Sardinian history experts believe the present village to be the ancient Sulci. As far back as the time of Caracalla references were made to Sulci as an important station on the eastern coast of Sardinia. Distances referred to other villages reported in Roman documents indicate that today’s Girasole is to be identified with the ancient city Sulci, whose inhabitants the Greek Ptolemy also called sulcitani. Historically Girasole is one of the most important villages of Ogliastra having stood on the same site for over 3000 years.

The Phoenicians, the Carthaginians and the Romans in 200 BC decreed its strategic importance as a seasonal stopover. Subjected to the heavy attacks of the Barbagia inhabitants first and then to Vandal raids in the 6th century, the village withstood the Arab incursions of the following centuries. Thanks to its seaport, it became a flourishing centre during the Pisan and Aragonese domination.

Girasole is separated from Lotzorai to the north east by the Rio Girasole, in the Iscrixedda area; to the south the boundary with Tortolì is partly marked by the pond and to the northwest by Villagrande. It is situated in a favourable geographic position on the Orientale Sarda road, easily reached from all Sardinia, 141 km from Cagliari, 171 km from Olbia and only 4 km from the port of Arbatax and 3 km from the airport of Tortolì.

Girasole is a small village, only 1 km from the sea, surrounded by unspoilt countryside in the centre of the Ogliastra plain. Over the last twenty years the population has almost doubled thanks to the strong influence of tourism in the area. Girasole’s territory extends for about 13 km and farming plays an important role in the community.