June
SARDINIAN TOWNS
TEMPIO PAUSANIA
Tempio
is a town situated in the 
Northeast
of Sardinia, in an area known as “Gallura”. Located on Mount Limbara, at an
altitude of 600 metres, Tempio has been the main town of Gallura since the Middle
Ages, when Sardinia was divided into four different districts, called “giudicati”.
However, it was during the following centuries that its economy flourished and
gave fame to this town. This area is characterised by grasslands, woods and
vineyards, whose harvests are used by a cooperative store to produce sparkling
wine and white wine, such as “Vermentino di Gallura” or “Moscato Spumante di
Tempio”. The handicraft is based upon the local resources, like cork and granite.
In the centre of the town, there is Piazza Gallura (Gallura Square) with the
town hall. Next to it there are St. Peter’s Cathedral, which dates back to 1200
and was rebuilt during last century; the “Oratorio di Santa Croce” (St. Croce’s
oratory) and the “Oratorio del Rosario” (the Oratory of the Rosary) - built
in 1300 - whose facade is characterised by ornaments in Romanesque, Aragonese
and eighteenth - century style. There are also some very important ruins, dating
back to the pre-nauraghic and nauraghic period, like the ruin of “Nuraghe Majore”,
which is
1.6 kilometres far from the town, and is situated at the end of a lane, branching
off the road to Palau. It is one of the best-preserved nuraghes in Gallura;
it has a perimeter of 70 metres and is located on a granitic rock, among thickly
planted cork oaks. Driving along the road to Oschiri, one will notice that at
Km 4.4 there is a gate and a private side street, which leads to “Nuraghe Tanca”
another very interesting example of prehistoric ruin. The “Gruppo Folk Città
di Tempio” has organised an International folklore meeting, which will take
place between July 23rd and th; groups from all over the world are expected
to take part to this event. Among the various country festivals, there is the
“Festival of St. Gavino” (or Santu Baignu) on May 1st; it is celebrated in the
church dedicated to this saint, which is situated at Scupetu, at about 10 kilometres
far from Tempio. During the festival there will be a free lunch, offered by
the organizing committee and openair dances. On December 13 th, there will be
the celebration to St. Lucy in the little church dedicated to the saint, which
is situated in the Northea
