Arzachena

Arzachena
Comune
Comune di Arzachena
Arzachena

Location of Arzachena in Italy

Coordinates: 41°05′N 09°23′E / 41.083°N 9.383°E
Country Italy
Region Sardinia
Province Olbia-Tempio (OT)
Frazioni Abbiadori, Baja Sardinia, Cannigione, Porto Cervo, Cala di Volpe, Padula d'Izzana, Braniatogghiu, Cala Bitta, Cala del Faro, Capriccioli, Sarra Balestra, Calacrano, Cuncosu, Farina, Pulicinu, Golfo Pevero, Isuledda, Pitrizza, La Conia, Liscia di Vacca, Monticanaglia, Mucchi Bianchi, Lu Mulinu, Pantogia, La Caldosa, Capo Ferro, Poltu Quatu, Romazzino, Santa Teresina, Surrau, Tanca Manna
Government
 • Mayor Alberto Ragnedda
Area
 • Total 228.61 km2 (88.27 sq mi)
Elevation 85 m (279 ft)
Population (October 31, 2005)
 • Total 12,080
 • Density 53/km2 (140/sq mi)
Demonym Arzachenesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 07021
Dialing code 0789
Patron saint Santa Maria della Neve
Saint day 3rd Sunday in September
Website Official website

Arzachena (Gallurese: Alzachèna, Sardinian: Altzaghèna) is a town and comune in the province of Olbia-Tempio, northern Sardinia, Italy. Arzachena lies half way between the original Costa Smeralda resort and Porto Rafael, both founded in the late 1950s. After Olbia and Tempio Pausania, it is the third largest commune in Gallura by inhabitants.

The Albucciu nuraghe near Arzachena.

The frazione of Porto Cervo is the main resort area of Costa Smeralda for summer tourism, which has replaced agriculture as the local main economical source starting from the 1960s. Nearby there are numerous archaeological sites from the Nuragic period, including those from a local sub-culture known as Arzachena culture (Li Muri necropolis and others).

History

Located in an area once inhabited by the Arzachena culture, the town has obscure origins. The region was known by the Romans as Turibulum, after a mushroom-shaped rock which is today the symbol of the town.

The oldest mention is from a 1421 document, when king Alfonso IV of Aragon gave it (under the name of Arsaghene) as a fief to one Ramboldo de Cobaria. In the late 16th century it was mostly depopulated, and the current town was re-established in 1716 on a hill by King Charles Emmanuel III of Savoy; in 1909 the new village counted 853 inhabitants, which grew substantially after the touristic boom of Costa Smeralda, which originally designed a small stretch of coast in the commune of Arzachena.

Twin towns

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arzachena.