Palau, Sardinia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Palau Lu Palau (Gallurese)
Comune
Comune di Palau
Country	Italy
Region	Sardinia
Province	Sassari (SS)
Frazioni	Altura, Barrabisa, Capannaccia, Capo d'Orso, Costa Serena, L'Isuledda, Le Saline, Liscia Culumba, Petralana, Porto Pollo, Porto Rafael, Pulcheddu, Punta Sardegna
Area
• Total	44.4 km2 (17.1 sq mi)
Elevation	5 m (16 ft)
Population  (31 December 2013)
• Total	4,163
• Density	93.76/km2 (242.84/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Palaesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	07020
Dialing code	0789

Palau (which is Lu Palau in the local Gallurese dialect) is a town in the province of Sassari, located in the Italian region of Sardinia. It's about 220 kilometers (137 miles) north of Cagliari and 30 kilometers (19 miles) northwest of Olbia. Palau used to be part of the town of Tempio Pausania until 1959, when it became its own municipality.

The town is found on Punta Sardegna and was started in 1875 by local shepherds.

A famous rock formation called Capo D'Orso, or "Cape of the Bear," is very close by. This unique bear-shaped rock was formed by a natural process called honeycomb weathering, which is a type of salt weathering.

Geography of Palau

Palau is located in the northern part of Sardinia, in an area called Gallura. It's near the beautiful Emerald Coast, and its harbor is the main way to get to the La Maddalena islands.

The coast around Palau is rocky and has many interesting shapes. There's a large pine forest near the old town beach, and another big one in the hills above the village. Each beach is surrounded by thick Mediterranean plants like olive trees, maritime pine, rosemary, lavender, and many others. Near Punta Sardegna, you'll find Porto Rafael, an area with a big yacht harbor and many fancy villas.

History of Palau

Ancient Times

Palau has some amazing old archaeological sites. One of the most important is the Giants’ Grave in Li Mizzani. This site has ancient tombs, including a tall stone slab that is 2.8 meters (9 feet) high. Inside these tombs, archaeologists found pots that were used to hold food and water.

Close to Li Mizzani, there's also the Luchìa nuraghe. A nuraghe is an ancient stone building found only in Sardinia. This one is thought to have been an old Roman trading town. You can still see the base of the nuraghe and what's left of the prehistoric village. It was built in a smart spot where people could see the whole land and the Strait of Bonifacio. Sadly, some of these ruins were damaged by people looking for treasures in the 1940s.

According to the famous Greek story, the Odyssey, the hero Ulysses might have met the Lestrigons, a group of giants, in the area around Palau during his long journey home.

Modern History

The name "Palau" comes from the Catalan-Aragonese language, where palau means "palace." The town itself started to grow in the early 1800s. Shepherds from Tempio Pausania moved to their seaside homes to escape the hot summer heat inland. They formed the first families of the village and also wanted to keep an eye on their lands from this important coastal spot.

In 1793, there was a French attack during a war. A young lieutenant named Bonaparte (who later became Napoleon) tried to take the island of La Maddalena. But local sailors, led by Domenico Millelire, and Sardinian shepherds fought back. They used cannons placed on the Palau coast and light weapons to force the French ships to leave.

You can still find the house that young Bonaparte used as his base on the Isle of Saint Stephan.

The first house in Palau was built in 1875 by Gian Domenico Fresi-Zicchina. A sad event happened on April 10, 1943, during World War II. The Italian Navy cruiser "Trieste" was bombed by Anglo-American forces in the Mezzo Schifo bay. About 100 people died, and the cruiser sank. Later, its parts were recovered and sold to Spain.

Palau remained a small village until 1959, when it officially became its own independent town.

Places to Visit

Monte Altura Fortress

Just outside Palau, you'll find the Monte Altura Fortress. This old military fort is built on a high spot, giving you amazing views of the sea and surrounding area. It was built between 1887 and 1889 and is now open for visitors to explore.

Bear Rock

The Bear Rock is very famous and was used by ancient sailors as a landmark. It's a 122-meter (400-foot) granite hill shaped by nature to look like a bear. Thousands of people visit it every year, and the bear is even shown on the town's official symbol!

Ptolemy, an ancient Greek mapmaker, called this place "Arcti Promontoria." This name might mean "bear promontories" because "arcti" relates to the Ursa (Bear) constellation. However, it could also mean "narrow promontories."

Beautiful Beaches

Along the coast of Palau, you'll find many lovely beaches mixed with rocky areas. Near the main entrance to the village, coming from Olbia, you can visit Sciumara beach, followed by the rocky coast of "Acapulco." Then there are the beaches of Porto Faro, next to a pine forest, and Palau Vecchio beach.

On the other side of the harbor, you'll find the Isolotto beach, which is also partly covered by a large pine forest. Further away, near the Coluccia Peninsula, is the huge Isuledda beach. This sandy strip is divided by the mouth of the River Liscia.

Culture and Events

Local Traditions

The most important religious celebration in Palau is for Santa Maria delle Grazie, held in the first week of September. The most special part is a sea procession, where boats carry a statue of the saint.

Another popular country festival is for St George on May 1st. Many people come here to celebrate with outdoor meals and accordion music. St George is famous for stories where he fights a dragon while riding a horse.

Palau also has a lively Carnival celebration that attracts many tourists from all over Sardinia.

Sports and Activities

On the small peninsula of Isuledda, also known as Isola dei Gabbiani (Seagull Island), international windsurfing and kite-surfing competitions happen every year. In Porto Rafael, the Punta Sardegna Yacht Club and the Emerald Coast Yacht Club work together to organize the Formenton Trophy regatta, a sailing race.

Economy

The main way Palau makes money is through tourism, especially during the summer. The town has many clubs, hotels, and a busy tourist harbor. There's also a library located in Palazzo Fresi, a building that overlooks a square named after it.

Getting Around

Railways

Palau is at the end of the Sassari-Tempio-Palau railway line. This railway is now only used for tourism, as part of the "Trenino Verde" (Green Train) experience. Palau has two train stations: Palau and Palau Marina. Palau Marina is the very last stop and is located right in the harbor area.

Twin Towns

Since September 2005, Palau has been twinned with Saint-Genest-Lerpt, a town in France.

Images for kids

• 

  The Capo D'Orso formation, also known as Bear Rock.

• 

  The Monte Altura fortress, offering great views.

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  A map showing the town of Palau.

• 

  A street scene in Palau.

See also

In Spanish: Palau (Italia) para niños