Olbia

Olbia (Italian: [ˈɔlbja] (listen),[2][3] locally [ˈolbja]; Sardinian: Terranoa; Gallurese: Tarranoa)[4] is a city and comune of 60,346 inhabitants (May 2018) in the Italian insular province of Sassari in northeastern Sardinia (Italy), in the historical region of Gallura. Called Olbia in the Roman age, Civita in the Middle Ages (Judicates period) and Terranova Pausania before the 1940s, Olbia was again the official name of the city during the fascist period.

Olbia

Terranoa  (Sardinian)
Tarranoa  (Gallurese)
Comune di Olbia
November 2014 aerial photograph of Olbia. The airport and the harbour are both visible.
Coat of arms
Location of Olbia
Olbia
Location of Olbia in Sardinia
Olbia
Olbia (Sardinia)
Coordinates: 40°55′N 09°30′E
CountryItaly
RegionSardinia
ProvinceSassari
FrazioniBerchiddeddu, Murta Maria, Pittulongu, Rudalza-Porto Rotondo, San Pantaleo
Government
  MayorSettimo Nizzi
Area
  Total383.64 km2 (148.12 sq mi)
Population
 (30 May 2018)[1]
  Total60,345
  Density160/km2 (410/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Olbiesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
07026
Dialing code0789
Patron saintSt. Simplicius
Saint dayMay 15
WebsiteOfficial website

Geography

It is the economic centre of this part of the island (commercial centres, food industry) and is very close to the Costa Smeralda tourist area. It was one of the administrative capitals of the province of Olbia-Tempio, operative since 2005 and canceled after a referendum seven years later. Olbia is a tourist destination thanks to its sea and beaches and also for the large number of places of cultural interest to visit.

History

Although the name is of Greek origin, due to the Greek presence during the 7th century B.C., the city of Olbia was first settled by Phoenicians, according to the archaeological findings. It contains ruins from the Nuragic era to the Roman era, when it was an important port, and the Middle Ages, when it was the capital of the Giudicato of Gallura, one of the four independent states of Sardinia. During the First Punic War, the Romans fought against the Carthaginians and the Sardinians near Olbia, where the general Hanno died in battle.

From 1113 it was the episcopal see of the Diocese of Cività (succeeding to the Diocese of Gallura, the 1070 restoration of the Diocese of Fausania, c. 500–750), which was renamed in 1839 as Diocese of Civita–Tempio until its formal suppression in favor of (in fact merger into) the Diocese of Tempio–Ampurias (also integrating the Diocese of Ampurias, which was in personal union with the see of Civita from 1506)

Main sights

  • Romanesque former cathedral of San Simplicio (11th–12th century).
  • Church of St. Paul Apostle (medieval)
  • National Archaeology Museum
  • Pedres Castle
  • Several dolmens and a menhir
  • Several nuraghes
  • Remains of the Roman forum and aqueduct
  • Remains of Carthaginian walls
  • Fausto Noce park, the largest in Sardinia
  • River park of Padrongianus

Sport

Olbia Calcio 1905 represents Olbia in Serie C, the third division of Italian football.

Transport

Olbia Airport departures area

Olbia is the main connection between Sardinia and the Italian peninsula, with an airport (Olbia – Costa Smeralda), a passenger port (Olbia-Isola Bianca), and a railway from Olbia railway station to Porto Torres, Golfo Aranci and Cagliari. There is an expressway to Nuoro and Cagliari (SS131) and national roads to Sassari (SS199-E840), Tempio Pausania (SS127) and Palau (SS125).

Climate

Olbia has a Mediterranean climate (Csa), with mild winters, warm springs and autumns and hot summers.

Climate data for Olbia, Sardinia
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 25.1
(77.2)
24.5
(76.1)
28.0
(82.4)
27.8
(82.0)
35.0
(95.0)
39.9
(103.8)
42.2
(108.0)
41.0
(105.8)
38.3
(100.9)
32.5
(90.5)
29.0
(84.2)
24.0
(75.2)
42.2
(108.0)
Average high °C (°F) 14.6
(58.3)
15.2
(59.4)
16.5
(61.7)
18.4
(65.1)
22.7
(72.9)
27.6
(81.7)
30.5
(86.9)
30.8
(87.4)
27.0
(80.6)
22.2
(72.0)
17.8
(64.0)
15.4
(59.7)
21.6
(70.8)
Average low °C (°F) 5.2
(41.4)
5.9
(42.6)
6.3
(43.3)
8.2
(46.8)
11.3
(52.3)
15.4
(59.7)
18.3
(64.9)
18.5
(65.3)
15.9
(60.6)
11.8
(53.2)
8.0
(46.4)
6.1
(43.0)
10.9
(51.6)
Record low °C (°F) −3.6
(25.5)
−3.0
(26.6)
−2.5
(27.5)
−1.0
(30.2)
3.9
(39.0)
7.0
(44.6)
12.0
(53.6)
10.0
(50.0)
8.9
(48.0)
4.0
(39.2)
−1.4
(29.5)
−4.2
(24.4)
−4.2
(24.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 47.3
(1.86)
72.6
(2.86)
63.4
(2.50)
56.1
(2.21)
37.4
(1.47)
18.4
(0.72)
6.4
(0.25)
28.1
(1.11)
40.8
(1.61)
58.4
(2.30)
55.6
(2.19)
97.9
(3.85)
582.4
(22.93)
Average precipitation days 7 8 8 8 4 3 1 3 5 5 6 9 67
Average relative humidity (%) 70 69 65 66 66 58 60 63 67 65 72 72 66
Mean monthly sunshine hours 127 138 186 213 279 312 360 316 249 195 138 118 2,631
Source: Aeronautica Militare [5]

References

  1. Population data from Istat
  2. Migliorini, Bruno; Tagliavini, Carlo; Fiorelli, Piero. Tommaso Francesco Borri (ed.). "Dizionario italiano multimediale e multilingue d'ortografia e di pronunzia". dizionario.rai.it. Rai Eri. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  3. Canepari, Luciano. "Dizionario di pronuncia italiana online". dipionline.it. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  4. Olbia e la sua storia: arrivata la cartellonistica con i toponimi storici – Olbia.it
  5. "Climate Statistics for Olbia, Sardinia". Retrieved 29 March 2013.
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