Palau (Italy)

Palau (Sardinian: Su Parau, Gallurese: Lu Palau) is a town and comune (municipality) in the Province of Gallura North-East Sardinia, in the autonomous island region of Sardinia in Italy, about 220 kilometres (140 mi) north of Cagliari and about 30 kilometres (19 mi) northwest of Olbia. It has 4,058 inhabitants. It is located on Punta Sardegna, and was founded in 1875 by local shepherds. The Capo D'Orso or "Cape of the Bear" formation is nearby, at the very northwest tip of Sardinia. The unique formation is a result of honeycomb weathering, a form of salt weathering. Palau was a frazione of the municipality of Tempio Pausania until 1959. It borders the municipalities of Arzachena, Santa Teresa Gallura, and Tempio Pausania.