The ports of Olbia and Golfo Aranci are the natural ports of the Costa Smeralda and of Gallura, the north-eastern region of Sardinia, which faces north on the Strait of Bonifacio.
The region is famous for its unusual landscapes studded with granite masses in bizarre shapes, eroded by harsh weather, which served as dwellings and as tombs for the prehistoric population. In the area are found Dolmen, funeral monuments from the prehistoric era, and megaliths from the Nuraghic age, including the famous Tombs of the Giants. In the area around Olbia and Golfo Aranci can also be found Roman ruins such as the Roman farm at S’Imbalcunado, those of the late medieval period, such as the Castle of Pedres, and from the Aragonese and Spanish periods. Countless old houses and churches from later periods exist. Among the most evocative zones of Gallura are the Valle della Luna (Valley of the Moon), famous for its geologic characteristics of heaps of granite; Calangianus and Tempio Pausania, the capitals of cork; Terra del Granito (Granite Land) and the interior area of Mount Acuto; Alà dei Sardi, called the kingdom of stone; the islands of Maddalena, Caprera, Spargi, Santo Stefano, Budelli, Santa Maria and Razzoli, Porto San Paolo and the famous protected marine area of Tavolata Punta Coda Cavallo; Palau and Santa Teresa on the extreme north point of Sardinia; San Teodoro with its museum of archaeology and of the Sea Civilisation and the Lagoon famous for its pink flamingos.
The Costa Smeralda features a very appealing natural environment with its succession of hills and majestic rises of granite, Mediterranean scrub, vineyards, beach views, cliffs and the emerald-coloured sea. The jagged rocky coastline, with swaths of mown fields and splendid sandy shores, with clear transparent waters, from the infinitely varied colours of blue and green they take on, all offer visitors panoramas of incomparable beauty and irresistible charm, making the Costa Smeralda unique in the world.
Porto Cervo, Porto Rotondo, the magnificent bays of Cala di Volpe, Marinella, Baja Sardinia, Budoni, Cala Moresca, Punta Marana, and San Pantaleo, have made Costa Smeralda sought-after destinations in international tourism.
Gallura is famous for its forests of cork oak, holm oak and tamarisk. The fauna on land is as rich as that in the seas, famous for the colour and variety of sponges, coral, sea-fans, starfish and sea urchins, crustaceans and many other species of fish.
Among typical products are wine, in particular fermentino and Muscat, sausages, cheeses and other original culinary treats and handcrafts including things made of textiles, stone and cork.
Of particular interest are the festivals, village fetes and folklore shows, where music and traditional dances bring culture and Sardinian customs to life.