Page 117 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sardinia

CENTR AL SARDINIA AND BARBA GIA  115

of the highest peak on the island. on specially shaped stone
There are plans to give the area moulds. The inhabitants will
National Park status, incorpora- be more than willing to tell
ting it into the Gennargentu you how to arrange to see
National Park. Dèsulo is a favou- craftsmen at work and
rite destination for hikers keen purchase traditional rugs.
to climb up Gennargentu and The atmosphere of a typical
Punta La Marmora (see p86). As mountain village can still be
groups of walkers become more seen in the shepherds’ houses,
common, a number of hotels which have not changed in
and hostels catering for this over a century.
form of tourism have been built. Tonara is another popular
starting point for excursions to
the Gennargentu massif. One
a Tonara of the most interesting is the
tour to Punta Mungianeddu
Road map C4. * 2,600. n Town
Hall (0784 63 823). _ second Sun (1,467 m, 4,800 ft). A road
Overlooking Dèsulo in Aug: Sagra del Torrone. climbs through holm oak and
p Dèsulo ∑ comunetonara.gov.it chestnut woods to reach the
summit, from which there
In the past the economy of are magnificent views.
Road map C4. * 3,200. n Town
Hall (0784 61 92 11). _ second Sun Tonara was based largely on the
of Pentecost, Corpus Domini. chestnut and hazelnut groves
∑ comune.desulo.nu.it that surround the town, and
on other products typical of a
Perched at an altitude of 895 m mountain environment. Since
(2,900 ft) on the slopes of tourism discovered this side of
Gennargentu, the the mountain, the local
village of Dèsulo was production of cow bells,
not converted to torrone (nougat) and
Christianity or ruled by hand-woven rugs
outsiders until the 7th has become famous.
century. Unfortunately, During the local
unregulated building Chestnuts festivals in the town
development has had a square, blacksmiths
devastating impact on forge the celebrated Tonara Stone used as a mould for making cow
the village and has almost bells by hammering the metal bells at Tonara
eliminated the traditional schist
houses. It is still quite common,
however, to see villagers in Sardinian Nougat
traditional dress. Nougat (torrone in Italian) is one of the most common sweets
The local economy is based in the culture and tradition of central Sardinia. Every local fair
on sheep-raising and the or festival will have stalls selling the delicious, hard nougat made
ancient tradition of cultivating in Tonara, Dèsulo or one of the other mountain villages. The main
the chestnut groves and ingredients are almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, various qualities
mountain pastures. In the past of honey and egg whites (in some cases the yolk is also used).
the inhabitants, skilled in wood- Cooking – during which the mixture has to be stirred continuously –
carving, used to travel to the takes more than 5 hours. The different styles of nougat
various markets and fairs are created by variations in the type of honey,
throughout Sardinia to sell the flavour of the nuts or number
their hand-made spoons, of eggs used. There are many nougat
cutting boards and other confectioners and, no matter how
big or small the premises,
wooden objects, as well as visitors are always welcome
locally grown chestnuts. to watch the preparation
The parish church of and choose a favourite
Sant’ Antonio Abate, and flavour. Blocks of nougat
other churches such as the are cut for you while
Madonna del Carmelo and you wait. One excellent
San Sebastiano, are worth a outlet is Torronificio Marotto
visit for a series of colourful in Tonara, at No. 6 Via
wooden statues sculpted in the Roma; they make
mid-1600s. But the main reason particularly delicious
to visit this village is its natural The Nougat Festival at Tonara and fragrant nougat.
scenery and the splendid views

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