Nestled on the slopes of Mount Bardia, which separates it from the tourist village of Cala Gonone on the Gulf of Orosei, surrounded by the rugged Supramonte mountains and hills covered with vineyards and olive groves, Dorgali is renowned for the natural beauty of its territory, its many archaeological sites, and the goodness of its food and cuisine, expertly prepared by its many restaurateurs. Dorgali has a strong tourist vocation that nevertheless preserves its deep agro-pastoral and artisan roots.
The archaeological museum tells the archaeological history of the area from the Neolithic to the modern age. The exhibition organized in three rooms according to a chronological order collects artifacts from usable sites such as the Sea Ox Cave, the village of Serra Orrios, the Tomb of the Giants of S’Ena ‘e Thomes, the Village of Nuraghe Mannu and the Cave of Ispinigoli.
The parish church of St. Catherine, the 7 small churches in the town center, and the country churches scattered in the surrounding countryside, dating back to the 1600s, bear witness to the deep devotion of the population.
The seaside hamlet of Cala Gonone, famous for inlets and coves with smooth pebbles such as Ziu Martine and Fuili, is home to the modern Aquarium facility, which houses some 300 species in its tanks with about 2,000 specimens, where ISPERA, the world’s only specimen of dogfish shark born by parthenogenesis, can be seen.
By sea or by an evocative and challenging trek you can reach Cala Luna, one of the island’s most famous beaches, characterized by grottos and crystal clear waters. From the small port of Cala Gonone by motorcycle boat you can reach the Bue Marino Caves, rich in stalactites and stalagmites, once the habitat of the monk seal, as well as all the beautiful other beaches of the gulf.
A few kilometers from the town, the excursion to the Oddoene valley place of production of Cannonau, gateway to the Gorroppu canyon and the mythical village of Tiscali, a defensive stronghold in the face of the Roman advance is not to be missed.
