Triei and Its Surroundings

Overview and Geography

Triei (Triè) is an agricultural village situated on the eastern slope of the Ogliastra subregion in the province of Nuoro. Lying within a well-conserved environment rich in natural springs, the municipal territory features an irregular topography with elevations reaching up to 827 meters. Triei is recognized as one of the world’s “Blue Zones,” areas characterized by an exceptionally high concentration of centenarians and superior life expectancy.

Etymology and History

• Etymology: The name is believed by some scholars to derive from a pre-Sardinian plant name (Tiría or Thiría), referring to the spiny broom (ginestra spinosa) that blankets the local hills in vibrant yellow during spring. Others link it to the ethnic term Trieddinu, referencing the Latin truella (ladle).

• History: Inhabited since prehistoric times—as evidenced by nearby giants’ tombs and nuraghi—the settlement’s origins are tied to the ancient village of Osono, whose inhabitants allegedly relocated to the present site following a plague. During the Middle Ages, Triei belonged to the Giudicato of Gallura, later falling under Pisan, Aragonese, and Spanish control before the abolition of feudalism in 1839.

Economy and Culture

• Agropastoral and Craft Traditions: The local economy is grounded in agriculture, featuring the production of wheat, olives, citrus, and Cannonau wine, alongside regional delicacies such as goat roast, tacculas, culurgiones, and local honey (including bitter strawberry tree honey). Traditional crafts include hand-woven carpets, wicker baskets, and carved wooden boards.

• Public Art: The village serves as an open-air museum adorned with numerous sculptures by artist Adriano Balloi and striking murals created by painters like Franco Mascia, transforming streets and public squares into cultural showcases.

Architecture and Landmarks

• Parish Church of Santi Cosma e Damiano: Located on the main square (Pratza ’e Cresia), this church dates back at least to the 17th century and features late-Renaissance forms blended with Gothic elements. The interior preserves a 1781 polychrome marble tabernacle and an 18th-century fresco cycle attributed to the workshop of Pietro Antonio and Gregorio Are.

• Municipal Amphitheater: Centered in Piazza Anfiteatro, this public space hosts cultural events and features permanent stone sculptures by Adriano Balloi, including La Sfera della Vita, La Mano e la Farfalla, and Forma Aperta.

• Old Town Hall: A renovated civic building on Via Carlo Alberto that now functions as a social and cultural center.

Surrounding Archaeology

• Bau Nuraxi Complex: Located on a small elevation along the Rio Murta, this advanced Nuragic site comprises a central keep (mastio), lateral towers, an enclosing defensive wall (antemurale) with four secondary towers, and an adjacent village. Excavations have revealed continuous occupation from the Nuragic era through the Early Middle Ages.

• Osono Giants’ Tomb (S’Iscusorgeddu): Situated on the Osono plateau, this monumental Bronze Age funerary monument spans roughly 25 meters in length. It features a large semicircular exedra composed of 22 granite orthostats and a restored navetiform burial chamber.