Bosa
Bosa is one of the most beautiful and visited town of north Sardinia. It is the most important center of Planargia and its economy has always revolved around what offered the sea that washes it and the river Temo that crosses and divides it in two parts. The old town center is surely worth a visit. The cathedral of the Beata Vergine Maria Immacolata was built in the XII century on the initiative of the Malaspina family, but today the church appears like it was reconstructed in the nineteenth century because of many previous refurbishing works caused by the very frequent seepages of water of the Temo river. The church of Nostra Signora del Santissimo Rosario, in Bosa, has been reconstructed in the XIX century on a previous structure. Its baroque style takes probably some cue from the church of Nostra Signora del Carmelo. Very original are the two-faces clock of triangular shape, constructed in 1875 and placed on the facade: it is one of the attractions, among the many present in the central main street Vittorio Emanuele II. Inside the cemetery of Bosa it is possible to visit the church of San Giovanni Battista, whose structure dates back to the XII century. Subsequent works were completed between the XIV and the XV century, giving to the building a clear Gothic-Catalan print. On an inner wall it is recently come back to light a fresco executed in 1500's by an anonymous artist.
The old town center of Bosa is rich in historical buildings, like Casa Delitala-Scarpa. It is a building of the XVII century, recently refurbished: beautiful its interior, but also its porchs that looks onto Piazza Costituzione, in front of a fountain of the XIX century. Very interesting also Casa Deriu, transformed in a museum.
On the top of the hill of Serravalle dominates the castle of the Malaspina family, marquises of the Lunigiana, of which remain the defence walls and the north keep (similar to the towers of San Pancrazio and the Elefante, constructed in Cagliari by the same architect). In 1300's were strengthened the measures of defence to protect from the assaults of the Aragoneses.
Inside the Malaspina castle, there is the small church of Nostra Signora di Regno Altos that attracts many people on occasion of the homonym festivity dedicated to the Madonna on the second sunday of September.
Along the Temo it is possible to admire the tanneries, considered national monuments of industrial archaeology: in the nineteenth century were worked animals hides that came also from non-European Countries. The activity stopped in the Sixties, but the buildings will be refurbished and transformed into museums as soon as possible (as it happened for the ex Sanna-Mocci tannery, where have been opened a private museum that exposes work tools and period photographies) and accommodating facilities. Interesting also Casa Deriu, a building of the XVIII century that has become a museum, in which are exposed objects and furnishings of the last two centuries. In the old town center you will find many workshops (very refined and in great demand the embroidered filets, but also the jewels, the ceramics and the baskets) and shops of the excellent local strong sweet wine, the Malvasia.
Numerous are the events that carry to Bosa all year round, beginning from the rituals of the Holy Week. On the first Sunday of August is celebrated the Madonna del Mare, with the simulacrum of the Virgin that is raised on board of a boat and carried along the Temo river. On occasion of Nostra Signora ‘e Mesu Austu (Ours Lady of mid August), on the day of August holiday is celebrated the assumption of the Madonna. On the second Sunday of September, instead, from the church of Nostra Signora di Regnos Altos starts a procession that arrives until the cathedral: the very evocative torchlight procession through the streets of the medieval quarter, adorned with small altars prepared by the faithfuls. Among the local festivals, we signal the Laldaggiolu, that is the carnival of Bosa, one of the most important and original appointments of that period in Sardinia.
