Olbia (Italian pronunciation:[ˈɔlbja]^ⓘ,^[2][3]locally[ˈolbja];Sardinian:Terranoa;Gallurese:Tarranoa)^[4] is a city andcommune of 60,346 inhabitants (May 2018) in theItalian insularprovince of Sassari in northeasternSardinia, Italy, in the historical region ofGallura. CalledOlbia in the Roman age,Civita in the Middle Ages (Judicates period) and theTerranova Pausania until the 1940s,Olbia has again been the official name of the city since thefascist period.

Olbia Terranoa (Sardinian) Tarranoa (Gallurese)
Comune
Comune di Olbia
November 2014 aerial photograph of Olbia. The airport and the harbour are both visible.
Coat of arms
Location of Olbia
Olbia Location of Olbia in Sardinia Show map of Italy Olbia Olbia (Sardinia) Show map of Sardinia
Coordinates:40°55′N09°30′E / 40.917°N 9.500°E /40.917; 9.500
Country	Italy
Region	Sardinia
Province	Sassari
Frazioni	Berchiddeddu, Murta Maria, Pittulongu, Rudalza-Porto Rotondo, San Pantaleo
Government
• Mayor	Settimo Nizzi
Area
• Total	383.64 km2 (148.12 sq mi)
Population  (30 May 2018)[1]
• Total	60,345
• Density	160/km2 (410/sq mi)
Demonym	Olbiesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	07026
Dialing code	0789
Patron saint	St. Simplicius
Saint day	May 15
Website	Official website

Although the name is of Greek origin, due to the Greek presence during the seventh centuryB.C., the city of Olbia was first settled either by theNuragics^[5] or byPhoenicians, according to the archaeological findings. It contains ruins from theNuragic era to the Roman era, when it was an important port, and the Middle Ages, when it was the capital of theGiudicato of Gallura, one of the four independent states of Sardinia. During theFirst Punic War, the Romans fought against theCarthaginians and the Sardinians near Olbia, where the general Hanno died in battle.^{[citation needed]}

From 1113 it was the episcopal see of theDiocese of Cività (succeeding to theDiocese of Gallura, the 1070 restoration of theDiocese of Fausania,c. 500–750), which was renamed in 1839 asDiocese of Civita–Tempio until its formal suppression in favor of (in fact merger into) theDiocese of Tempio–Ampurias (also integrating theDiocese of Ampurias, which was inpersonal union with the see of Civita from 1506).^{[citation needed]}

It is the economic centre of this part of the island (commercial centres, food industry) and is very close to theCosta Smeralda tourist area. It was one of the administrative capitals of theprovince of Olbia-Tempio, operative since 2005 and canceled after a referendum seven years later. Olbia is a tourist destination thanks to its sea and beaches and also for the large number of places of cultural interest to visit.

Olbia has aMediterranean climate (Csa), with mild winters, warm springs and autumns and hot summers.

• Romanesque former cathedral ofSan Simplicio (11th–12th century).
• Church of St. Paul Apostle (medieval)
• National Archaeology Museum
• Pedres Castle
• Severaldolmens and amenhir
• Severalnuraghes
• Remains of the Roman forum and aqueduct
• Remains of Carthaginian walls
• Fausto Noce park, the largest in Sardinia
• River park of Padrongianus
• Tavolara island

Olbia Calcio 1905 represents Olbia inSerie C, the third division of Italianfootball.Olbia hosted several legs ofAquabike World Championship (powerboating) in 2003, 2004, 2018, 2019.

Olbia is one of the main connections between Sardinia and the Italian peninsula, with an airport (Olbia – Costa Smeralda), a passenger port (Olbia-Isola Bianca), and a railway fromOlbia railway station toPorto Torres,Golfo Aranci andCagliari. There is an expressway toNuoro andCagliari (SS131) and national roads toSassari (SS199-E840),Tempio Pausania (SS127) andPalau (SS125).

The internal city public transport and bus connections with the surrounding areas are provided by theASPO^[9] (Olbia's public service company), while vehicle connections with the other centers of the territory are provided by the ARST^[10] (Sardinian regional transport company). Other private carriers operate with lines under concession.

The major hospitals in the area are:

• "Giovanni Paolo II" Hospital^[11] - Olbia
• "Paolo Dettori" Hospital^[12] -Tempio Pausania
• "Paolo Merlo" Hospital^[13] -La Maddalena
• Mater Olbia Hospital - Olbia

•  
  Nuragic holy well temple of Sa testa
•  
  Ruins of the Roman aqueduct
•  
  The church of S.Paolo of Olbia
•  
  Olbia, castle of Pedres
•  
  Lighthouse

•  Olbia travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Official website(in Italian)
• City of Olbia
• Olbia and surroundings