Municipality in the province of Nuoro, located on Mount Bardia, in the central-eastern area of Sardinia, Dorgali overlooks the Gulf of Orosei. The municipal area, in addition to the main centre, includes the district of Cala Gonone, situated in a lower location. An important income for the local economy is given by viticulture (famous is production of a fine Cannonau wine) and craft activities. Considerable, today, is also the compensation brought by tourism, especially in the Summer, thanks to the presence of great paths and trails suitable for trekking, hiking, mountain biking, which offer, at the same time, the possibility to enjoy the important artistic historical features of the surrounding area.
The area was already inhabited since the Nuragic Ages, followed by periods in which it was populated by Punic and Roman populations. After the Fall of the Empire, the town was raided by the Vandals and the Goths, until it was conquered by the Byzantines. Around 700 A. D. the whole area was attacked by the Saracens and several inhabitants were captured and enslaved. Due to these frequent attacks the inhabitants (approx. one thousand people), that at the time lived on the East coast, abandoned their original settlement and moved inland to seek more secure areas. In the XII century Dorgali was incorporated into the Giudicato of Gallura and approximately half of its territories became part of the "free zone" of Girifai, a small state that benefited from tax exemptions. In the XIII century the town was occupied by troops of Pisa, until it became part of the territories of the Giudicato of Arborea. Later the area submitted the domain of the Aragonesi and from the XVIII century, the town became part of the Duchy of Savoy.
Attractions:
- the Church of Bishop Saint Lucifer and Santa Maria Maddalena, originally built in the XII century, was enlarged in the XVII;
- the Church of St. John the Baptist and Lawrence Martyr;
- the Church of Our Lady del Carmine;.
- the XIII century Church of the Grazie;
- the Church of Sant'Antonio Abate;
- the Church of Santa Caterina;
- the Church of San Lussorio;
- the Church of Saint Lucia;
- the Church of the Angel;
- the Church of Itria;
- the numerous archaeological sites, including the villages of Nuraghe Mannu and Serra Orrios;
- the Caverns of the Bue Marino