Osilo (Sassari) and the Malaspina Castle

Osilo is located about a dozen kilometers from Sassari, on a hill (one of the three peaks of Mount Tuffudesu) at over 600 m. of altitude; from here you can enjoy a magnificent view of the surrounding hills and valleys to the sea. Inhabited since the Nuragic period, Osilo grew in importance in the Middle Ages when a castle was built on the top.
The population, in continuous decline since the last post-war period, today has about 3000 inhabitants and is based on an economy centered mainly on agriculture and breeding (which allows the production and marketing of lambs and quality cheeses, including the famous "pecorino" of Osilo). The local craftsmanship is based on wood carvings and embroidery and lace.Very popular in Sardinia are the oven baked products, both sweet and savory, from Osilo
The castle which overlooks the village, was built at the turn of the 12th-13th century by the Marquis Malaspina, former owners of the Bosa castle. Almost two centuries earlier, in fact, this noble family, originally from Lunigiana, had received large estates in Sardinia from the Pope as a reward for helping to free the island from Arab rule. Today only the remains of the walls and two towers, one square and one round, are left.