In a place of great allure and beauty outside of the city of Nuoro, a place known since remote times as Balubirde or Palu Birde, is a little country church dedicated to the Madonna. It was built in the late XVII century at the behest of a devout Nuorian lady, Nicolosa Solis Manca, who wanted to call it Nostra Signora di Valverde and to donate half of the tanca she owned in Goine to it.

On 8 September, the faithful climb up the slopes of Ortobene in a procession featuring a novena to reach the little church and thus inaugurate one of the most heartfelt of local religious festivities.