Population: 7,525
Altitude: 388 m. above sea level

Oliena is a large, agricultural-pastoral town, which lies a short distance from Nuoro.
It is overlooked by Monte Corrasi (1,463 m.), which is regarded as the most beautiful mountain in Sardinia because of its splendid dolomite rocks.

The old, historic neighbourhoods of the town are very interesting to visit, with their period houses, charming, narrow streets and characteristic architecture with balconies, windows and chimney-pots. There are also numerous old churches to visit, the largest of which are S. Ignazio and S. Maria, whilst the church of S. Croce hosts an ancient wooden tabernacle.
The countryside around Oliena abounds in places of rare beauty, where unspoilt environments reveal their unique natural wonders.

• Supramonte di Oliena
  The Supramonte, or highlands, of Oliena is a fascinating oasis, which attracts nature lovers and trekking enthusiasts from all over. The landscape is very varied and, in fact, changes according to the altitude, from rugged rock faces to sheer cliffs, extraordinary holm oak forests, barren, stony plateaux and exposed rocks. The mountain is the perfect nesting habitat for various birds of prey, including the griffin and the cinereus vulture.
  
  
• Sorgente Su Gologone
  This spring flows out from a natural cleft in the limestone rock at a rate of 300 litres a second and is the largest in the whole of Sardinia. Nearby, the River Cedrino meanders through dense vegetation, making this area a favourite destination for walkers and excursionists.
  
  
  
• Valle Lanaitu
  The woody valley of Lanaitu lies near the Su Cologone Spring. The area boasts fascinating examples Karst formations, such as the grottoes of Sa Oche e Su Bentu, the latter is 7,000 m. long and is therefore the second largest in Italy. Further south visitors will come across the grotto of Corbeddu, where important palaeontologic materials and human remains, dating back to about 15,000 BC, were found.
  
  
  
• Monte Tiscali (518 m. above sea level)
  This is one of the most striking places of the whole 'Supramonte', or highland, and perhaps in the whole Mediterranean basin. It is an enormous limestone rock mass which contains the remains of a Nuragic village in a vast cavity deep inside the mountain. The Nuragic complex is made up of quadrangular huts, built in stone and mud, and round, tower-like structures. It is thought that the fortress represents the last defence of the people of the area against the Roman invaders.