Aggius, Gallura's picturesque village back in time

Aggius, 500 meters above the sea level and less than 2000 inhabitants, is a picturesque village few kilometers from the town of Tempio Pausania, in the Gallura region. It stands in the middle of a crown of rocks that protects it from the Mistral, next to breathtaking Mount Limbara.
The town, made of stone houses and sinuous, paved alleys, is symbolic of the care and respect of ancient traditions. Unsurprisingly, Aggius is the only town in Gallura being both an 'Authentic Italian Burg' and a proud bearer of the Touring Club's Orange Flag.

Surrounding the village there is an harsh, yet fascinating countryside sprinkled with many 'Stazzi': as it is called a typical Sardinian house with a rectangular floor plant and entirely build in granite. For centuries, before becoming a sough-after vacation site, the 'Stazzu' was a source of subsistence for farmers and breeders' essential lifestyle. When it comes to Aggius's countryside, it offers many opportunities for excursions, such as the one along the panoramic route leading to the Capitza Park, or the Moon Valley, also known as the Plane of the Great Stones, a famous climbing-site plateau.

People use to say that the traveling to Aggius is like going back in time: the hundred-years old cork oaks, the musk-covered drywalls, the human and animal-shaped stones seem more like a product of the hard work of ancient Gods rather than the result of natural events. Aggius is well connected from Sardinia's major cities, ports and airport, and within half an hour drive visitors can reach the most renown destinations of the coast, such as Castelsardo, Santa Teresa di Gallura overlooking Corsica, Palau and the Maddalena Archipelago, Arzachena and Porto Cervo, in Costa Smeralda.
The same way, travelers can enjoy the sun in one of countless bays around the area, that back in history have been focus points for black market with the “cousins” from Corsica: to mention some, Tinnari, Littu di Zoccaru, Canneddi, Cala Falza, Li Scalitti, Cala di L’Agnuli, La Gruzitta, Cala Sarraina and Lu Strintoni.

The illegal activities and blood feuds resulting from centuries of oppression perpetrated by Aragonese and Spanish presence, did not turn into any kind of heritage: in fact, the population is peaceful, respectful and sociable, always keen in welcoming visitors and share their cultural and gastronomic traditions. To conclude, Aggius hosts the only existent museum of banditry, that is also the biggest ethnographic museum in the island, where amateurs can appreciate the colorful looms handcrafted by Maria Lai, one of the biggest name of Sardinia's contemporary art. Accordingly, Aggius keeps the long-lasting tradition of weaving carefully preserved, and emphasizes the importance of ancient chants as interpreted by its renown choir.

[Photocredit: http://instagram.com/chezvio]