Bosa: the city by the river Temo

Bosa is a medieval village of 8,000 inhabitants climbed on a hill dominated by the ancient castle which overlooks the whole village. It is located on the northwest coast of Sardinia, in the region of Planargia and crossed by the river Temo, the only navigable river of the island.

Coming to Bosa you will first see the River Temo. Along the left bank the buildings Sas Conzas reflect into the river (warehouses once used for tanning and the manufacture of leather). The Old Bridge connects this part with the right bank, on which the city stands. The excessive exposure to the dangerous Saracen raids gave the city the impetus to be perched on the slopes of Colle di Serravalle in order to protect the fortress built in 1112 by the Marquis Malaspina, feudal lords of the village.

The late-medieval area called Sa Costa (the ribs) consists of paths made of basalt and pebbles that follow the curves drawn from the hill interrupted in an asymmetrical way by staircases in trachyte. The living spaces of the old village houses have grown vertically with steep internal stairs linking one room per floor dug into the rock. These houses, often enriched with decorations in red trachyte, have two revenue plans that allow a staggered entrance from the road and another from upstream.

Here and there between the squares and streets you will also see churches. Inside the castle walls is Nostra Signora de sos Regnos Altos that arouses interest for the extraordinary cycle of fourteenth century frescoes found inside. The second weekend of September is devoted to celebrations in her honor. A procession unwinds through the streets of the village decorated with flowers, leaves and flags.

On Corso Vittorio Emanuele, located in the lower part of Bosa and for this reason called Sa Piatta, the houses are all oriented towards the north and arranged in rows parallel to the river Temo, built during '800 with vibrant colors and pastel-iron balconies in wrought iron.

Bosa offers tourists a range of possibilities that make it enjoyable all year round. The sun, the sea, fishing, river, an hinterland comprising rocky areas, forests of corks, holm oaks and Mediterranean vegetation inhabited by various species of birds under extinction (griffon, Bonnelli's eagle, beaver, the sparrowhawk and peregrine falcon). And yet the well known malvasia, fortified wine (sweet or dry) and used for cooking filet, the ancient art of embroidery lace handed down from mother to daughter until today.

Bosa can also boast one of the most famous and valuable treasures in Sardinia: the sea with its beaches including Bosa Marina and the nearby locality of Porto Alabe.