Arzachena Facts for Kids

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Arzachena

Alzachèna (Gallurese)
Altzaghèna (Sardinian)

Comune

Comune di Arzachena

Flag	Coat of arms

Country

Sassari (SS)

Frazioni

Abbiadori, Baja Sardinia, Cannigione, Porto Cervo, Cala di Volpe, Padula d'Izzana, Braniatogghiu, Cala Bitta, Cala del Faro, Capriccioli, Sarra Balestra, Calacrano, Cuncosu, Farina, Pulicinu, Golfo Pevero, Isuledda, Pitrizza, La Conia, Liscia di Vacca, Monticanaglia, Mucchi Bianchi, Lu Mulinu, Pantogia, La Caldosa, Capo Ferro, Poltu Quatu, Romazzino, Santa Teresina, Surrau, Tanca Manna

Area

• Total

230.85 km² (89.13 sq mi)

Elevation

85 m (279 ft)

Population

(31 March 2022)

• Total

13,328

• Density

57.734/km² (149.532/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

Arzachenesi

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postal code

07021

Dialing code

0789

Patron saint

Santa Maria della Neve

Saint day

3rd Sunday in September

Arzachena (Italian pronunciation: [artsaˈkɛːna]; Gallurese: Alzachèna; Sardinian: Altzaghèna) is a town and comune in the province of Sassari, northern Sardinia, the second largest island off the coast of Italy. Arzachena lies halfway between the original Costa Smeralda resort and Porto Rafael, both founded in the late 1950s. After Olbia and Tempio Pausania, it is the third largest commune in Gallura by inhabitants.

The Albucciu nuraghe near Arzachena.

The frazione of Porto Cervo is the main resort area of Costa Smeralda for summer tourism, which since the 1960s has replaced agriculture as the main local source of economic activity. Nearby there are numerous archaeological sites from the Nuragic period, including those from a local sub-culture known as Arzachena culture (the necropolis of Li Muri and others).

History
Frazioni and localities
Twin towns
See also

History

Nuraghe La Prisgiona

Located in an area once inhabited by the Arzachena culture, the region was known by the Romans as Turibulum, after a mushroom-shaped rock which is today the symbol of the town.

The oldest recorded use of the modern name is in a 1421 document, when king Alfonso IV of Aragon gave it (under the spelling Arsaghene) as a fief to Ramboldo de Cobaria. In the late 16th century, it was mostly depopulated, and the current town was re-established in 1716 on a hill by King Charles Emmanuel III of Savoy.

Santa Lucia church

In 1909 the new village had 853 inhabitants, a population which grew substantially after the tourist boom associated with Costa Smeralda, which had originally been a small stretch of coast in the commune of Arzachena.