Sorso

Sorso is a town in north-western Sardinia, a few kilometres from Sassari, in the historic region of Romangia. It stands on a hill of vineyards, olive groves and vegetable gardens overlooking the Gulf of Asinara, and its territory runs down to the sea with the long shore of Platamona and Marina di Sorso, one of the beaches most used by people from the Sassari area. Sorso is known for its moscato wine, its fountains and a lively, ironic character, expressed in the Sorso dialect, a variant of Sassarese.

History

The area was inhabited in pre-Nuragic and Nuragic times, as domus de janas and nuraghi show. The name Romangia probably comes from the Roman presence: villas and farms linked to the nearby colony of Turris Libisonis stood here. In the Middle Ages Sorso belonged to the Giudicato of Torres and was then tied to Sassari. Under the Aragonese and Spanish it became a fief, and in the 17th and 18th centuries it was enriched with churches and palaces. In the 19th and 20th centuries it grew as a farming centre, with vines, olives and vegetables, and today it is a populous town in the Sassari belt.

The town

Sorso's old centre is gathered around the parish church of San Pantaleo, with its bell tower, and the Baronial Palace, once the residence of the feudal lords and now a cultural space. The streets have limestone houses, small squares and historic churches. The town's symbol is the Billellera fountain, an ancient spring with a wash house, linked to the daily life of the women who came to fetch water and wash clothes. Sorso is also a town of murals telling local history and traditions.

The sanctuary of Noli Me Tollere

On the edge of town stands the sanctuary of Noli Me Tollere, whose name comes from the Latin words of the Gospel, noli me tangere, in the popular form noli me tollere. The sanctuary is a place of pilgrimage and of a heartfelt festival, with processions and popular celebrations.

The sea

Sorso's coast is part of the great beach of Platamona, which stretches for kilometres east of Porto Torres. The beach is of pale sand, with dunes and a long pine wood behind, and the sea is open and clear. Marina di Sorso has beach clubs, kiosks and bars and is very busy in summer. Behind the beach lies the Platamona pond, a wetland with reed beds and water birds.

Festivals

The feast of San Pantaleo, the patron, is held in late July with processions, music and a popular fair. The festival of the Noli Me Tollere sanctuary draws pilgrims from nearby towns. In January the Sant'Antonio bonfires are lit. In summer evenings on the Marina di Sorso seafront bring concerts and entertainment.

Food and wine

Sorso cooking is that of the Sassari area: snails in sauce or roasted, chickpea fainè, horse meat, tripe, vegetables from local gardens and fish from the Gulf of Asinara. The most famous wine is Moscato di Sorso-Sennori, a sweet, aromatic wine made from moscato grapes grown on the Romangia hills. Cannonau and Vermentino are also produced.

Getting there

Sorso is about 15 minutes from Sassari and 40 minutes from Alghero airport. The port of Porto Torres is about 20 minutes away. From here you easily reach Sennori, Castelsardo, Valledoria and the north-west coast, with Stintino and La Pelosa beach.

What to see

• Beach of Platamona
• Mount Cau
• Parish church of San Pantaleo
• Cantine del Moscato

Nearby towns

• Sennori · 2 km
• Sassari · 8 km
• Osilo · 10 km
• Tissi · 13 km
• Ossi · 13 km
• Tergu · 13 km
• Muros · 13 km
• Nulvi · 14 km

Sources: Grande Enciclopedia della Sardegna; ISTAT. Original texts by Gotosardinia.