The light and colours of its countryside, 'covered' with vineyards and orchards, and its rugs and traditional clothes inspired painters in the first half of the 20th century. Atzara is a delightful village of medieval origin in the Mandrolisai area, on the border of the provinces of Nuoro and Oristano, perhaps founded around the year one thousand. Tradition indicates that the first settlement was in the locality of Bigia 'e Josso, near a spring. The village is one of the five most beautiful Sardinian villages in Italy, has more than a thousand inhabitants and, today, it still preserves the urban fabric of the Catalan age, with low, granite architecture and oak beams covering the ceilings. The houses in the most ancient districts have chiselled decorations on the door and window frames. All around, there are woods and hills cultivated with vineyards, from which the famous 'black' wine (namely Mandrolisai) is obtained, to accompany the 'gems' of the confectionery tradition: is bucconettes and su gattou, made of almonds, and sa tumballa 'e latte. In May, the wine festival is a not-to-be-missed event.

The textile tradition is very refined, particularly the rugs and traditional costumes. Atzara is famous not only for the light and colours of its views and also the unusual female dress, with the distinctive hat (sa tiagiola), which became a protagonist in works of art by great painters in the first half of the twentieth century.