Palau between Coast, Culture and Gallura
Accommodation in Palau
Palau between Coast and Gallura
Palau has 24 kilometres of coastline stretching from the Gulf of Saline to the mouth of the Liscia River. More than 20 sandy beaches with very fine sand complete this coastal landscape.
The Roccia dell’Orso was already a landmark for sailors in antiquity, along the coast of Gallura and at the Strait of Bonifacio. The Fortezza di Monte Altura is a fort built in the 19th century: it was constructed between 1887 and 1889 from granite from Monte Altura and is open to guided tours.
History along the Coast
The Museo Etnografico organises its exhibitions into thematic areas covering domestic life, winegrowing, agriculture, livestock farming, means of transport and crafts. The area dedicated to domestic life displays kitchen utensils used to make bread and cheese. Through objects from the stazzi and the first craft workshops, the museum conveys the origins of Palau.
Harbour and Routes for Planning Your Visit
The commercial harbour of Palau is the departure and arrival point for ferries to the island of La Maddalena and the archipelago.
A slightly uneven, unpaved path leads to the Talmone Military Battery from Costa Serena; access takes about 45 minutes on foot. From Palau, drive along the SS 133 towards Santa Teresa di Gallura. Then follow a paved side road for about 4.5 km, leave your car in a parking area and continue on foot beyond a wooden gate. The approximately 45-minute walk and the slightly uneven terrain mark the actual walking section; the paved side road is part of the approach route before the path continues beyond the wooden gate. When planning a day trip to Talmone, it is advisable to plan the drive, parking and subsequent walk as separate stages. The Fortezza is open to guided tours, while reaching the Batteria takes about 45 minutes on foot.
Nuragic and Later Traces
Li Mizzani is a giants’ tomb, a collective funerary monument of Sardinia’s Nuragic civilisation. Numerous traces from the pre-Nuragic and Nuragic periods, as well as Roman and Byzantine remains, have been preserved at the Chiesetta Campestre di S. Giorgio. The feast of San Giorgio is still celebrated on the first Sunday in May.
From the summit of the hill on which the Nuraghe “Luchìa” stands, the view extends across the entire high plateau to the Strait of Bonifacio. The unpaved roads in the hinterland of Palau offer an opportunity to experience the traditional way of life and historic character of Gallura. Thus, alongside its coast, Palau also has landscapes where historical traces and the regional way of life take centre stage.
Further places for orientation: Porto Rafael, Trinità D'agultu E Vignola, Calangianus, Pantogia, Costa Paradiso, Buddusò, Budoni and Baia Sant'Anna.
For the overview of the wider travel region: Olbia-Tempio.
