Lollove

Lollove Nuoro NU

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Lollove is a hamlet of Nuoro located about 15 km from the city center. It is a charming medieval village, the only one of its kind still existing in Sardinia.

The elders of Lollove claimed that their village was founded before Nuoro and was originally even larger.

A legendary tale is passed down about Lollove: it is said that the nuns devoted to the village’s patron saint were expelled after being accused of having romantic relationships with the local shepherds. As they left, they supposedly cursed the village with these words:
"Lollove as a esser chei s'abba 'e su mare: no as a crescher nen parescher mai!" ("Lollove you will be like the sea water: you will neither grow nor die.")

In reality, Lollove never grew but also never died, giving the impression of a timeless place.

This particular legend probably inspired Nobel Prize winner Grazia Deledda in the setting and plot of one of her most famous novels, La Madre, which revolves around the forbidden love between the young village priest, Don Paulo, and the beautiful Agnese, whose relationship remained secret from the rest of the community.

Lollove was an independent municipality until the second half of the 1800s. In 1857, it became a fraction of the municipality of Nuoro. Although it still had over 400 inhabitants in 1950, Lollove never received official district status from the city and gradually lost all its public offices (Carabinieri, school, etc.).

The main church of Lollove is dedicated to Santa Maria Maddalena. Built in the early 17th  century in a late Gothic style, it was likely expanded from an older structure. Lollove remains deeply connected to its religious traditions, celebrating festivals in honor of Santa Maria Maddalena, San Biagio, and Sant’Eufemia.

At certain times of the year, Lollove hosts folkloric events such as Autunno in Barbagia, allowing visitors to explore this unique rural village in central Sardinia. It represents a fascinating corner of Nuoro, ideal for those wishing to discover the culture and natural beauty of the region.