century B.C. but the city was founded non earlier than about VI century B.C. by the Cartagenas. Just from the beginning the port has been of the significant importance for the economy of the city especially because of the exportation of corn that has constituted the main stream of income.
The etymology of word ‘Olbia’ indicates the meaning of “happy town” (città felice), even though the past of the city has been rather difficult: Olbia has been many times destroyed and reconstructed during the years of its history. Maybe this was the reason of lost of its original name during various dominations in the area, the antic name was finally regained in 1939.
In the 60’s Olbia recognised a real demographic boom and tourist development in the area. Nowadays the city has the population of over 50 000 people that extends over the surface bigger than the city of Sassari – the capital of province. Such an expansion has been achieved partially thanks to the port of Olbia that has became the most important port for passengers in Italy and partially because of the international airport.
Among the significant monuments there are the ex Cathedral of the city situated in the old town and dedicated to Saint Simplicio, bishop of Olbia martyred under the Dioclezian imperator in III century B.C. The church has been constructed over the roman necropolis (the remains of which are still visible inside the church e.g. memorial tablets) in three different fazes from XI and XII century.
Olbia has become famous because of the recent archaeological discover of 24 ship wrecks – 2 of them from the age of Neron and 16 from V century A.C. , the other 6 comes from the Judicial period. The wrecks has been found during the construction of a new road tunnel.
Only few kilometres from Olbia there is a Castle of Pedres (Castello di Pedes). The style of construction comes from the Judicial period of Visconti in Gallura. Another castle – Castello di Sa Paulazza, situated on the small hill is of the Byzantine origin. It is constructed on the square plan with 4 corner towers on the area where antic nuraghe has risen in the time when the imperator Giustiniano conquered Sardinia in 534 A.C. (the stones from nuraghe were used for the construction of the castle). Olbia is thus not only a stage for the vacationers passing through the Emerald Coast but it has become a real tourist village able to satisfy even the most demanding tourists.
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