Tortolì

Tortolì Tortolì / Tòrtuelie (Sardinian)
Comune
Comune di Tortolì
view of Tortolì-Arbatax
Coat of arms
Tortolì Location of Tortolì in Sardinia
Coordinates: 39°56′N09°39′E / 39.933°N 9.650°E / 39.933; 9.650
Country	Italy
Region	Sardinia
Province	Ogliastra
Frazioni	Arbatax
Area
• Total	40.29 km2 (15.56 sq mi)
Elevation	13 m (43 ft)
Population  (2025) [1]
• Total	10,980
• Density	272.5/km2 (705.8/sq mi)
Demonym	Tortoliesi
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	08048
Dialing code	0782
Patron saint	St. Andrew
Saint day	November 30
Website	Official website

Tortolì (Italian: [tortoˈli] ^ⓘ ; Sardinian : Tortolì or Tòrtuelie; Latin : Portus Ilii) is a town and municipality, which along with Lanusei is a co-capital of the Province of Ogliastra in the autonomous region of Sardinia in Italy. With a population of 10,980, it is the largest municipality in the province and the 23rd-largest in Sardinia. ^[1]

History

Ancient history

The area of Tortolì was inhabited since the Neolithic and then frequented by the Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, and the Byzantines. It was part of the giudicato of Cagliari between the 10th and 13th centuries.

During the Spanish period the town was the head of the County of Quirra.

Modern history

In 1807 Tortolì became head of a province consisting of 27 villages, but in 1921 lost the capital status in favour of Lanusei. In 1859 it was incorporated into the Province of Cagliari. In 1926 it was incorporated into the Province of Ogliastra.

In 1943 the port of Arbatax was bombed, killing 13 people.

Geography

Tortolì is situated on the eastern coast of Sardinia. Its port and greatest hamlet is Arbatax, which has also an airport that once connected it to continental Italy and the European continent. To the north of it is Girasole and Lotzorai, to the west Villagrande Strisaili and Ilbono, and to the south Barisardo. To the east of the town is the Mediterranean Sea.

Demographics

As of 2025, Tortolì has a population of 10,980, of whom 49.3% are male and 50.7% are female. Minors make up 14.0% of the population, and seniors make up 25.2%, compared to the Italian average of 14.9% and 24.7% respectively. ^[1]

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% 1861 1,913 —     1871 1,776 −7.2% 1881 1,835 +3.3% 1901 2,105 +14.7% 1911 2,254 +7.1% 1921 2,280 +1.2% 1931 2,571 +12.8% 1936 2,763 +7.5%	Year Pop. ±% 1951 3,585 +29.8% 1961 4,588 +28.0% 1971 6,414 +39.8% 1981 8,033 +25.2% 1991 9,128 +13.6% 2001 9,973 +9.3% 2011 10,743 +7.7% 2021 11,024 +2.6%
Source: ISTAT [2] [3]

References

1. "Resident population". ISTAT.
2. "Popolazione residente dei comuni. Censimenti dal 1861 al 1991" [Resident population of the municipalities. Censuses from 1861 to 1991](PDF) (in Italian). ISTAT.
3. "Dashboard Permanent census of population and housing". ISTAT.

External links

 Media related to Tortolì at Wikimedia Commons