Ales is the main town of the Alta Marmilla and has been a bishop's seat for centuries: the diocese of Ales and Terralba has its cathedral here. It lies on the slopes of Monte Arci, the extinct volcano famous since prehistory for its obsidian.
Founded in the early Middle Ages in the Giudicato of Arborea and guarded by Barumele castle, Ales grew as ancient Usellus declined. Today it has the cathedral with its Diocesan Museum, the seminary and archives in an 18th-century palazzo, and it is the birthplace of Antonio Gramsci, whose house can be visited.
What to see
- Cathedral of San Pietro
- Museum: diocesano
- House natale di Antonio Gramsci
- Mount Arci e le vie dell'ossidiana
Festivals and traditions
- San Sebastiano, con il falò e il ballu tundu20 January
- Madonna di Acquafrida sul monte ArciAugust
Nearby hikes
- Giara di Gesturi15 km
Nearby towns
- Pau · 3 km
- Curcuris · 3 km
- Villa Verde · 3 km
- Albagiara · 4 km
- Morgongiori · 5 km
- Gonnosnò · 5 km
- Pompu · 5 km
- Usellus · 5 km
Sources: Grande Enciclopedia della Sardegna; ISTAT. Original texts by Gotosardinia.
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Where to stay in Ales
Tours and activities nearby
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