Dorgali, Cala Fuili
Dorgali, Cala Fuili - © Ivo Piras

Dorgali

Dorgali is located in the eastern part of the island, near the Gulf of Orosei and at the foot of the Supramonte Mountains. It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage, Cannonau wine and excellent food.

Dorgali, Bue Marino Caves
Dorgali, Bue Marino Caves - CC BY Jürgen Scheeff, Unsplash - https://unsplash.com/it/foto/nVfUN-WggQU

Dorgali’s unique landscapes and attractions include the Caves of the Sea Cow. These caves, set in the stunning cliffs that overlook the Gulf of Orosei, offer spectacular underground landscapes and ancient engravings. They were once inhabited by the rare monk seal, which is now protected because in danger of extinction.

Dorgali, Ispinigoli cave
Dorgali, Ispinigoli cave - © CCIAA NU

There is another noteworthy cave at Ispinigoli, inside Monte S’Ospile. It has an impressive column formed by a linked stalactite and stalagmite that, at about forty metres, is the tallest in Europe. Skeletons of young women and valuable Phoenician ornaments were found inside the cave, inspiring the name ‘Abyss of the Virgins’.

Dorgali, Tiscali
Dorgali, Tiscali - © Ivo Piras

There are numerous prehistoric sites in the area, including the nuraghic villages of Serra Orrios and Tiscali.
Serra Orrios is a vast, well-preserved archaeological area with huts, wells and rectangular temples.
Tiscali, which is located in a doline on Monte Tiscali, is a picturesque nuraghic village with circular and rectangular huts. 

Other important sites dating to the nuraghic period are Nuraghe Mannu, a complex that also includes vestiges from the Roman age, and the S'Ena and Thomes Tomb of the Giants, one of the best-preserved nuraghic funerary monuments in all of Sardinia.
You can learn more about the civilisations that followed one after the other in the area from the vast collection of finds at the Museo Archeologico.

Dorgali, giants' tomb S´Ena ´e Thomes
Dorgali, giants' tomb S´Ena ´e Thomes - Ruiu Michele, Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tomba_dei_giganti.jpg
Dorgali, traditional costume
Dorgali, traditional costume - © Gianni Careddu, Commons Wikimedia - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dorgali_-_Costume_tradizionale_(19).JPG

The Dorgali craft tradition reflects the influence of the great civilisations of the Mediterranean. The town’s skilled artisans produce leather work, filigree jewellery, textiles and pottery. Salvatore Fancello, a famous artist from Dorgali, contributed to the local pottery tradition with his extraordinary works. The collection of the museum devoted to Fancello includes his Disegno ininterrotto (Uninterrupted Drawing), an India ink and watercolour work measuring seven metres long.

Dorgali, S'abba Frisca park and museum
Dorgali, S'abba Frisca park and museum - CC BY 2.0 Allie Caulfield - flickr.com - https://www.flickr.com/photos/wm_archiv/52855469396/

Between the crystalline sea and lush mountains, Dorgali offers an exceptional variety of landscapes and attractions, including an aquarium, the Acquario di Cala Gonone and nearby, in the Vallata di Littu, the splendid S’abba frisca park and museum.

Dorgali is a fascinating place that mixes history, culture, nature and local traditions.