Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ten kilometres to the west of Orgosolo, the undistinguished town of
Mamoiada
stages
Sardinia's most sinister
Carnevale
celebrations. These kick off with the
Festa di Sant'Antonio
on 17 January, and climax on Shrove Tuesday and the preceding Sunday (February or
early March). Stealing the limelight are the
mamuthones,
characters decked out in shaggy
brown sheepskins and primitive wooden masks. Anthropologists believe that the
mamuthones
embodied all the untold horrors that primitive humans feared, and that the
ritual parade is an attempt to exorcise these demons before the new spring.
Buses run to both Mamoiada (€2, 20 minutes) and Orgosolo (€2, 30 minutes) from
Nuoro.
Dorgali
POP 8524
Dorgali is a down-to-earth town with a grandiose backdrop, nestled at the foot of Monte
Bardia and framed by vineyards and olive groves. Limestone peaks rear above the centre's
pastel-coloured houses and steep, narrow streets, luring hikers and climbers to their sum-
mits.
Other than perusing the local craftwork shops - Dorgali is famous for its leather goods,
ceramics, carpets and filigree jewellery - the main attraction here is the great green wil-
derness, with the Golfo di Orosei and spectacularly rugged Supramonte within easy strik-
ing distance.
Sleeping & Eating
Sa Corte Antica
( 347 647 37 73;
www.sacorteantica.it
;
Via Mannu 17; d €50-60, tr €65-75; )
Gathered around
an old stone courtyard, this B&B radiates old-world charm, with traditional reed ceilings
and wrought-iron bedsteads. Homemade bread and
biscotti
(biscuits) are served at break-
fast.
B&B
€
Ristorante Colibrì
( 0784 9 60 54; Via Gramsci 14; meals €30; Mon-Sat)
Tucked away in an incongruous resid-
ential area (follow the signs), this is the bee's knees for meat eaters, with dishes like wild
boar with rosemary and
porceddu
.
SARDINIAN
€€
