Arzachena

Arzachena Altzaghèna (Sardinian) Alzachèna (Gallurese)
Comune
Comune di Arzachena
View of Arzachena
Flag Coat of arms
Arzachena Location within Sardinia
Coordinates: 41°05′N 09°23′E
Country	Italy
Region	Sardinia
Province	Gallura North-East Sardinia
Frazioni	Abbiadori, Baja Sardinia, Cannigione, Porto Cervo, Cala di Volpe, Padula d'Izzana, Braniatogghiu, Cala Bitta, Cala del Faro, Capriccioli, Sarra Balestra, Calacrano, Cuncosu, Farina, Pulicinu, Golfo Pevero, Isuledda, Pitrizza, La Conia, Liscia di Vacca, Monticanaglia, Mucchi Bianchi, Lu Mulinu, Pantogia, La Caldosa, Capo Ferro, Poltu Quatu, Romazzino, Santa Teresina, Surrau, Tanca Manna
Government
• Mayor	Roberto Ragnedda
Area
• Total	230.85 km2 (89.13 sq mi)
Elevation	85 m (279 ft)
Population  (2026)
• Total	13,456
• Density	58.289/km2 (150.97/sq mi)
Demonym	Arzachenesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	07021
Dialing code	0789
Patron saint	Santa Maria della Neve
Saint day	3rd Sunday in September
Website	Official website

Arzachena (Italian pronunciation: [artsaˈkɛːna]; Sardinian: Altzaghèna, Gallurese: Alzachèna) is a town and comune (municipality) in the Province of Gallura North-East Sardinia in the northeastern part of the autonomous island region of Sardinia in Italy. Arzachena lies halfway between the original Costa Smeralda resort and Porto Rafael, both founded in the late 1950s. With a population of 13,456, it is the 2nd-largest municipality in Gallura by population after Olbia.

The Albucciu nuraghe near Arzachena.

The frazione of Porto Cervo is the main resort area of Costa Smeralda for summer tourism, which since the 1960s has replaced agriculture as the main local source of economic activity. Nearby there are numerous archaeological sites from the Nuragic period, including those from a local sub-culture known as Arzachena culture (the necropolis of Li Muri and others).

Arzachena borders the municipalities of Luogosanto, Luras, Olbia, Palau, Sant'Antonio di Gallura, and Tempio Pausania.

History

Nuraghe La Prisgiona

Located in an area once inhabited by the Arzachena culture, the region was known by the Romans as Turibulum, after a mushroom-shaped rock which is today the symbol of the town.

The oldest recorded use of the modern name is in a 1421 document, when king Alfonso IV of Aragon gave it (under the spelling Arsaghene) as a fief to Ramboldo de Cobaria. In the late 16th century, it was mostly depopulated, and the current town was re-established in 1716 on a hill by King Charles Emmanuel III of Savoy.

Santa Lucia church

In 1909 the new village had 853 inhabitants, a population which grew substantially after the tourist boom associated with Costa Smeralda, which had originally been a small stretch of coast in the commune of Arzachena.

Frazioni

• Abbiadori
• Baja Sardinia
• Cala di Volpe
• Cannigione
• Poltu Quatu
• Porto Cervo
• La Conia
• Liscia di Vacca
• Santa Teresina
• Monti Canaglia
• Padula d'Izzana
• Giunnicheddu

Demographics

As of 2026, the population is 13,456, of which 50.5% are male, and 49.5% are female. Minors make up 13.4% of the population, and seniors make up 24.2%.

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1861	1,339	—
1871	1,379	+3.0%
1881	1,569	+13.8%
1901	2,568	+63.7%
1911	2,833	+10.3%
1921	3,160	+11.5%
1931	3,749	+18.6%
1936	3,782	+0.9%

Year	Pop.	±%
1951	4,269	+12.9%
1961	4,618	+8.2%
1971	6,157	+33.3%
1981	7,998	+29.9%
1991	9,435	+18.0%
2001	10,730	+13.7%
2011	11,447	+6.7%
2021	13,328	+16.4%

Source: ISTAT

Immigration

As of 2025, immigrants make up 12.0% of the total population. The 5 largest foreign countries of birth are Romania, Morocco, Brazil, Germany, and France.

International relations

Twin towns - sister cities

• Porto-Vecchio, France
• Ibiza, Spain
• Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

See also

• Capo Ferro Lighthouse

External links

• Official website Archived 2019-06-16 at the Wayback Machine (in Italian)