The municipality of Loiri - Porto San Paolo has seen the succession of different civilizations in its territory.

Nuraghi, Roman ruins, testimonies of the Maritime Republics and typical "stazzi" of Gallura create the historical memory of the two towns. The small village of Porto San Paolo was formed by a community of people from Ponza who practiced fishing with small boats, and who settled on its shores.

The economic development and the recent tourist boom have also affected this village, which in a short time has become a lively coastal reality. The town of Loiri has ancient origins: during the Roman era, it was an important road junction along the Olbia - Karalis road, and its port was located in correspondence of the current Porto San Paolo. In the Middle Ages were born some centers of great importance, in which the life revolved around a country church (for example the church of Santa Giusta). In the last century the whole territory has been the protagonist of an unprecedented economic and demographic explosion. For the municipality of Loiri - Porto San Paolo, the Protected Marine Area of Tavolara - Punta Coda Cavallo hopes to be a stimulus for a policy of coastal management that guarantees a sustainable development of the territory.