Tertenia is the southernmost town in Ogliastra. It is located at the foot of Mount Giuilea along the Quirra Valley, has a population of 3880 and an average elevation of 121 meters above sea level. Its territory covers about 117 sq. km, and is bordered to the north and west by Gairo, Osini, Jerzu and Ulassai, to the south by the administrative islands of Osini, Loceri, Lanusei while to the east it is bounded by the Tyrrhenian Sea with 12 km of coastline. It is only 103 km from Cagliari.
The spontaneous vegetation is shrubby, with two extensive forests, su Crabiolu and Fustiragili. The earliest traces of human habitation date back to the Recent Neolithic (4th millennium B.C.), and are attributable to people of the Ozieri Culture. In addition to obsidian tools, which are relatively widespread, monumental evidence of the Final Neolithic is found in inland areas, where there are hypogenic necroploi to domus de janas. There are at least 77 “Nuragic fortresses,” 22 villages, 34 tombs of the giants and a sacred well dating back to the Nuragic period in the area. This density of structures also testifies to a certain economic and socio-political articulation of the area. The entire Nuragic cultural development is visible in the present landscape.
In the past, the country stood out above all for its mining production; its territory is, in fact, rich in deposits of pyrite, barite, and quartz: particularly well known were the mines of Bau Arenas, Sarrala, and Barisoni-Porto Santoru. More recently, the town has discovered an important tourist vocation due to the enhancement of its scenic and natural beauty. Beach tourism is prevalent given the presence of the large and enchanting beaches of Foxi Manna and Foxi Murdegu. Increasingly well-known and popular attractions for tourists are the Tower of St. John of Sarrala, the coastal nuraghi, the Albino Manca Museum, and the trail network of the Marina and Tertenia.
The economy is mainly based on pastoralism, but handicrafts are also widespread. Tourism is being developed. In recent years, Tertenia’s agri-food products (sheep and goat cheeses, wines, fresh and bagged meats, and artisanal breads and pastas), thanks to their unquestionable quality, have experienced a significant increase in demand and diffusion, even beyond national borders. The quality of the soils and the happy exposure favor the rational exploitation of resources, in a balanced and dynamic combination of tradition and technological innovation that bodes well for the future as well. Sheep farming in particular, thanks in part to the presence of the modern social dairy, is certainly one of the mainstays of the local economy.
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