Golfo Aranci: A Fishermen Village 0 Comments

Golfo Aranci: A Fishermen Village

In the evening, when the sun is low, the pleasing breeze on the skin is an invitation for a stroll. The sea and sky colours have magic that flows through the appearing of the famous Golfo Aranci's Mermaid, emerging from the depths with a good-wish song in Sardinian language. The statue is the work of Pietro Longu, sculptor from Nuoro.

The new waterfront, with its seafront wooden walkway and the green lawns with pleasant multi-coloured benches, houses a peculiarity of Sardinian art: the music of the stones. Two "Sails" and a group of three columns by Pinuccio Sciola, Sardinian Sculptor (the only sculptor who has been able to have the stone sing!) embellish the place.

Continuing the promenade towards the port, you cross the most authentic part of Golfo Aranci. This ancient village, built in the mid-nineteenth century, was colonized by fishermen arrived from Ponza, due to the fish richness of this sea. Even today its colourful houses on the seashore at the end of the village inhabited by fishermen, retain their original identity, with its instinctive soul. Golfo Aranci is, in fact, famous for its fishmongers having the ancient savour of good fresh fish sold all year long because fishermen bring home the fruits of their work each morning as their fathers always did.

In the old part of the village, hanging from the oldest houses, a series of mainly black and white photos tell the story of the fishermen's community, photos taken between the 1950s and 1960s by the talented German photographer, Marianne Sin Pfältzer.

At least three are the versions on the origins of the name of Golfo Aranci, formerly known as "Sa Costa de Figari". It can be from the gallurese local dialect "Golfu di li Rangi” (Gulf of the Crabs)" or “Golfu di li Arrangi” where damaged ships were repaired (as in "arranged"). But there is a more poetic and fragrant version: a group of shepherds one day saw the waters suddenly become orange. Curious they came down from the Ultane Mountains and found out that before them, there was a large number of oranges and mandarins floating on the sea. The citrus fruits came from the holds of a ship directed to Sardinia that sank because of a storm. The shepherds were grateful for that extraordinary and inexperienced gift of their sea and baptized the most beautiful gulf of the Gallura with the name of Golfo Aranci (Orange Gulf).

The beautiful stretch of Sardinian coast that from the main Town of Olbia leads to Golfo Aranci has other beautiful beaches. Pittolongu and Bados, beloved by the people from Olbia, are equipped with umbrellas, deck chairs, restaurants and bars. Cala Sassari and the White Beach also, with fine and whitewashed sand, are very popular and appreciated by windsurfing and snorkelling enthusiasts.

Baia Caddinas Beach comes before the Five Beaches of Golfo Aranci, and the Third one, which includes the Gabbiano Azzurro Hotel  & Suites beach, is the widest.

Continuing in the direction of Capo Figari, where the seabeds are divers’ favourite destination, right in front of Figarolo Island, you will find Cala Moresca beach, a dreamland corner, which takes you back with the imagination to a Salgarian corsair’s hidden harbour and makes you think: "Well, for all the filibusters! Let's enjoy this paradise! "

You cannot be unhappy when you have this: the smell of the sea, the sand beneath your fingers, the air, the wind.” (Irène Némirovsky)

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Written by Daniela Toti

Ph. Credits Elise Tanriverdi

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