Osidda (NU) - Sardinia
Osidda, a mountain village with less than three hundred inhabitants is a timeless village nestled on the hills overlooking the Tirso, the most important river in Sardinia. The houses, as in the past, are made of stone with granite faces.

 

Among the many stands out an ancient manor house called Palazzo Delogu built at the end of 700' and embellished with an arched altana similar to the villas of the Spanish nobility.


The territory is rich in nuragic and pre-hurricane finds and an ancient tradition indicates it as the seat of the ancient city of Ogrille, of Greek origin. The current town is of medieval origin, belonged to the Giudicato of Torres and was included in the curatoria of Monteacuto.


To enrich the history of the territory of Osidda are certainly the numerous nuraghi, the menhir and the tombs of giants. Among the nuraghes, for their grandeur, deserve a special mention the nuraghe of Usanis, just outside the village, which boasts two towers joined by a wall and the nuraghe S'Iscopalzu now under study by the Superintendence. A particular interest characterizes the nuragic village of Santu Lisei where in 1935 was found an important androcephalus bronze still unique in its kind in the rich Sardinian bronze known. And finally Sa Contra 'e Seris, a place of great impact that retains an unknown primitive town interwoven with granite, cork and oaks.

 

Even today the main activities are centered around sheep farming. The cuisine is the typical barbaric with its delicious dishes.
The moment of greatest appeal to ancient traditions is the feast of Sant'Angelo, patron saint of the town, which takes place on August 27.


Particular mention should be made of the "Local Action Plan" developed in the nineties, born in accordance with the interventions related to the Community programming Leader I and II, through which Osidda was able to support private initiatives, which allowed the recovery of the buildings of the historic center, developing a high capacity of reception with the creation of 72 beds.


Equally the leading role has been maintained over time, up to the most recent programming levels, where the municipality of Osidda, within the territorial development project defined by the Union of Municipalities of Montalbo where it belongs, has seen approved its works, obtaining important funds entirely used.

- Il Borgo - historical centre and urban landscape
The urban center is rich in structures with undisputed historical and cultural value that are defined as landscape assets pursuant to art. 48 of the technical rules for the implementation of the Regional Landscape Plan.

 

The building of the Old Town of Osidda is characterized by great homogeneity and quality, both in the typological/settlement and architectural aspect. Most of the historic buildings are inserted in an architectural context of great value and are themselves, in different ways, of good general quality.
Outstanding for quality, the granite masonry split without stylistic joints, the architectural elements, sometimes finely worked, such as grilles and wrought iron railings, jambs of doors and windows, thresholds and balconies. Predominantly the masonry in slit granite cantonetti are in horizontal or sub-horizontal courses with small repopulations always in granite. In some cases, however, the cantonetti are less regular in size and are laid in occasional courses finished with more or less small rinzeppature.


These characteristics have been preserved over the years and have been enhanced also during the urban recovery and renovation of the nineties and in those planned and in progress.

The plateau of Osidda is rich in settlements of particular archaeological interest. The whole area was certainly a centre of primary importance of the nuragic civilization, which flourished in the two millennia preceding the birth of Christ. Bordered by the river Tirso to the north and south by the river Molò, it offered the nuragic settlements the possibility of an easy defense. The territory, despite being flat, has some humps, of the relieving of granite rocks, conical shaped, on which the nuragic towers have been raised. They are arranged in a crown, almost to protect the plateau.

 

At the center of the plateau there is a nuragic complex with two towers, of vast dimensions, with protective walls and various lodgings, almost a command center and symbol of power of the entire settlement. A complex defensive system that seems to be not only for itself, but also to protect two particular and vast settlements, each of about seven hectares, located northeast of the plateau. One is Seris, in the territory of Osidda towards that of Bitti; the other is Romanzesu, which today belongs to the municipality of Bitten.


An important reference should be made to the nuragic site of Santu Elisei, where "in 1935 a storage room was found with some bronzes among which a singular androcephalus bull of great beauty".


There are many valuable sites to be able to describe them entirely here, but stands out among other values, the site of "Santu Paulu, where stands a Menhir among the highest in Sardinia.


It is over 7 meters high and is imposing, surrounded by greenery, in the area named in the time '’S'impiccadolzu'.

On the highest hill stands the ancient church of Sant'Angelo, with the majestic bell tower, in compact granite of the place, unmistakable in its particular shade.
This settlement, surrounded by the largest green and the park, is the forerunner of the interesting nature trails, increasingly appreciated by the growing circuit of visitors.


The itineraries mentioned above cover for miles woods and valleys along and towards the rivers that cross the charming territory.
There are many routes recovered with the funding obtained in the various territorial programming, settled in the rich natural attractions, along which is arranged the signage and rest stations.