The very Sardinian name of the village hints at the natural beauty of the area, rich in paths ideal for trekking and excursions: Arrolli, in fact, means ‘oak’, referring to the woodlands that once covered the hill on which Orroli stands. Still today, in the Su Motti area above the village, centuries-old oak trees and Mediterranean scrubland fragrant with mastic and cistus frame the enormous basalt boulders born from the volcanic eruption of Monte Pitziogu, which became extinct in the Quaternary period. The numerous domus de janas found in this area attest to human presence dating back to the Neolithic.

The large basalt stones are the protagonists of is contus, the folk tales passed down orally. One of these features a symbolic character of the area, the wicked giant Impolla, who wanted to destroy the village by hurling a boulder towards the centre. Orroli was saved thanks to the intervention of the Madonna, who stopped the stone with her foot: on the boulder known as “Corongiu ‘e Impolla” one can make out an imprint resembling that of a human foot.

On the subject of giants, the plateau of Pran’e Muru is home to Nuraghe Arrubiu, the so-called “Red Giant” which takes its name from the reddish lichens that cover it. An extraordinary architectural complex, it is the only five-lobed nuraghe to have been scientifically investigated; the central tower is surrounded by five towers, themselves encircled by an outer wall comprising seven towers.

As attested by the archaeological heritage of the area, the settlement was founded in the Nuragic period and was rebuilt by settlers from distant lands following the plague of 1348. The historic centre, of medieval origin, is characterised by Campidanese courtyard houses built from basalt blocks, the quintessential local stone.

Orroli preserves many of its centuries-old culinary traditions, a sign of a community still rooted in the flavours and aromas of the land. Among the typical products are ravioli and sa suppa cotta, a very tasty oven-baked dish made from slices of stale bread, fresh cheese, broth and saffron. Another excellence is the artisan bread, made from Senatore Cappelli durum wheat semolina and sourdough, crafted using traditional techniques.

The food, wine and craft productions can also be appreciated during the feast of San Nicola, centred around the church in the oldest district of Orroli, the first to have been inhabited. San Nicola has always been invoked against pestilences and venerated for his miraculous powers, as evidenced by the numerous votive offerings in the sanctuary dedicated to him. The layered building history of the church narrates the story of Orroli: from the Nuragic period to pre-Christian Roman settlements, from the evangelisation of Sardinia through the late Middle Ages and into the contemporary era.