Villacidro

Villacidro is a town with 15.000 habitants in Sulcis-Iglesiente, on the west side of Medio Campidano. Altogether with Sanluri, it is the main town of the Medio-Campidano Province. At about 260 metres of altitude, on the slopes of the mount Linas (1.236 metres) between the Omu and Cucureddu mountains, its extension takes the shape of a cross. The green is one of the characteristic of this territory: do not miss walking on the Monti Mannu wood, an authentic paradise of strong live oaks, cork oaks, eucaliptus, with the fresh water spring of Segabogas on the middle of it. The all enjoying the panorama of the Canale Serci antique mine ( which, had the Nuragic people among the first users of the tinstone).   The ex Forest Service dominates this site with the state fence for the breeds of deer.  The plateaux of Matzanni with its small Punic temple and the Favisse (or Tumbas of Matzanni) and an entire series of green hills, torrents and waterfalls (among which those of the Rio Oridda e Rio Muru) are also quite enchanting landscapes.

 Villacidro is also famous because of Gabriele d’Annunzio sang about it,  in Seddanus – the waterfall of Sa Spendula (the Rio Coxinas makes a spectacular jump into a gorge facing the Campidano). It is well worth also exploring the zone between Villacidro and Gonnosfanadiga, to admire the waterfalls of Piscina Irgas and Gutturu Fenugu. Departing from the Rio Leni bridge, in proximity of the street connecting Cagliari to the town, it is possible to take a journey into the countryside, discovering the ruins of an eighteenth century foundry for silver threads and other metals. The town centre is also interesting,  starting with the church of Santa Barbara (XVI century, but only the tower bell and the major chapel remain of the original structure).

 The rustic churches of San Sisinnio, Villacidro’s co-patron (XVII century), and San Pietro (not far from where, during the second World War operated the German airport successively used by the American army. In the city in  which the Giuseppe Dessì writer was born (who in 1972 was awarded the “Premio Strega” (Witch Prize) with his outstanding book  “Paese d’ombre” ( towns of shadows), the most important monument and authentic civic emblem is the public laundry: made in iron and pot metal at the end of the nineteenth century. Until few decades ago, the women of Villacidro  used to go there for their washing, which was also a socializing moment.