Page 116 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sardinia

114  SARDINIA AREA B Y AREA

o Belvì
Road map C4. * 810. n Town Hall
(0784 62 92 16). _ 28 Aug:
Sant’Agostino feast day.
∑ comune.belvi.nu.it
The village of Belvì lies in a
dominating position over­
looking the Iscra river valley,
which is full of fields of
hazelnut trees and orchards.
In the past it must have
been an important economic
and trading centre, as the
surrounding mountain region,
Barbagia di Belvì, has also
adopted the name.
The railway which connects
Mandas and Sòrgono runs
along the stretch of road near
the village. The route goes
through magnificent scenery
Houses in the town of Aritzo as well as tackling a thousand
tortuous bends and high
i Aritzo walking tours and horseback viaducts (see p113).
rides take place towards the In the village, several old
Road map C4. * 1,700. n Town
Hall (0784 62 72 23). _ second Sun Gennargentu massif and the houses are still visible. One of
in Aug: Sant’Isidoro; first weekend upper Flumendosa these, on the main
Nov: chestnut festival. ∑ comune. river valley. Here street, Via Roma,
aritzo.nu.it canoeing on houses the
the river is a private Museo di
The small town of Aritzo was popular activity. Scienze Naturali
once famous for selling snow, (Natural Science
at a very high price, packed Environs Museum). Founded
in straw­lined boxes and Just north of Aritzo is in 1980 by a group
transported throughout the the Tacco di Texile, Wedding chest made by of enthusiasts
island during the hot summer a vertical limestone Aritzo craftsmen (including a German
months. Under Aragonese rule, pinnacle, 975 m naturalist who lived
the town had the privilege of (3,200 ft) high, in the shape in Belvì for almost ten years),
being governed by its own of a mushroom. From here there the museum has palaeontology
inhabitants, locally elected. are spectacular views of the and mineralogy departments,
There are still many traces mountains of the Barbagia region. as well as occasional exhibitions
of the old town. Some houses During the Middle Ages, of its collection of typical
retain typical stone façades the humble saint Efisio lived Sardinian fauna and insects.
and long, wooden balconies. in this area. For many years he
Among the most important preached to the local inhabi­ E Museo di Scienze Naturali
buildings are the Casa degli tants and eventually converted Via San Sebastiano. Tel 339 753 1025.
Arangino (in Neo­Gothic them to Christianity. Open by appt only. & 8
style) and the impressive
17th­century stone Aritzo
prison on Via Maggiore.
The market for snow no
longer exists, but the town
has continued its tradition of
making wooden furniture,
such as hand­carved wedding
chests. These are sold from the
craftsmen’s workshops.
The good climate, the high
altitude and panoramic views
make Aritzo a pleasant tourist
destination in the summer.
Rodeos are a popular attraction
outside town and interesting The rodeo held near Aritzo
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp177–8 and pp187–8

114-115_EW_Sardinia.indd 114 11/2/16 2:12 PM