The two main residential areas, little villages and stazzi, merge together into a single dimension. The little village of Loiri and the marine village of Porto San Paolo merged to create a single Municipality in 1979, along with a myriad of districts surrounded by Mediterranean greenery. A majestic centuries-old olive tree welcomes you at the entrance to Loiri: the municipal 'capital' has three thousand 500 inhabitants and stands amidst low hills, about 15 kilometres from the sea. The coastal village, which has accommodation facilities, services and a modern tourist port, is frequented by 15 thousand people in the summer. According to legend, the apostle Paul stopped here in Antiquity, before withdrawing to a hermitage deep in the Gallura area.