Olzai (Ortzài or Orthài in Sardinian) is an Italian commune of 755 inhabitants in the province of Nuoro, in the region of Barbagia di Ollolai. The territory is mainly mountainous of granite origin, the town lies at the center of a vast and natural mountain amphitheater that starting from the north with “S’Ispiliu” (alt. 758 m) continues eastward with “Eliai” (alt. 851 m) – “Nodu Fasolu” (alt. 920 m) – “Fronte Oroniai” (alt. 905 m) – Mt. “San Sebastiano” (alt. 1038 m) – “Nodu Gosolodine” (alt. 961 m) – Punta “S’Asisorgiu” (alt. 1127 m) – “Pala Lepazzai” (alt. 1076 m) – Mt. “San Basilio” (alt. 1017 m) and ends with depressions to the south in the regions “Su Cannisone” (alt. 544 m) and “Pala de Laro” (alt. 463 m).
It is territorially involved in the Gennargentu Park. It preserves the historic church of Santa Barbara, the house-museum of the painter Carmelo Floris and a recently admirably restored watermill. Also notable within the village is the channelization of the small river, which, after the flood of the first decade of the 20th century, was channeled into a stone-paved and very wide bed, at the edges of which rise two separate roads connected by stupendous examples of stone arch bridges. Olzai has also been part since its establishment in 2008 of the union of “Barbagia” municipalities along with Gavoi, Lodine, Ollolai, Oniferi, Ovodda, Sarule and Tiana. A district that within a radius of a few kilometers groups a territory of about 10,000 inhabitants, with peculiarities and points of attraction of particular historical, artistic and cultural interest, characterized above all by the typicality of the products offered both in the food and craft sectors.
