Orgosolo

The capital of mural painting 

In the heart of Barbagia lies Orgosolo, a pre-Nuragic comune in the province of Nuoro, at an altitude of about 600 metres. Its hilly and mountainous terrain, with the exception of the Locoe valley, allows views to reach beyond the Baronìe sub-region and, on clear days, as far as the peaks of Mount Limbara in Gallura. We recommend visiting the Gennargentu National Park and the Supramonte, a mountainous plateau with karst terrain, caves, sinkholes and gorges. You will be amazed by the spectacular Gorropu Canyon, a deep gorge with 400-metre vertical walls carved by the Flumineddu river. 

In and around the town are many religious buildings dating to the 14th to 16th centuries, including the 14th-century parish church of Santu Perdu, dedicated to the patron saint Peter the Apostle. The small municipality is best known for mural painting, which began in the 1960s as a form of protest following the peaceful Pratobello uprising. To date, there are about 150 murals, depicting scenes of everyday life in the village. 

The Carasau Bread Museum in the 19th-century “Casa Biancu” is well worth visiting. On Ferragosto, 15th August, the town comes alive with the procession dedicated to Nostra Sennora de Mesaustu and the horse parade in traditional dress.