Aritzo, at almost eight hundred metres below the Gennargentu, is the classic mountain village of the Barbagia di Belvì: chestnut and hazel groves and woods that made it a holiday resort as early as the 19th century. For centuries its people gathered snow in mountain ice houses and sold it across the island, a tradition that gave rise to carapigna, a lemon sorbet.
The old centre is a web of steep lanes with typical schist houses and wooden balconies around the parish church of San Michele Arcangelo, of 14th-century origin. In late October it hosts the chestnut and hazelnut festival, one of Sardinia's busiest autumn fairs.
What to see
- Old town
- Parish church of San Michele Arcangelo
- Neviere del Gennargentu
- Domus de janas presso l'abitato
Festivals and traditions
- San Michele8 May
- San Michele29 September
- Sagra delle castagne e delle noccioleOctober
Festival features
Nearby hikes
- Punta La Marmora11 km
Nearby towns
- Belvì · 1 km
- Gadoni · 5 km
- Desulo · 6 km
- Tonara · 8 km
- Seulo · 11 km
- Atzara · 11 km
- Sorgono · 11 km
- Meana Sardo · 11 km
Sources: Grande Enciclopedia della Sardegna; ISTAT. Original texts by Gotosardinia.
Weather in Aritzo now
Where to stay in Aritzo
Tours and activities nearby
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