Santa Teresa Gallura - A Guide to What to See and Do

For those looking for a summer vacation destination, Santa Teresa Gallura offers plenty of things that will make your stay unforgettable. This charming seaside resort is located along the northern coast of Sardinia, on one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in Gallura and on the entire island. It overlooks the Strait of Bonifacio, a narrow stretch of sea that separates the island from its sister island, Corsica. A Brief History Formerly known as Longosardo, what is now Santa Teresa Gallura has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The first settlement dates back to the Nuragic period (4000 B.C.), and its remains can still be found at the Lu Brandali archaeological site near the town, in the Santa Reparata area. During the Roman period, there were two settlements named Longonis. A fishing village that once stood on the left bank of what is now the harbor, and Tibula, which marked the end of the consular road. During this period, it was a port of considerable importance for commercial trade. It was from here that ships loaded with granite (from Capo Testa) set sail; this granite was used in the construction of monuments and villas belonging to Roman nobles (it was also used to build some of the columns of the Pantheon). Longonsardo's importance grew during the 13th and 14th centuries until, in 1420, the Genoese ordered the area to be depopulated; it then became a refuge for bandits and pirates for the next two centuries. To address this problem in the 16th century, King Philip II of Spain had a military tower built (the Longosardo Tower), but it was Commander Francesco Maria Magnon, in the early 1800s, who realized that repopulating the area was necessary to combat the problem of smuggling. Thus, by royal decree on August 12, 1808, Victor Emmanuel I of Savoy laid the foundation for the town. It was the king himself who drew up the town's layout and chose its name in honor of the patron saint of Queen Maria Theresa of Habsburg-Este. Beaches and Scenery The town offers beautiful beaches with fine white sand and clear, crystal-clear waters with shallow seabeds. Among the most famous beaches is Rena Bianca Beach—also known as the town beach (Blue Flag since 1987)—a stunning crescent of pure white sand with pink hues along the shoreline, reflected in the turquoise, crystal-clear waters. And then there are the beautiful beaches of Capo Testa, La Marmorata, La Licciola, and many others. And then there are the fantastic views of the Corsican coast, with its white cliffs plunging straight into the sea, as well as the islands and islets of the La Maddalena archipelago Photo 2 A Must-Do

Don't miss the mini-cruise through the La Maddalena archipelago aboard the motorboats of the Consorzio delle Bocche. You'll enjoy enchanting scenery and pristine bodies of water, and savor a delicious lunch on board (INCLUDING GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS). For information and reservations, please contact our office at +39 0789 755660.

Self-guided and guided tours of the "Lu Brandali" archaeological site and the Longosardo Tower. CoolTour Gallura - SP 90 - (directions to Capo Testa). Places to visit in town... If you wake up and the sun isn't out, we still recommend heading to the beach—it often doesn't stay hidden for long. Alternatively, you can take the opportunity to take a stroll through the town’s historic center, where you can admire:

the Church of San Vittorio (near the main square), built in the mid-19th century, featuring silver furnishings on the high altar;

the small white church of Santa Lucia, which overlooks the harbor fjord;

the Church of Our Lady of Buoncammino (located in the hamlet of the same name, 1 km from the town), a small rural church built in the 17th century, completely surrounded by greenery in the shade of a centuries-old pine forest;

The Aragonese Tower, the town’s iconic landmark, overlooks Rena Bianca Beach (for a tour, see Cooltour);

The pre-Nuragic archaeological site of Lu Brandali, near Baia Santa Reparata (for a tour, see Cooltour). ...and the surrounding area Visit the small town of Aggius, with its granite houses and streets, and Luogosanto, with its many churches. For those who love to walk Photo 5

In Santa Teresa Gallura, there are many trails that wind through the Capo Testa headland (a Site of Community Importance, or SCI), where you can admire a diverse and fascinating array of flora, as well as majestic and captivating granite boulders that the wind and sea have sculpted into a wide variety of shapes. One of these leads to the picturesque and world-famous Cala Grande Valley, also known as the Valley of the Moon. Even the solitary lighthouse that stands as a guide for boats passing through the stretch of sea known as the Strait of Bonifacio offers an excellent walking route that allows you, with just a little effort, to fully appreciate Sardinia’s untamed beauty. Actually, there are two lighthouses: one is newer, and the other is no longer in use. The new lighthouse, built in 1845, is a white building consisting of a tower situated atop a two-story structure with a square floor plan. Those who prefer to take it easy can spend a whole day relaxing at the marina’s wellness center, and for your children, there’s a stop at the brand-new, super-colorful playground on Via Berlinguer (near the post office). Events and Festivals

May 1 - P.I.G. “Primomaggio in Gallura,” a food, wine, and music festival. Two days of festivities featuring tastings of traditional Gallura dishes, an exhibition of local handicrafts, and plenty of music.

May - Stazzi and Cussogghj: a traveling exhibition on various aspects of pastoral and rural society.

June 24 — Feast of St. John, with the traditional bonfires in front of the Church of St. Lucy.

First weekend in July — Feast of St. Thomas in Porto Pozzo. Tasting of local specialties and music.

July - L'Agliola di Caresi, Caresi. Reenactment of threshing. Music and samples of traditional foods.

First weekend in August — Shepherds' Festival in Porto Pozzo. Music and tastings of local specialties.

August 12 — Founding Day, which is celebrated each year to commemorate the town's founding.

August 14 — Tourist Festival in San Pasquale.

August/September - Musica sulle Bocche, International Jazz Festival.

Second Sunday in September—Feast of Saint Reparata at the church in Buoncammino. Fun Facts Even today, when the residents of Santa Teresa Gallura refer to their town, they call it Lungoni, and they refer to themselves as Lungunesi.