The Bear Rock, which gives the name to the promontory, is a gigantic rock formation that, rising on a granite relief of about 120 m, dominates the surrounding landscape.
Over the Millenia, the rock, which dates back to the late Paleozoic (about 300 million years ago) and shaped by the constant wind- and weather’s action, has become the figure of a bear intent on watching over the sea, between Palau coast and islands of La Maddalena Archipelago. The rock has been frequented since prehistoric times and it was known by many sailors who approached Sardinia, so much so as to be identified as one of the key points of navigation in the Mediterranean Sea: the promontory has been identified by some scholars as the Homeric land of the Lestrigons. Evidence of its presence is found in the writings of the first geographers who studied Sardinia. The first graphic illustration of the rock appears in the "Itinerary of the island of Sardinia" by A. Lamarmora, which traces the singular resemblance to about 2000 years before, later Ptolemy (2nd cent. d.c.) in his "Geography" indicates this place with the name of "Areti Promontorium". In 1993, Sardinia’s Region, for its morphological geological characteristics and for its representativeness and specificity, declared the bear rock a natural monument, and the bear image has become the symbol of Palau. The bear is so important for the community, that it is also represented in the Municipality banner.
From the top of the hill, between bear’s legs, you can appreciate a unique and fascinating panorama that embraces a wide stretch of the northern coast and La Maddalena archipelago up to Corsica mountains. Not far from the rock, in an area characterized by the rich presence of Mediterranean vegetation, there is the large and evocative Forte di Capo d'Orso, an imposing military battery of the late nineteenth century. It was entirely built with large granite boulders by the Military Engineers of the Navy and it was part of the larger defensive complex of the fortifications, placed to defend the military base of La Maddalena.
