There are very ancient traces of civilisation in the area, dating as far back as the Copper Age. The archaeological site of Lu Brandali (dating from the Nuragic era, 14^th-10^th centuries BC) and the Roman quarries at Capo Testa are undoubtedly the most interesting, as they are ancient settlements that have left behind fascinating anthropological and archaeological remains. Local medieval sites include the castle of Eleonora d’Arborea near the port, a remnant of the judicial era. The area’s advantageous position, featuring bays and inlets suitable for mooring boats, was considered particularly suitable for military ends. Indeed, as far back as the late 1500s, King Philip II of Spain decided to build the coastal tower of Longonsardo here, a building that – along with another hundred or so towers dotted along the island’s coast – was designed to monitor and defend against enemy incursions. The area was named Santa Teresa Gallura in 1808, when King Victor Emmanuel I decided to found a town that resembled his beloved Turin here and named it after his wife: Queen Maria Teresa of Austria-Este.