Places to visit in Carbonia

At about ten kilometers from Carbonia, it is worth visiting Tratalias, gorgeous locality in which there is one of the most beautiful cathedral in Sardinia: the church of Santa Maria di Monserrato (XIII century), which was an episcopal center until 1503. It is surrounded by a medieval village, recently restored, beside an ancient monastery and some other buildings in "ladiri" (bricks made of straw and mud). The village was abandoned in the second half of the 1900, when the waters of the nearby river Palmas began to make the dwellings instable. In the village, it is possible to visit the Sulcitano handicraft Fair, a permanent market-exhibition on local tradition objects. The Madonna Queen of the Sulcis is celebrated on the day of the Ascension, when the simulacrum arrive from Iglesias to the town. Between May and June, the Festival of the sheep is held in Tratalias. The local shepherds show the tourists their ability in shearing and in the preparation of cheese and ricotta. Typical tastings of wines and typical dishes are offered along the day.