Quartu Sant'Elena
Quartu Sant’Elena is the third city of Sardinia, for population. From about twenty years it has partially lost the urban typology that characterized it: today the old town center conserves beautiful "campidanesi houses", in good part refurbished, but the periphery has enormously extended with palaces and modern constructions that can't be considered interesting for visitors. It is better to stop in the heart of Quartu and to visit the churches of San Pietro di Ponte, Sant’Efisio, Sant’Agata (XI century), Santa Maria di Cepola (XII century) and the parish of Sant’Elena (XVI century). Or Sa Dom’e farra (“the house of grain”), a house-museum in typical campidanese style, where are collected many testimonies of the peasant world of the Island, from the 1700's to nowadays.
On the occasion of the festivity of Sant’Elena Empress (14th September), the most important church of Quartu Sant’Elena fills up of devotees. Once the local population addressed to the Saint in the hope of having abundance in the fields. Today the simulacrum parades on a coach through the streets of the city, accompanied by the faithfuls and the folkloric groups, but the spirit is much more tied to the faith than to the working activities. Among the festivals stands out the Sciampitta that, from twenty years, is a traditional appointment with the folklore. It attracts a numerous public and groups from other regions of Italy and abroad. Quartu is famous also for the creation of broochs, buttons of great value, rings (the Sardinian wedding ring is one of the most demanded models on the market) and bracelets. Very appreciated also the works in filigree.
