AUTUNNO IN BARBAGIA 2026 - MEANA SARDO
From the Mediterranean mother goddesses to the legend of Maria Incantada, fairy of the nuraghe, the story of Meana Sardo leads us into a tale full of suggestions.
The three beautiful figurines, found in the Polu area, date back to the Middle Neolithic, depicting the Mediterranean mother goddess with obese forms, symbol of prosperity.
The territory preserves numerous testimonies of the Nuragic era: there are both single-tower nuraghi from the Middle Bronze Age (1660-1330 BC) and multiple-tower nuraghi from the Late Bronze Age (1300-1100 BC). The nuraghi Nolza, Su Nuraxi and Maria Incantada date back to this last phase, to which the legend of the jana (fairy) in love is linked. According to the popular story, Maria Incantada (or Cantada) lived in the nuraghe and, while she weaved on the gold loom with gold threads, with a melodious voice she sang for her lover who was in "Su cùccuru de Nolza", in the homonymous nuraghe, held prisoner by a giant who guarded a great treasure.
From the tip of Mount Bruncu Sant'Elia, at 1083 m, you can enjoy a broad view of the Gennargentu mountains and the deep valleys carved out by the watercourses. The main one is the Araxisi stream which marks the border with Atzara. Walking along the course of its numerous tributaries you may come across one of the very fresh water sources used by the population.
Downy oaks, cork oaks and holm oaks populate the municipal woods of Su Cumunali and Su Melone surrounded by the typical essences of the Mediterranean scrub: wild olive, strawberry tree, broom, mastic tree, myrtle, cistus and heather.
The streets of the historic center of Meana Sardo are remarkably evocative and reveal glimpses of ancient streets. The typical houses are built in schist stone and embellished with arched portals in Campidanese style or with beautiful 17th-18th century frames in trachyte and sandstone, in Gothic-Catalan style, the work of local artisans called "picapedreris".
Along the main road you come across the parish church of San Bartolomeo. The first evidence of its existence dates back to the 14th century, but no trace remains. The current structure dates back, in fact, to the 16th century. Against the simple and severe background of the facade, the notable portal stands out, surmounted by a particular square window in which the same Gothic style elements are repeated. The bell tower on the right of the facade, completed in 1673, preserves beautiful friezes created on the trachyte balustrade.
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday 3th and Sunday 4th October in Meana Sardo.
