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Olbia

Terranoa  (Sardinian)
Tarranoa  (Gallurese)
Comune di Olbia
November 2014 aerial photograph of Olbia. The airport and the harbour are both visible.
November 2014 aerial photograph of Olbia. The airport and the harbour are both visible.
Coat of arms of Olbia
Coat of arms
Country Italy
Region Sardinia
Province Sassari
Frazioni Berchiddeddu, Murta Maria, Pittulongu, Rudalza-Porto Rotondo, San Pantaleo
Area
 • Total 383.64 km2 (148.12 sq mi)
Population
 (30 May 2018)
 • Total 60,345
 • Density 157.296/km2 (407.395/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Olbiesi
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
07026
Dialing code 0789
Patron saint St. Simplicius
Saint day May 15

Olbia (Italian pronunciation: [ˈɔlbja], locally [ˈolbja]; Sardinian: Terranoa; Gallurese: Tarranoa) is a city and commune 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 the Terranova Pausania until the 1940s, Olbia has again been the official name of the city since the fascist period.

History

Although the name is of Greek origin, due to the Greek presence during the seventh century B.C., the city of Olbia was first settled either by the Nuragics or 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.

San Simplicio Olbia 01
San Simplicio

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).

Geography

Olbia harbour, Olbia-Tempio, Sardinia, Italy - panoramio
Harbour

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.

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)
47.4
(117.3)
41.0
(105.8)
38.3
(100.9)
33.3
(91.9)
29.0
(84.2)
24.0
(75.2)
47.4
(117.3)
Mean daily maximum °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)
Mean daily minimum °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

Main sights

Museo olbia
Archaeological museum
Porto istana e isola di tavolara - panoramio
Porto Istana beach and Tavolara island
  • 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
  • Tavolara island

Sport

Olbia Calcio 1905 represents Olbia in Serie C, the third division of Italian football. Olbia hosted several legs of Aquabike World Championship (powerboating) in 2003, 2004, 2018, 2019.

Transport

Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport
Olbia Airport departures area

Olbia is one of the main connections 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).

Local transport

The internal city public transport and bus connections with the surrounding areas are provided by the ASPO (Olbia's public service company), while vehicle connections with the other centers of the territory are provided by the ARST (Sardinian regional transport company). Other private carriers operate with lines under concession.

Hospitals

Olbia, ospedale Mater Olbia (01)
Mater Olbia

The major hospitals in the area are:

  • "Giovanni Paolo II" Hospital - Olbia
  • "Paolo Dettori" Hospital - Tempio Pausania
  • "Paolo Merlo" Hospital - La Maddalena
  • Mater Olbia Hospital - Olbia

Gallery

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Olbia para niños

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