Tortolì

Tortolì  listen  (Sardinian: Tortolì o Tortuelie, Latin: Portus Ilii) is a town and comune in Sardinia, co-capital of the Province of Ogliastra with Lanusei.

Geography

Tortolì is situated on the eastern coast of Sardinia. Its port and greatest hamlet is Arbatax, which has also an airport that once connected it to continental Italy and the European continent. Following an EU funded expansion of the small terminal buildings, runway and facilities, no flights were scheduled during 2012. To the north of it is Girasole and Lotzorai, to the west Villagrande Strisaili and Ilbono, and to the south Barisardo. To the east of the town is the Mediterranean Sea.

History

Ancient history

Tortolì was subsequently conquered by the Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Byzantines and Spanish. It was part of the giudicato of Agugliastra during the 10th and 11th centuries.

The town was the head of the County of Quirra.

Modern history

In 1807 Tortolì became head of a province consisting of 27 villages, but in 1921 lost the capital status in favour of Lanusei. In 1859 it was incorporated into the Province of Cagliari. In 1926 it was incorporated into the province of Nuoro.