Palau is located in the territorial region of Gallura in the northern cost of Sardinia, close to the Emerald Coast, and its harbour is the main channel of access to the La Maddalena archipelago.

The coastline is jagged and rocky, a large pine forest is located on the old town beach, and another one of equal size lies in the hills above the village.

Near Punta Sardegna there is Porto Rafael, a large area of Mediterranean maquis where there are a major yacht harbour and many villas owned by famous people.

In Palau there are remarkable archaeological sites such as the Giants’ Grave in Li Mizzani and Sajacciu, near the church of Saint Anthony of Gallura.

These rites lasted five days, during which wizards stayed close to the dying, absorbing the curative and purifying magnetic energies emanated by the tomb.

Nearby Li Mizzani, there is the Luchìa nuraghe (thought to be an ancient Roman trade town), of which we can still see the basis and the remains of the prehistoric village situated in a strategic area where the whole land and the Strait of Bonifacio can be seen.

Of the whole burial area, only two big horns and the upper part of the stele, adorned with three grooves of ritual origin, are left.

The first mention of "Palau" can be found in the first Piedmontese land survey papers; the first town nucleus dates back to the first half of the 19th century, when the shepherds of "tempiesi" (from Tempio Pausania including the famous "Zecchinu") that lived in the surrounding countryside moved to their seaside houses.

They relocated temporarily to escape the torrid inner-land summer heat and gave life to the first families of the village, most of all to control their territories from a strategic point of view.

The most famous religious celebration in town is the one devoted to Santa Maria delle Grazie, which is held in the first week of September.

It is an important destination for devotees, where they celebrate with outdoor banquets in large tables and accordions in honour of the saint famous for his representation with a spear stuck in the body of a dragon during a fight on horseback.