Roccia dell'Orso — the Bear Rock — is a granite headland just outside Palau in Gallura, on Sardinia's north-east coast. Over millennia, wind, salt and rain have shaped the granite into a formation that closely resembles a seated bear gazing out to sea; for generations, sailors used it as a landmark when crossing the Strait of Bonifacio, and today it serves as the symbol of Palau.
A signed footpath leads from the car park to the summit viewpoint, with wooden steps and uneven granite underfoot. The walk takes around 10 to 20 minutes each way and is suitable for most visitors with average fitness, though the steps make the upper section inaccessible for wheelchairs. The path passes through low macchia scrub of myrtle, lentisk and juniper.
From the top, views open across Palau's harbour to the islands of La Maddalena, Caprera, Spargi and Santo Stefano. Admission is €3 for adults; children up to 10 enter free. The site opens from April through early November, with last entry around 45 minutes before closing. A combined ticket also covers the Fortezza di Monte Altura and the Museo Etnografico.
