Olbia : Ancient Sardinia Archaeological Tour + pickup included
Description
Discover ancient Sardinia with a fascinating archaeological tour that will take you through the most iconic and mysterious places of Gallura, from the Nuragic period to the Roman age. You will travel in our air-conditioned minivans, in total relaxation, while an informative audio guide will accompany you step by step, telling you stories and curiosities about the sites that have marked millennia of Sardinian civilization. During the tour you will visit the Basilica of San Simplicio, the Sacred Well of Sa Testa, the impressive Tomb of the Giants, the Castle of Pedres and the ancient Roman Aqueduct — an itinerary that combines spirituality, mystery and archaeology in an authentic experience. With a pick-up service directly DA your hotel, port or convenient meeting point, you can enjoy the tour without stress and with maximum flexibility. Perfect for those who love history, culture and archaeology, this journey through time will allow you to discover the oldest and most fascinating soul of Sardinia.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Discover the Basilica of San Simplicio, the oldest and most important religious building in Gallura, dating back to the 11th century. An authentic masterpiece of Sardinian Romanesque and spiritual symbol of the city.
Admire Roman ingenuity by visiting the ancient aqueduct, built between the first and second centuries AD.C. An extraordinary work that served to supply the ancient Olbia with water. Next to the aqueduct, a large settling tank was built, carved completely into the stone and equipped with six holes for ventilation. On the sides of the cistern there are two other smaller tanks and a water inlet and outlet well. On the arches you can still see the water transport channels. It is the best preserved archaeological site of the Roman age in Sardinia.
A unique nuragic funerary monument, immersed in the Gallura countryside. Here you will discover the rites and legends of the Nuragic people, between history and mystery.
Built in the Middle Ages on a panoramic hill, the Castle of Pedres dominates the plain of Olbia. It offers spectacular views and a dip in the medieval history of Sardinia.
A fascinating place linked to the cult of water, dating back to the Nuragic age. The architecture of the well testifies to the deep spirituality and advanced engineering of the ancient Sardinian people.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
- Cruise passengers – Port of Olbia - After disembarking, please take the free shuttle bus located directly under your cruise ship. The shuttle will take you to the Maritime Station. Once you arrive, enter the Maritime Station and exit the main entrance. A representative of Smeralda 360 will be waiting for you outside the main entrance with a sign saying “Smeralda 360”. Please arrive at the meeting point at least 10 minutes before your scheduled departure time. - Pick up from Hotel or Apartment - Participants will be picked up directly from the main entrance of their hotel or apartment. It is recommended to be ready at the scheduled pick-up time and to wait outside the facility. The vehicle is easily recognizable thanks to the side writings “Smeralda 360”. For operational reasons, the driver can wait only a few minutes.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(14)
The tour doesn’t have an actual ‘guide’ just a driver, so the experience is a bit lacking. The pickup location was also confusing as it didn’t match the pin in Viator. I wouldn’t do this tour again.
Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry to hear that the experience did not fully meet your expectations. We would like to clarify that this tour is operated with a driver/host and multilingual audio guide, as clearly described in the tour details. It is not advertised as a guided tour with a licensed guide accompanying guests throughout the excursion. During the booking process, guests also have the option to request a dedicated licensed guide in French, English, or German for an additional fee. For your reservation, the audio guide option was selected, and this is the service that was provided. Regarding the pickup location, the confusion occurred because the reservation indicated pickup at the cruise port. Our driver arrived at the selected cruise terminal as scheduled; however, you were waiting at a different port location. As soon as we became aware of the situation, we immediately contacted you and worked to find a solution to reach you as quickly as possible. Therefore, while we regret the inconvenience, the difficulty was caused by the mismatch between the selected pickup location and the actual location where you were waiting, rather than by a lack of assistance from our team. Thank you for visiting Sardinia and for sharing your experience. Best regards, Smeralda 360 ☀️
Wonderful places and very interesting descriptions, a cautious and punctual guide; we really enjoyed the tour of the monuments in Olbia. I would recommend it to a friend.
Grazie mille Vincenzo per la bella recensione 😊 Siamo felici che abbiate apprezzato i luoghi visitati, le spiegazioni durante il tour e la puntualità del servizio. È sempre un piacere far scoprire la storia e i monumenti di Olbia ai nostri ospiti ☀️ Grazie anche per aver consigliato l’esperienza. Speriamo di rivedervi presto in Sardegna! Un caro saluto, Alessio Smeralda 360
Beautiful getaway with visit to various remarkable sites of north-east Sardinia
Merci beaucoup pour votre merveilleux avis 😊 Nous sommes ravis d’apprendre que vous avez apprécié la découverte des remarquables sites archéologiques du nord-est de la Sardaigne lors de notre Ancient Sardinia Archaeological Tour. Partager l’histoire, la culture et la beauté authentique de la Sardaigne avec nos invités est toujours un grand plaisir pour nous. Nous sommes également heureux que vous ayez apprécié l’organisation générale et l’expérience du tour. Nous espérons avoir le plaisir de vous accueillir à nouveau bientôt à Olbia et en Costa Smeralda pour d’autres expériences inoubliables avec Smeralda 360 . Cordialement, Alessio Smeralda 360 – Travel Agency & Tour Operator
The tour had a good balance between info and time to consider the attractions on their own. Overall a great experience with Smeralda 360.
Thank you very much for your kind review. We are glad to hear that you appreciated the balance between information and free time during the tour. We hope to welcome you again in Sardinia in the future! Kind regards, Smeralda 360
The tour was really pretty, lots of archeological sites to discover . In my opinion it could have been a bit longe. They talked about beaches on the tour but we didn’t really get to see one which is a bit sad. Overall happy with the experience and interesting to discover Olbia!
Thank you for your feedback and for joining our Archaeological Tour of Olbia. We’re glad you enjoyed discovering the archaeological sites and the history of the area. We appreciate your note about the duration and the beaches. This experience is focused on the archaeological heritage of Olbia, while coastal stops are included in our dedicated Costa Smeralda tours. Warm regards, The Smeralda 360 Team
We participated in the Archaeological Tour in Olbia organized by Smeralda 360 – DMC and Tour Operator in Sardinia and we can say that it was a really complete and professional experience. The route includes the spectacular Tombs of the Giants, the suggestive Sacred Well of Sa Testa, the historic Basilica of San Simplicio and the remains of the Roman Aqueduct, offering an authentic overview of the Nuragic sites and the Roman period in the territory of Olbia. Smeralda 360 confirms itself as a true local operator: precise organization, comfortable minibus, clear explanations and customer focus. It is not a simple excursion, but a cultural tour structured by a DMC specialized in tours in Costa Smeralda and North Sardinia. Also perfect for those arriving on a cruise to Olbia and want to discover the history of Gallura through a guided tour of nuragic sites and historical monuments. Recommended for those looking for an Archaeological Tour in Olbia organized by a reliable and professional local Tour Operator.
Gentile ameliod2023, la ringraziamo sinceramente per la splendida recensione e per aver sottolineato il valore del nostro lavoro come DMC e Tour Operator in Sardegna. Il Tour Archeologico a Olbia è uno dei percorsi a cui teniamo di più: dalle Tombe dei Giganti al Pozzo Sacro di Sa Testa, fino alla Basilica di San Simplicio e ai resti romani, vogliamo offrire un’esperienza culturale strutturata e non una semplice escursione panoramica. Ci fa molto piacere che abbia apprezzato l’organizzazione, il minibus e la chiarezza delle spiegazioni. Il nostro obiettivo è far vivere la storia della Gallura con professionalità e attenzione al dettaglio. Grazie per aver scelto Smeralda 360. Sarà un piacere accoglierla nuovamente in Nord Sardegna. Un cordiale saluto, Alessio
We chose the archaeological tour in Olbia to discover the most authentic and ancient part of Sardinia, and it was an incredible surprise. The route touches some of the most important sites in the area: the Tombs of the Giants, the suggestive Sacred Well of Sa Testa, the historic Basilica of San Simplicio and the remains of the Roman Aqueduct. A real journey between the Nuragic and Roman periods, all concentrated in a few hours but explained in a clear and engaging way. Visiting the Nuragic Age sites live is completely different from reading a guide: you really feel the history and significance of these millennial structures. The Sacred Well is particularly fascinating, as are the Tombs of the Giants immersed in the Gallura landscape. The tour is well organized, ideal for small groups and also perfect for those arriving on a cruise to Olbia and want something cultural and different from the classic panoramic tour. If you are looking for a real archaeological tour in Sardinia among Nuragic sites, giants’ tombs and Roman monuments, this is an experience that is absolutely worth doing.
Gentile Amelieddu, grazie per aver raccontato così bene la vostra esperienza nel Tour Archeologico a Olbia. La parte nuragica e romana della Sardegna è un patrimonio straordinario e siamo felici che abbiate potuto viverla in modo autentico. Le Tombe dei Giganti, il Pozzo Sacro di Sa Testa, la Basilica di San Simplicio e l’Acquedotto Romano rappresentano un vero viaggio nella storia millenaria della Gallura, e il nostro obiettivo è proprio rendere questi siti comprensibili e coinvolgenti, anche in poche ore. Sapere che avete percepito il valore culturale del percorso e la qualità dell’organizzazione ci rende orgogliosi. Grazie per aver scelto Smeralda 360 per scoprire l’anima più antica di Olbia. Un caro saluto, Alessio
Excellent agency to visit the archaeological monuments of the city, all accompanied by a welcoming and professional staff. Recommended
Grazie mille
Every have this tourist services company offers new and fun tours. I recommend the Archaeological Tour to visit the history and monuments of Olbia and Sardinia in a fun and relaxing way. We were never bored, the driver never rushed us to visit the monuments. The price is right for the Service offered. Thanks, see you next time!
Grazie alla prossima
What a lovely fun way to spend an hour and learn a bit about Olbia too ! Alessio was charming and funny and showed us some of the lesser known sights as we zoomed round in his TukTuk - highly recommend as a great way to see a bit of the city ! Mxx
Thank youu ☺️☺️☺️❤️
