Osilo Municipality

OSILO MUNICIPALITY

ITALY

A hill town of medieval origin, it is located in the north-western part of Sardinia, a few kilometres from the city of Sassari. Most of the Osilesi live in the municipal capital; the rest of the inhabitants are divided between the locality of San Lorenzo, the minor urban aggregates of Lungo Valle, Pirastreddu, Santa Vittoria and a small number of scattered houses. The territory has an irregular geometric profile, with very marked altimetrical variations, ranging from a minimum of 65 to a maximum of 766 metres above sea level. The town has preserved a large part of its original medieval centre, dominated by the Malaspina castle, which offers an extraordinary panoramic view.

Its origins date back to the medieval period. Its history has been characterised by continuous feudal changes, during which an imposing castle was erected here. Like the neighbouring municipalities, it too suffered the domination of the Dorias, the Malaspinas and, finally, the Aragonese. In 1839, the year of the abolition of feudalism in Sardinia, it was redeemed by the State.

Osilo has a purely agro-pastoral economy, whose excellence is the pecorino cheese, known well beyond the regional borders.

The main secular event is the Ring Race. The Ring Race is an equestrian tradition of secular origin, which Osilo has preserved intact over time, and best represents the characteristics of Osilo's riders: pride, elegance, dexterity and pride. The race, which includes the preliminary rounds on 11 August and the final rounds on 12 August, consists of a test of equestrian skill, where the galloping rider must try to pierce one of the three "rings" with a wooden sword. - actually metal hearts with a hole in the centre - suspended along the course.

Municipality of Osilo partner information sheet can find here