Olbia is a port city located in the island of Sardinia, a region in Italy known for its cultural heritage, magnificent beaches, and highly exclusive beach resorts. Almost 60,000 people inhabit the city, whose land area measures 376.10 square kilometers. Since 2005, Olbia has served as the administrative center of the entire Olbia-Tempio province. As the location of the international airport, the city provides a connection to Costa Smeralda or the Emerald Coast and the rest of the breathtaking northern Sardinian beaches such as Porto Istana and Capo Ceraso.
Based on archaeological findings, the city of Olbia has been in existence since the early 4000 B.C. Excavated remains of settlements and other archeological finds provide evidence of the city’s Punic, Phoenician, Carthaginian, and Roman historical past. Carthaginians, in particular, are said to have originally settled in the area as early as 4th century B.C. Due to its strategic location, the city was extensively used as a Roman outpost for military and commercial activities. Today, the port city continues to thrive as an industrial and commercial hub for the Olbia-Tempio province.Olbia and the rest of the island have thousands of nuraghe or megalithic stone structures constructed during ancient times. Multiple nuragic stone structures or nuragic villages can be found in panoramic locations all over the island. In downtown Olbia, the Corso Umberto or main street is considered as the historic center of the city. This historical pathway connects the city harbor to several Piazzas paved with cobbled lanes in the downtown area. At the center of the city is the Piazza Margherita, an area lined with charming shops, trattorias, and cafes. Nearby Via Cagliari, the Romanesque-style Chiesa di San Paolo or the Church of St. Paul proudly stands with its colorful tiled dome, a more recent addition to the 15th century church. Outside the city is a Tuscan inspired church, the Basilica of San Simplicio, an older structure built from Galluran granite during the 11th century.The city is linked to the rest of Italy and the world by the Olbia-Costa Smeralda Airport, an international airport located several kilometers away from central Olbia. The airport serves as a primary hub for Meridiana Fly and is one of the busiest in the Sardinian region. For those who prefer to travel by water, there are regular ferry services to Olbia from Civitavecchia, Genoa and other major Italian port cities. Land-based transportation facilities include a train service operated by Trenitalia that connects Olbia to other locations in Sardinia.
The coastal climate in Olbia is generally mild all year round, with temperatures ranging from 21 to 24 degrees Celsius. The island’s temperate weather provides visitors the perfect environment for outdoor recreational activities. Temperatures in this port city during the colder months of January to March remain consistently within or above 13 degrees Celsius.
