Galtellì
A journey through the history and geography of Galtellì
Hi everyone! Today I want to talk to you about Galtellì, an Italian municipality located in the province of Nuoro, in Sardinia. The town has a population of about 2400 inhabitants and is crossed by the Cedrino River. In 2004 and 2013, Galtellì was hit by a flood due to heavy rains.
Let's explore the territory of Galtellì
As mentioned, the city is located at the foot of Mount Tuttavista, which separates it from the sea. In the past, it was a very rich area in wildlife and this made it a hunting ground for the inhabitants of nearby villages. For this reason, the area was later established as an environmental protection oasis.
The history of Galtellì
The city of Galtellì has an ancient and fascinating history. It was inhabited in pre-Nuragic, Nuragic, Punic, Roman and Byzantine times. In the medieval period, it was part of the Giudicato of Gallura and was the capital of the Orosei curatory. The judges of Gallura built a fortified castle near Mount Tuttavista, on a pre-existing Roman fortification.
In 1296, the city came under the control of the Republic of Pisa and later under Aragonese rule. In 1324, the castellan resisted the siege of the King of Aragon but the castle and the city came under Aragonese control in 1333. During the wars between Aragon and Arborea, the castle alternately came under the control of both, but after Arborea's final defeat in 1420, the castle and the city remained under Aragonese control.
King Peter IV of Aragon assigned Galtellì as a fief to Bartolomeo Casu and later to Benvenuto I Grifeo of the Barons of Partanna, in Sicily. After many years and different ownerships, Galtellì was incorporated into the barony of Orosei as a royal fief.
The decline of Galtellì
After its historic past, Galtellì underwent a phase of decline. The diocese was suppressed in 1495 and its territory was joined to that of the archdiocese of Cagliari. In 1779, the seat was reinstated as the Diocese of Galtellì-Nuoro, as a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Cagliari and with its residence in Nuoro. In 1928, the name was changed to the Diocese of Nuoro.
In summary, Galtellì is an ancient city, full of history and cultural heritage. Its territory is crossed by the Cedrino River and surrounded by Mount Tuttavista. Despite the city facing moments of difficulty, its beauty has never been affected and you can still admire it by visiting this charming municipality in Sardinia.
