Page 158 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sardinia

156  SARDINIA AREA B Y AREA

r Berchidda
Road map C2. * 3,400. @
n Town Hall (079 70 39 01).
∑ comune.berchidda.ot.it
Built on the southern slopes
of Monte Limbara, in a hilly
landscape which stretches as far
as Monte Azzarina, Berchidda is
a large village whose economy
is based on sheep raising, dairy
products, cork processing and
viticulture. The leading local
wine is Vermentino (one of the
best known of Sardinian white
wines), and the local pecorino
cheese is also of excellent quality.
About 4 km (2 miles) from the
centre of Berchidda, a steep
climb will take you to the ruins of
the Castello di Montacuto, which
was the fortress of Adelasia di
Torres and her husband Ubaldo
Visconti before becoming the
domain of the Doria and Malaspina
families from the mainland. Monte
Limbara, the geographical heart
of the Gallura region, towers in
the back ground.
The Valle della Luna (Valley of the Moon) near Aggius
e Aggius the first Sunday in October
traditional festivities are held,
Road map C2. * 1,200. n Town
Hall (079 62 10 60). _ first Sun in including the di li ‘agghiani,
Oct: feast days of Santa Vittoria and for unmarried men, at which
Madonna del Rosario. ∑ comune the Gallura suppa cuata
aggius.gov.it (bread and cheese soup)
is served.
Natural features have shaped The road to Isola Rossa will
this village and its surroundings. quickly bring you to the Valle
A granite outcrop dominates della Luna, with its weird rock
the land scape of Aggius, both in formations, which are the
the high ground of the Parco legacy of glaciation. On a
Capitza, which towers over the left­hand curve a dirt road
town, and in the amazing veers right. Follow this
labyrinth of rock formations in almost up to the bridge, then
the nearby Valle della Luna. continue along the small road Cheese and white Vermentino wine, locally
Once the dominion of the on the right, which leads to made produce from Sardinia
Doria family from Genoa, and the Izzana Nuraghe in the
then ruled by the Aragonese, middle of the valley.
Aggius owes its present pros­ t Buddusò
perity to the quarrying and Road map C2 & D2. * 6,500.
processing of granite. Local n Town Hall (079 715 90 00).
handicrafts are also important
to the economy – especially The town of Buddusò is fairly
rug­making, every stage of prosperous thanks to sheep
which is carried out using farming, granite quarrying and
traditional techniques. the processing and sale of cork.
The centre of Aggius is a The stone­paved streets in the
pleasant place to walk; the old old part of town wind around
stone houses have been buildings made of dark stone.
lovingly preserved and they In the Roman era the main road
are among the most attractive from Kàralis (Cagliari) to Olbia
in the Gallura region. On Rock formations above Aggius crossed the town, then known
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp178–9 and p189

156-157_EW_Sardinia.indd 156 11/2/16 2:12 PM