Located in Sardinia's Barbagia region, this mountain town winds through narrow streets beneath the Supramonte peaks, near prehistoric Nuraghi towers and the beaches of Cala Gonone.
Nuoro, a city of 36,000 residents in central Sardinia, sits on the slopes of Monte Ortobene at 955 meters above sea level. Walk through the childhood home of Nobel Prize winner Grazia Deledda, explore the MAN Art Museum's collection of Sardinian modernist paintings, or watch local women prepare su filindeu - the world's rarest pasta, made by only three people. In August, join thousands of Sardinians in colorful regional dress as they climb Monte Ortobene during the Feast of the Redeemer celebration.
Getting Around Nuoro
You can walk across Nuoro's center in about 20 minutes. ATP buses run every 30 minutes between residential areas and the center. ARST operates buses to other Sardinian cities - the journey to Cagliari takes 3 hours, while Sassari is 2 hours away. From Olbia Airport (100 km), catch the ARST bus to Nuoro's center (2.5 hours).
Museums of Nuoro
The Sardinian Ethnographic Museum displays 8,000 artifacts, including intricately embroidered wedding dresses from each region, silver filigree jewelry, and launeddas (triple-reed instruments). At the MAN Art Museum, you'll find 600 works by Sardinian artists from 1900 onwards, including Giuseppe Biasi's paintings of rural life. Visit Grazia Deledda's home to see her writing desk, library, and family photographs in rooms preserved as they were in the early 1900s. The museums open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00-19:00.
Food Scene
Watch Paola Abraini make su filindeu pasta - she's one of only three people who know how to create these impossibly thin threads of pasta. Local restaurants serve porceddu (pig roasted for 5-6 hours over myrtle wood), and sa sebada - honey-drizzled pastries filled with young pecorino cheese. Buy pane carasau (paper-thin crispy bread) and Cannonau wine from small shops along Via Lamarmora.
Monte Ortobene Area
Hike the 4-kilometer trail from Nuoro's center to Monte Ortobene's summit, where a 7-meter bronze Christ the Redeemer statue overlooks the city. The paths wind through cork oak forests and past granite formations shaped like animals. Look for nuraghi towers built 3,500 years ago - the best-preserved is Nuraghe Tertilo, halfway up the mountain.
Festivals and Events
During the last week of August, the Feast of the Redeemer fills Nuoro's streets with 500+ people in regional costumes. Join the procession to Monte Ortobene's summit, watch folk dancing performances, and try local foods at street stalls. In June, the Sardinia International Ethnographic Film Festival screens 50+ documentaries about cultural practices worldwide.
Nearby Villages
Drive 15 kilometers to Orgosolo to see 350 murals depicting political protests, daily life, and Sardinian folklore. In Oliena (10 kilometers), watch woodcarvers create cassapanche (dowry chests) using centuries-old techniques. Visit Mamoiada's Mediterranean Masks Museum to see mamuthones - carved wooden masks worn during carnival, with attached copper bells weighing up to 30 kilograms.
