The historical centre of Tempio Pausania is an important site in the Gallura area for mining and the working of cork and granite. It is capital with Olbia of the Province with the same name and typically has buildings of granite blocks, with an architectural style closely resembling that of towns in Southern Corsica.
It lies near Mount Limbara and offers a natural landscape rich with little lakes and springs whose vegetation varies from thick and impenetrable shrub to the wild countryside near the top of the mountain.
Fresh cool mineral water with a high silica content flows from the granitic springs of Rinaggiu on the slopes of Mount Limbara. The water filters very slowly through the granite rocks depositing all its impurities, thus it is low in mineral content and has a wealth of therapeutic properties. This is also why Tempio Pausania is famous for its thermal baths. Tempio Pausania originated in the Roman period. In fact it seems that the merging of the two stations of Gemellae and Templum formed the town founded by the Romans.
The name of Tempio Pausania was recorded for the first time in 1173, in an agreement stipulated between the Bishop of Civita and the town of Pisa.
The town of Tempio Pausania currently shares the role of provincial capital of the new Province of Olbia-Tempio with the town of Olbia.
During the year the town attracts numerous tourists for the “Carrasciali timpiesu”, Tempio’s carnival: it is a festival which may date back to the Pre-Roman period in as much as the character of Giorgio appears, a god to whom ritual sacrifices are made to obtain his grace. Today “His Majesty the King Giorgio” is represented by a puppet, symbol of all the evils of the town and of life.
For six days, His Majesty is honoured, worshipped and adored but on Shrove Tuesday, he is tried and found guilty on all counts and burned in the public square, repeating the ancient fire ritual which announced the end of winter and the arrival of spring. Another ancient carnival tradition from Tempio which must be mentioned, is the “Lu Palu di la Frisgjola”, a horse-race where the galloping riders have to grab a long “frittella” ( a sort of doughnut), dangled from a balcony by a girl dressed up in costume. If the rider is successful he gets to spend an evening with the young lady.
original on sardiniatouristguide.it
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