December
THE COMUNITA' MONTANA OF "SERPEDDI'”
The territory
of the XXIV Comunità 
Montana
(= Consortium of communes in mountain areas) of 
Serpeddì
represents a very interesting area in Sardinia and the Mediterranean. In fact,
this vast area, belonging to south-eastern Sardinia, offers an original synthesis
of seaside and mountains; its coastal area is a suitable place for tourism,
and the interior, mostly rural, is of great naturalistic interest. Through the
woods of Burcei and Sinnai, in fact (up to the beaches of Quartu, Maracalagonis
and Villasimius) winds a charming itinerary of great environmental value. The
Pro Loco, and the XXIV Comunità Montana above all, have played a major role
in the protection of this great treasure, employing all their energy in order
to safeguard and improve the territory. The creation of the Regional Natural
Park of “Sette Fratelli-Monte Genis”, which has offered the great opportunity
to develop an eco-compatible economy, represented a crucial initiative for this
area. Moving eastwards within the area of the XXIV Comunità Montana, one will
come across the territory of Serdiana, situated (together with the area of Dolianova)
in the heart of Parteolla. Here, the countryside is covered with well-known
vineyards, whose products partly reach the nearby Cantina Sociale (= cooperative
wine growers’association) of Dolianova, whereas a good percentage of them is
bought by local wine companies whose wines are famous all over the world. Among
the numerous areas of great naturalistic interest, let
us mention the damp area of “Su staini saliu” and the area of “S’Isca Manna”.
From the historical point of view, we must not forget the little country church
of Santa Maria di Sibiola. The adjacent territory of Dolianova, too, offers
the visitor a great deal of important historical witness. “Sa Domu e S’Orku”
dates back 
to
the nuraghic period, whereas the remains of “Sa Domu e s’Ossu” date from the
Punic-Phoenician age. Other interesting remains are those of “Mitza Salamu”.
The two villages (San Pantaleo and Sicci San Biagio) whose union gave birth
to the Commune of Dolianova in 1905 date back to the Middle Ages. A few important
remains are left of these two villages: the church of San Biagio and the Cathedral
of San Pantaleo. The history of Dolianova is closely connected with the richness
of its soil, which has always offered excellent products, from the large-scale
production of olive oil to the flourishing wine output, well-known and appreciated
in Italy and abroad. Extremely wealthy is the vast area of Sinnai, which extends
all through the mountains of the Park of “Sette Fratelli” (the haunt of deer,
eagles and wild boars) up to the beach of Solanas. There are numerous archaeological
sites in this area, such as the Domus de Janas of Santu Basileddu and the nuraghic
complex of Terricci. Sinnai’s economy has always been based on agropastoral
business, but more recently tourism has offered new profitable opportunites.
Among its treasures, let us mention the age-old forests of Tuviois, Musui, Maidopis.
Handicraft, too,
deserves attention, especially the high-quality typical baskets “su strexiu
‘e fenu”, characterised by the use of special materials such as cane and hay.
The parish church of Santa Barbara and the rich municipal picture-gallery of
Sinnai are both of great artistical value. The Commune of 
Maracalagonis
lies more to the south: here (the birth-place of deer), one can admire marvellous
places where the wind carved splendid figures out of millenary rocks. Maracalagonis,
too, boasts ancient remains such as those of Matta Manna and Bruncu. The village
of today originates from Mara and Calagonis, which were unified in the XIV century.
The village’s parish church, devoted to the Virgin of Angels, was built in 1225,
but was rebuilt several times. Burcei (650 m) is the most representative mountain
village of the whole consortium. Its territory offers a luxuriant lanscape,
purest watersprings, genuine traditions and a most renowned gastronomy. The
village dates from the first half of the XVII century, even if the area also
includes a few traces of nuraghic settlements. It was a few shepherds from Barbagia
who first settled there, next to the spring called “Sa Mitza de su Salixi”.
The village has always lived on agriculture and sheep-breeding, in fact several
festivals (such as the Festival of Cherries, in June) rightly un
derline
the quality of its local products. The territory of Quartucciu, too, deserves
attention, with its interesting nuraghic sites (Sa domu ‘e s’Orku, Medadeddu
and Piccia), its beautiful churches such as the XIII-XIV-century church of Sant’Efisio,
and the parish church of San Giorgio del….. The archaeological importance of
Sant’Isidoro (with the church of the same name), so rich in sites and remains,
is remarkable, too. Quartu Sant’Elena, the third city in Sardinia after Cagliari
and Sassari, hardly needs to be introduced. The presence of man in this territory
dates from a long, long time ago: the remains of Viale Colombo and Is Arena
s
date back to prehistory. Nuraghic traces are to be found in the area of Terra
Mala. Today, the city lives mostly on service industry, and (thanks to its shores)
summer tourism, whereas its traditional economy maintains the production of
wine. The municipal territory of Quartu includes one of the most interesting
natural zones in Europe: the pond of Molentargiu. Among the city’s monuments,
let us mention the XVIII-century church of Sant’Elena, the XI-century Romanesque
buildings of Santa Maria di Cepola and the church of San Pietro di Ponte. Still
to mention is the territory of Villasimius, one of the most beautiful and equipped
seaside resorts of Southern Sardinia. Once a little agricultural village, partly
devoted to the exploitation of local coal, the centre has shown (since the sixties)
an outbreak of tourist business: up to 500000 units were registered. Its beaches
are famous both in Italy and abroad, and the abundance of fish in the sea depths
draws the attention of underwater sports amateurs. The new tourist port, provided
with dock service and 750 boat posts, is well-equipped, in order to satisfy
all sportsmen’requests; moreover, it is situated in one of the most beautiful
and suggestive areas of Southern Sardinia. We must underline that the marine
area of Villasimius is now a Geomarine Park including three zones subjected
to different degrees of control/protection, in order to guarantee the safeguard
of a priceless environmental treasure, and new opportunities of economic growth.
Archaeology
SILANUS
THE CHURCH OF SAINT LAWRENCE
Silanus, country of around
2600 inhabitants, situated on the slope at the base of the Arbo Mountain, he
has had in activity the caves of mortar famous since the Middle Ages, but it
owes his great prestige to two monuments: the church of Saint Lawrence and that
of Saint Sabina.
The foundation of the church of Saint Lawrence happened around 1150 as dependence
of the abbey of Saint Maria of Court; it reveals maestranze of French
education, perhaps the same that they worked to the Saint Pietro of Sindìa,
and it has a simple façade, ornate of hanging bows, that it finishes
with a bell tower to sail. To the inside Three hundred frescos rests are found
you, in which, between images of other saints, a big figure of Saint Cristoforo
camps.
SILIQUA
THE CASTLE OF ACQUAFREDDA
The
Castle of Acquafredda or Silìqua was built on the summit of a hill along
the road Siliqua-Nuxis to defense of the miningzone, in the XVI from the family
pisana of the Donoratico of the Gherardesca, more precisely from the
Count Ugolino. Him, fallen in misfortune towards the Republic in Pisa, he was
imprisoned it “Tower of the hunger” where it dies in 1289.
The Castle passed then under the control of the republic pisana. From
1326 at 1410 o'clock it was ownership of the aragonesi and after this
date the castle was not more inhabited and passed in the hands of different
feudal families.
The Castle preserves ample building lines, the central mastio and some cisterns
and along the slopes of the hill they have scattered the ruins of a military
village of the Middle Ages.
VILLAPERUCCIO
THE NECROPOLIS OF MONTESSU
Placed to 200 meters high
s.l.m. the Necropolis of Montessu offers a splendid sight on the Gulf of Palmas.
It is her vast in Sardinia and it counts around 40 graves “domus de janas”
of different typologies. Surrounded by the Mediterranean stain this necropolis
introduces phases of the cultures of Ozieri, Mountain Claro and Bonnanaro.
It is reached in car up to the feet of a rocky wall after that it is continued
easily afoot thanks to a staircase that arrives in top actually.
The first grave that she is met arrivals in top is a big cave-temple with an
entry of 2 meters for 2, an atrium with a pit for the fire and a big sepulchral
room and so away.
The incisions and the reliefs of the graves introduce profiles of the Mother
Goddess, concentric semicircles, square with horns spiraliformi and heads
with horns of rams. An isolated place but very suggestive that deserves of to
be visited.
