Olbia

Olbia ( during the Byzantine period Pausania / Παυσανία, from the Middle Ages until 1939 Terranova, Sardinian continue Terranoa ) with 55 131 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) is the fourth largest city of Sardinia, one of the two main cities of the province of Olbia- Tempio. Olbia is located on the Gulf of Olbia, which is part of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Geography

Olbia is located in the northeast of the island south of the famous coast of Sardinia, the Costa Smeralda. Even on the main shopping street of Corso Umberto hardly a building higher than two floors. Olbia shows how almost all cities of Sardinia, a provincial character, but this is canceled by satellite towns such as Olbia 2 and the hectic main arteries on which arrive more than 100,000 tourists in the summer. The face in the downtown has changed dramatically with the expansion of the harbor promenade. Where ten years ago were still Kramläden, today there are shops of renowned European fashion companies. But off the Corso Umberto are still the typical narrow streets to find.

History

The Etruscans were running at the port of Olbia. It came under the control of Carthage, to the Roman consul Lucius Cornelius Scipio the Carthaginian general Hanno 259 BC in a sea battle in the Gulf of Olbia struck, whereupon Olbia was first conquered by the Romans. During the Second Punic War Olbia was destroyed in 210 BC by the Carthaginians and then conquered by the Roman praetor Publius Manlius Vulso. Under Roman rule, the port was expanded and Olbia took an important position as a Roman port of call on the island of Sardinia, landed here about the Roman governor. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century Sardinia and stayed with him Olbia under Byzantine rule. During the pirate attacks on Sardinia, the city was temporarily abandoned. When Sardinia was in the Middle Ages divided into four Giudicati (see Sardinian Giudicati ), Olbia was the seat of the giudicato Gallura.

Traffic

Olbia has a ferry ports. This is by car ferry from Civitavecchia, Genoa, Livorno and Piombino - approached and in summer also from other locations.

The modern Olbia airport is the headquarters of the airline Meridiana.

The Olbia railway station is on the railway line Cagliari - Golfo Aranci Marittima. He is the last stop of compounds from Cagliari, Sassari, Ozieri Chilivani, Macomer and Golfo Aranci.

Culture and sights

• Church of San Simplicio (picture), Romanesque Basilica of gray granite, first attested in the 11th century, dedicated to Saint Simplicius of Fausania, until its dissolution in 1533 Cathedral of the Diocese of Civita (Olbia ).
• Church of the Apostle Paul from the 18th century in the upper part of the old town
• The coastal barrier island Tavolara
• The Roman aqueduct Sat Rughitulla
• Sa Testa - a sacred well on the road to Golfo Aranci

To the south, lie on the road to Loiri:

• Villa Romana
• Castello Padrese
• The well-preserved giant grave Su Monte de s'Ape ( Tomba di Giganti )