The Country

“ How is beautiful this village under the spring sun in the middle of the colours of autumn! Going along the little streets of this country is like to realize the dream of an artist” These words about Aritzo were written by the French Gaston Vuillier in 1891. Even though things have changed since then, Aritzo is still “the dream of an artist”.

At 987 meters above the sea level, Aritzo lies on the north coast of the mountain “Genna de Crobu”, which is the most extreme northern part of the mountain known as “Funtana cungiada”, one of the highest ones in Sardinia. With 1.596 inhabitants, Aritzo has a territory of inner mountain of 7560 hectares.

The fame of Aritzo is due to two of its fundamental characteristics: tourism and the spirit of entrepreneurial initiative of its inhabitants. In fact, during the summer and autumn months the country receives several tourists who crowd the streets, making of Aritzo one of the most important tourist centres of mountain in Sardinia.

Although the country is mostly a tourist place, it maintains its economic strong points in sheep-farming and handicraft. In the past an important income of the Commune was due to the trade of the snow. After have been put into the containers provided, the snow was used during summer to produce the lemon sherbet named “Sa Carapigna”. Furthermore Aritzo has always been known as the “capital city” of chestnuts and every year this record is celebrated with a popular and great village feast.