Quiet and cozy at the foot of the hills, nestled in a valley on the right bank of the river Temo (the only navigable river in Sardinia), stands the town of Bosa that welcomes you, after having crossed the three arched, red trachyte, "old bridge" built in 1871, with the beautiful breathtaking promenade on the banks of the river Temo, among palm trees and ancored fishing boats.
From there, tourists can not help but notice the majestic Malaspina Castle, a place of ancient and fascinating legends, on whose slopes lies the picturesque Old Town colorful.
The castle, built in 1112 has undergone many changes over the centuries. In 1300, most probably in anticipation of Aragonese attacks, of the main tower of the keep, and further fortification of the castle, where realized . Probably during the reign of Alfonso the Magnanimous, in the fifteenth century, the hill was fenced and the two polygonal towers where built. In the same year works where carried out on the church now dedicated to Our Lady of Regnos Altos. In the second half of 1600 the Royal City of Bosa was completely protected by walls.
After the construction of the castle Malaspina, Bosa became a major military, commercial and cultural centre ofthe west coast of Sardinia.
The history of the chapel is uncertain: one has not yet been able to determine whether it was built before the castle and then restored or if it was buil after the fortified structure. The chapel has no significant architectural elements. The interior consists of a single room. Our Lady of sos Regnos Altos church arouses interest only for the extraordinary cycle of fourteenth century frescoes emerged in its walls during restoration works in 1972. The frescoed scenes include representations of scenes from the Gospels, such as the Adoration of the Magi and of the Last Supper (on the left wall), several Saints, the Madonna and episodes of their lives: Martyrdom of St. Lawrence, St. George and the dragon, Annunciation, (in the counterfront) and, on the right wall, the only representation in Sardinia of the Meeting of the three dead and the three living.
The Castle is a place of ancient and fascinating legends. In fact it is said that the Marquis Malaspina, a violent person, forced the beautiful Marquise never to leave the castle. To allow his wife to attend religious functions. he built an underground passage leading from the castle directly to the Cathedral, hiding the beautiful Marquise away from prying eyes. It is said that because of the boundless jealousy of her husband, she suffer constant harassment until finding deth. And since then, legend has it, once a year, the spirit of a young woman wanders through the narrow streets of the old town, looking for the lost peace.
Walking trough the narrow and wainding roas of the old town one can watch women sitting, by their homes open doors, in front of the looms busy embroidering the well known filet. The local artisans master so well their craft to make Bosa famous not only in Sardinia, but throughout Italy.
On the left side of the river Temo rise the Tanneries, an important example of industrial architecture of the Island, whose produt where exported all over the world. Bosa,s Tanneries wre mentioned allredy in the '600, even if the period of greatest activity dates back to 1800, when it counted 28 companies. The last company ceased its activities in 1960. A Decree of the Ministry of Cultural and Environmental Heritage of 17 October 1989, declared them a National Monument subjected to protection of UNESCO.
In the streets of this beautiful medieval town you will easily find a cozy place to your liking where you can have a chat, watch the promenade and enjoy a glass of the famous local wine, Malvasia di Bosa. A wine that has few equals for charm. It is enough to bring it to your lips to be transported in a universe in which the terms sun, sea, Mediterranean vegetation, dried fruit, citrus, are united in a complete sense, unique, unrepeatable.Dry and fulfilling, a fiercely oxidized wine and pretty darn attractive, characterized by a drink that defining it compulsive is an understatement .
The duration of the excursion is half day (up to 4 hours)
walking tour + transfer
The tour price does not include tickets to museums
