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Ollolai

Coordinates: 40°10′8″N 9°10′45″E / 40.16889°N 9.17917°E / 40.16889; 9.17917
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Ollolai
Ollollai
Comune di Ollolai
Coat of arms of Ollolai
Location of Ollolai
Map
Ollolai is located in Italy
Ollolai
Ollolai
Location of Ollolai in Sardinia
Ollolai is located in Sardinia
Ollolai
Ollolai
Ollolai (Sardinia)
Coordinates: 40°10′8″N 9°10′45″E / 40.16889°N 9.17917°E / 40.16889; 9.17917
CountryItaly
RegionSardinia
ProvinceNuoro (NU)
Government
 • MayorFrancesco Columbu
Area
 • Total
27.34 km2 (10.56 sq mi)
Elevation
970 m (3,180 ft)
Population
 (31 July 2016)[2]
 • Total
1,289
 • Density47/km2 (120/sq mi)
DemonymOllolaesi (Ollolaèsos in Sardinian)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
08020
Dialing code0784
ISTAT code091056
Patron saintSt. Michael Archangel
Saint day29 September
Websitewww.ollolai.com

Ollolai is a comune at the centre of Barbagia, in the province of Nuoro, Sardinia, Italy. Its territory covers an area of 2,734 hectares (6,760 acres). It is the main town of the Barbagia di Ollolai.

Places of interest

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Architecture

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The main square of the village was created in the early 20th century by diverting the stream that crossed it. Inside it lies a church dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, which contains paintings by Carmelo Floris in the apse as well as a crucifix painted by Franco Bussu, an inhabitant of Ollolai. The oldest part of the church is a chapel dedicated to St. Bartholomew.

Woman in a traditional Ollolai dress

Near the town centre, there is another church dedicated to Anthony of Padua, where the Feast of Saint Anthony is traditionally held along with a lighting of a bonfire.

A few kilometres (miles) from the village towards the valley, there lies a church dedicated to Saint Peter, rebuilt in the 1970s after the demolition of a Romanesque church.

In a valley surrounded by granite peaks lies a church dedicated to Basil of Caesarea, built by the Basilian monks and used, after the expulsion of the Basilians, by the Franciscans. The adjoining convent was built later.

Water features

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The town is abundant in water features. The most famous is Gupunnio, the source of which is in the centre of the village, and was recently renamed Regina Fontium. There is also the fountain of Su Sapunadorju, and a few hundred metres (feet) from the town, Su Puthu, which was once used as a watering hole.

Population decline and 2024 U.S. election

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Since 1925, Ollolai's population declined from 2,250 to 1,150 residents as families left for economic reasons. Following the 2024 United States presidential election, the town announced it would offer homes in need of renovation for one euro to Americans wishing to relocate to Ollolai. The town also offers free temporary homes to digital nomads and ready-to-occupy houses for up to €100,000 (US$105,000). Ollolai's mayor said the town received 38,000 requests in the weeks following the election.[3][4]

People

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References

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  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ All demographics and other statistics from the Italian statistical institute (Istat)
  3. ^ Marchetti, Silvia (19 November 2024). "Italian village offers $1 homes to Americans upset by the US election result". CNN. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  4. ^ Begley Bloom, Laura (20 November 2024). "Leave The U.S.: A Village In Italy Is Selling Homes For $1 To Americans". CNN. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Arnold Schwarzenegger cittadino onorario di Ollolai - Regione - la Nuova Sardegna". 30 July 2015. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2024.