5 GREAT REASONS TO VISIT BOSA

2 MEDIEVAL BOROUGH OF SA COSTA

The Medieval quarter of Sa Costa has changed little over the centuries. Beautiful narrow pebbled streets lead through a labyrinth of small bright yellow, blue or red houses that develop vertically over one or two stories.

You can browse interesting artisan shops and search for the perfect little restaurant where to dine. Bosa is a fishermen town, so local food specialities include fish dishes, some of which cooked in Malvasia – the sweet delicious wine produced in this area.

If you are curious about how houses looked like from the inside in the 1800s, head to the Museum of Casa Deriu.

MuseoCasaDeriu.it | +39-0785-377-043

3 THE CHURCHES

Architecture and history lovers rejoice. You can revisit centuries of historical development by touring the many churches in and around town.

If you are leisurely strolling downtown try and have a look at the following ones.

IMMACOLATA CONCEZIONE – CATHEDRAL

Built in 1803 over a preexisting church of the XII century, it’s a good example of Baroque architecture. Don’t be fooled by the Chapel of the Sacred Heart next to its entrance, which looks like a completely autonomous building. The frescoes by Emilio Scherer and the organ – both beginning of XIX century – are the cathedral’s two top items.

BEATA VERGINE DEL CARMELO

Another good example of the Baroque style is the church of the Blessed Virgin of the Carmel, which was erected between 1770 and 1779 over an existing building of 1660.

Look closely and you’ll recognise several elements inspired by the Italian Renaissance and by Francesco Borromini – one of the most original and sought-after baroque architects of the XVII century.

SANT’ANTONIO ABATE

All art history lovers will recognise the Catalan-Gothic style of Saint Anthony Abbot. If you walk towards the altar and its XVII century statue and decorations, try to identify the flag of the Aragon Kingdom and the blindfolded moor on the capitals.

SAN PIETRO

All right, Saint Peter is actually 2 km out of town so it makes for a long walk or a very short car ride. The ancient Cathedral of Bosa, Saint Peter was built in 1073 in Gothic style by using the area’s reddish trachyte stones where the Roman town used to stand.

4 TANNERIES SAS CONZAS

By walking along the Temo riverbank you’ll come across a series of old-looking buildings. These are the ancient tanneries that were built between the end of 1600 and the beginning of 1700. In 1800 Bosa became the tannery capital of Sardinia with 28 such businesses in operation.

The tanneries are now a National Monument still under recovery. However, you can visit one of them that has been turned into a museum. The ground floor still has the original tanks used during the first treatment phase of animal skins. On the first floor, you can tour the machinery used in later production stages.

5 NATURAL POOLS OF CANE MALU

About 4 km from centre town, you reach the coast. While on one side of the mouth of the Temo river you’ll find a large reddish beach, on the other side you’ll be walking over what looks like smooth white solidified lava.

This area is called Cane Malu and you can jump into natural swimming pools usually visited by locals only.

CALA ‘E MORO

If you’re up for a nice day trip, follow the road that took you to Cane Malu for another 200 metres and take the path down to Cala ‘e Moro. It’s a beach made of large rocks full of flowers and plants that grow only here.

You’ll be awed by the huge stone cliff that looks like alien foam. Made of white-greenish flat stones at the base, it is topped by red rocks on top – like a canyon resting on waves turned to stone.

SOS PUPOS

Are you willing to visit a secret place known only to few locals? Follow the coast for a few hundred metres from Cala ‘e Moro over the rocks and you’ll get to Sos Pupos (children). It’s a series of rounded smooth rocks that look like a colony of baby monk seals. There’s no other place like this in the whole of Sardinia.

GETTING THERE

One of the best things about Bosa is the panoramas you enjoy on the roads to get there.

Whether you’re travelling from the south (Tresnuraghes), West (Macomer) or North (Alghero), the views are all spectacular.

Alghero-Bosa is one of the most scenic routes in Sardinia. A serpentine road makes its way over a rough coast with high cliffs dotted by small coves.

The other two routes to Bosa lead you through bucolic hills covered here and there by vineyards and olive trees.

The west route from Suni adds to all of this a descent of three hundred metres along the cliffs bordering the Temo valley – quite spectacular.

NATURE

Bosa is a quiet town. Check the video to explore its wild side – we are talking about nature.