Villagrande Strisaili is a lovely town of the Ogliastra area, set at about 700 meters asl in the central-eastern coast of the Sardinia region, just a short distance from the beautiful beaches of the East coast. The place name derives from the Sardinian words "bidda manna" (big village) and "is tres ailes" (three folds). the town is surrounded by lush woods; the area is rich in natural springs and the historical centre is still untouched with its narrow streets climbing along the slopes of the mountain. This area was inhabited since ancient times (III millennium BC), as many important archaeological finds, dating back to the pre-Nuraghic period, reveal. Villagrande Strisaili was mentioned for the first time in 1316, in Pisa register of charges; in 1324 it passed under the Aragonese domination, in 1479 under the Spanish one and, finally, in 1718 under the Savoy.
Attractions:
- Pauli Costi nuraghe, a short distance from the Flumendosa lake;
- S'Arcu e is Forros, one of the most important archaeological complex of the Sardinia; it is composed by a rectangular shaped temple, divided into four cells, dating back to the XV-IX century BC;
- Sa Carcaredda complex, a megaron temple divided into two areas;
- Pradu su Chiai giant grave;
- Coile Bruxiau and S'Orciada domus de janas;
- the Church of San Gabriele the archangel, with Neoclassical style façade and triangular tympanum, flanked by a bell tower with a small dome;
- the small Church of Santa Barbara, with one nave and two-tone stones decorated façade;
- the Church of San Michele the archangel, in Villanova, in the place where there was a church dedicated to San Basilio Magno in the past. It is characterized by a neoclassical style façade and triangular tympanum, four side pilasters and wooden portal with circular rose-window.
- the forest of oak trees in Santa Barbara;
- the Flumendosa lake.