Olbia

For other places with the same name, see Olbia (disambiguation).

"Terranuova" redirects here. For other uses, see Terra Nova (disambiguation) and Terranuova Bracciolini.

Olbia (Italian pronunciation: [ˈɔlbja] ^ⓘ,^[2][3] locally [ˈolbja]; Sardinian: Terranoa; Gallurese: Tarranoa)^[4] is a city and commune of 61,000 inhabitants 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.

Olbia Terranoa (Sardinian) Tarranoa (Gallurese)
Comune
Comune di Olbia
November 2014 aerial photograph of Olbia. The airport and the harbour are both visible.
Coat of arms
Location of Olbia
Olbia Location of Olbia in Sardinia Show map of Italy Olbia Olbia (Sardinia) Show map of Sardinia
Coordinates: 40°55′N 09°30′E
Country	Italy
Region	Sardinia
Province	Sassari
Frazioni	Berchiddeddu, Murta Maria, Pittulongu, Rudalza-Porto Rotondo, San Pantaleo
Government
• Mayor	Settimo Nizzi
Area
• Total	383.64 km2 (148.12 sq mi)
Population  (2025)[1]
• Total	61,658
• Density	160/km2 (420/sq mi)
Demonym	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
Website	Official website

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^[5] 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.^{[citation needed]}

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).^{[citation needed]}

Geography

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 (1981–2010)
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)	13.7 (56.7)	14.2 (57.6)	16.3 (61.3)	18.7 (65.7)	23.3 (73.9)	27.9 (82.2)	31.3 (88.3)	31.3 (88.3)	27.4 (81.3)	23.2 (73.8)	18.0 (64.4)	14.7 (58.5)	21.7 (71.0)
Daily mean °C (°F)	9.5 (49.1)	9.6 (49.3)	11.5 (52.7)	13.6 (56.5)	17.7 (63.9)	22.0 (71.6)	25.3 (77.5)	25.4 (77.7)	21.8 (71.2)	18.1 (64.6)	13.5 (56.3)	10.6 (51.1)	16.6 (61.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	5.3 (41.5)	5.1 (41.2)	6.6 (43.9)	8.4 (47.1)	12.0 (53.6)	16.1 (61.0)	19.3 (66.7)	19.4 (66.9)	16.3 (61.3)	13.0 (55.4)	9.1 (48.4)	6.5 (43.7)	11.4 (52.6)
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 1: Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale[6]
Source 2: Aeronautica Militare [7][8]

Demographics

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1861 3,042 —     1871 3,393 +11.5% 1881 4,073 +20.0% 1901 5,487 +34.7% 1911 7,123 +29.8% 1921 8,045 +12.9% 1931 10,860 +35.0% 1936 11,377 +4.8%	Year Pop. ±% 1951 14,601 +28.3% 1961 17,727 +21.4% 1971 24,290 +37.0% 1981 30,787 +26.7% 1991 41,095 +33.5% 2001 45,366 +10.4% 2011 53,307 +17.5% 2021 60,711 +13.9%
Source: ISTAT

Main sights

Archaeological museum

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 D, the fourth division of Italian football. Olbia hosted several legs of Aquabike World Championship (powerboating) in 2003, 2004, 2018, 2019.

Transport

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).

Further information: Venafiorita Airport

Local transport

The internal city public transport and bus connections with the surrounding areas are provided by the ASPO^[9] (Olbia's public service company), while vehicle connections with the other centers of the territory are provided by the ARST^[10] (Sardinian regional transport company). Other private carriers operate with lines under concession.

Hospitals

Mater Olbia

The major hospitals in the area are:

• "Giovanni Paolo II" Hospital^[11] - Olbia
• "Paolo Dettori" Hospital^[12] - Tempio Pausania
• "Paolo Merlo" Hospital^[13] - La Maddalena
• Mater Olbia Hospital - Olbia

Gallery

• 
  Nuragic holy well temple of Sa testa
• 
  Ruins of the Roman aqueduct
• 
  The church of S.Paolo of Olbia
• 
  Olbia, castle of Pedres
• 
  Lighthouse