The Ogliastra is a strip of land, closed in to the north and west by the Barbagian mountains which climb rapidly reaching over 1000 m. At the foot of the mountains you will find magnificent coastlines with inaccessible bays and aromatic-scented air.
This land presents a variety of fascinating scenery; wild forest areas, uncontaminated, clean seas and calcareous gorges that leave you breathless. The cuisine found in Ogliastra is rich and genuine; its cheeses, meats and wines are a few of the well-kept, intact treasures that you will encounter along your trip.
Talana, VillagrandeStrisaili, Arzana, Ussassai, Barisardo, Tortolм, Arbatax. Duration: 3-4 days
Talana
If you happen to visit Talana, be sure not to miss tasting its savoury prosciutto, produced with pigs that pasture in the near-by forests and reason for a local festival in August.
Villagrande Strisaili
Continue along to Villagrande Strisaili, town that rises from top-side a cliff and dominates the entire sea in the Ogliastra region. Stop for its beautiful surroundings, prosciutti and il gathulis, type of deep-fried, squashed ball formed with potatoes, fresh, pickled cheese and lard.
Arzana, Ussassai
Continuing on you arrive in Arzana, yet another town with evocative forests plentiful of boletus mushrooms, in honour of which a celebration is given. Arzana is also a fervent supporter of the re-launching of the “Gennargentu potato". At this point of our journey, we can taste the traditional “culurgiones de patata" (ravioli filled with potatoes, fresh cheese and mint), “su casu axedu" (fresh, sour cheese) predecessor of yoghurt, roasted goat or “sa tratalia" (lamb or goat innards wrapped and roasted in entrails). These delicacies must be accompanied by a glass of Cannonau, a historical wine marking millenarian wine-making traditions in Ogliastra. A short stop in the small village of Ussassai, on the Barbagian border of Seulo, will allow you to taste its small apples “a trempa arrubia" (red cheeks).
Barisardo, Tortoli
Descending towards the sea, you arrive in Barisardo and its long beach, coastal destination for tourists. Our journey continues on to Tortolм.
In these parts, the gastronomic products are both sea and mountain-based although great care is taken not to alter these two worlds. Typically included are soups, fish-based dishes, fregola (tiny bran flour and egg balls), clams, stuffed calamari and ravioli filled with fish.
Arbatax
In Arbatax, tourist destination very close to Tortolм, you can admire its "rocce rosse", porphyritic granite near the harbour and one of the most beautiful tourist residences on the entire island; Cala Moresca, built in harmony with antique, local architectural traditions.
