Bosa

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Bosa
Comune
Comune di Bosa
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view of Bosa from the Serravalle's Castle
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Coat of arms
Location of Bosa
Bosa
Italy provincial location map 2016.svg
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Bosa
Location of Bosa in Sardinia
Italy Sardinia location map IT.svg
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Bosa
Bosa (Sardinia)
Coordinates: 40°18′N8°30′E / 40.300°N 8.500°E / 40.300; 8.500
Country Italy
Region Sardinia
Province Oristano (OR)
Frazioni Bosa Marina
Government
 • MayorAlfonso Marras
Area
[1]
 • Total
135.67 km2 (52.38 sq mi)
Elevation
2 m (7 ft)
Population
 (1 January 2009) [2]
 • Total
8,126
 • Density60/km2 (160/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Bosani
Bosincos
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
09089
Dialing code 0785
ISTAT code 095079
Patron saintSt. Emilius and Priamus
Saint dayMay 28
Website Official website
Bosa and its castle seen from the river Temo Centro storico di bosa.jpg
Bosa and its castle seen from the river Temo
An aerial view of Bosa Veduta aerea del Centro Storico di Bosa ai piedi del castello Malaspina ..jpg
An aerial view of Bosa
Historical City Clock 13e16.JPG
Historical City Clock

Bosa is a town and comune in the province of Oristano (until May 2005 it was in the province of Nuoro), part of the Sardinia region of Italy. Bosa is situated about two-thirds of the way up the west coast of Sardinia, on a small hill, about 3 kilometres (2 miles) inland on the north bank of the Temo River. It is the only town on the island of Sardinia built on the banks of a river. [3] The town has maintained a population of around 8,000 people for a significant amount of time, but has an urban character that has differentiated it from other locations in Sardinia. It is one of I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy"). [4] Agriculture and fishing play an important part in the city economy, thanks to the river valley near the coast surrounded by hills and highland plateaus.

Contents

History

The area was inhabited since prehistorical times, as attested by the presence of several domus de janas and nuraghe. It was probably founded by the Phoenicians, although little is known about the original settlement. Under the Romans it was a municipium . The present town of Bosa was founded in 13th century by the Malaspina family, 2.5 km (1.5 miles) from the site of the ancient town. [5] In the early Middle Ages, as part of the Giudicato of Logudoro, it was a provincial capital. After the construction of the Malaspina Castle, the population gradually moved from the seaside to the hills.

It remained in the hands of the Malaspina until the 14th century, when it was taken over by the Crown of Aragon. Along with the rest of Sardinia, it was later ruled by Spain. For a short period in between, it was a part of the Giudicato of Arborea.

Bosa is known for a classical way of saying: you do like they do in Bosa: if it rains, they let it rains.

Museums

While smaller than Sardinia's major cities, Bosa offers several museums and cultural attractions that provide insight into the town's unique heritage and traditions. These institutions count among the essential things to see in Bosa for visitors interested in a deeper understanding of local history and craftsmanship.

Casa Deriu Museum

Housed in a beautifully preserved 19th-century bourgeois residence on the riverfront, Casa Deriu Museum (Museo Casa Deriu) offers visitors the chance to step into the world of Bosa's prosperous merchant class. The museum preserves the original furnishings, decorations, and domestic objects of a wealthy local family, providing a glimpse into daily life during Bosa's economic heyday.

Tanneries Museum

One of the most distinctive chapters in the history of Bosa involved its tannery industry, which flourished along the riverbanks from the Middle Ages until the early 20th century. The Tanneries Museum (Museo delle Conce) preserves this industrial heritage in the actual buildings where leather was once processed. [6]

Sources and references

  1. ↑ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ↑ "Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  3. ↑ "Bosa, village in Sardinia: what to see". Italia.it. Retrieved 2025-06-03.
  4. ↑ "Sardegna" (in Italian). Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  5. ↑ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bosa"  . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  6. ↑ "Things to do in Bosa". miasardegna.eu. Retrieved 2025-04-29.


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