Ales
Ales: the town in Sardinia at the foot of Mount Arci
Hello everyone! Today I'll be talking about Ales, an Italian town with 1372 residents, located in the province of Oristano, in Sardinia, in the historical region of Marmilla. This territory plays an important role in the local economy thanks to its location at the foot of Mount Arci.
History of Ales
Ales has a very ancient history, dating back to the Neolithic period, as evidenced by the presence of some Nuraghe in the area. In the Middle Ages, it belonged to the Giudicato of Arborea and after the fall of the giudicato (1420) it became part of the Marchesato of Oristano. In 1478, it passed under Aragonese rule, and the town was incorporated into the Incontrada of Parte Usellus, becoming a fiefdom of the Carroz. The Aragonese built the castle of Barumele, which is now in ruins.
Antonio Gramsci and the coat of arms of Ales
Ales is famous for being the birthplace of Antonio Gramsci, born on January 22, 1891. Although the exact place of his birth is not known with certainty, it is thought to be a house on Cattedrale street. However, it was only in 2019 that it was discovered that the true birthplace of Gramsci was another building used as a nursery.
The coat of arms of the municipality of Ales was granted by decree of the President of the Republic on October 25, 1950, while the gonfalon is a white and red banner.
Monuments and places of interest
Ales is rich in churches and ancient buildings, among which stands out the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul and the Episcopal Palace. Furthermore, Piazza Gramsci is a triangular square dedicated to Antonio Gramsci, a native of the town. The square was designed and realized by the sculptor Giò Pomodoro, as a monument entitled "Piano d'uso collettivo". The monument consists of a stone floor with various figures, recalling episodes of Gramsci's life. Some of the stones bear words in Sardinian like "sa terra" ("the land") and "su soli" ("the sun").
Ales also has an ancient castle, the Castle of Barumele, built by the Aragonese and now in ruins. There are also two ancient Nuraghe in the area, the Nuraghe Gergui and the Nuraghe Pranu Espis.
Society in Ales
The demographic evolution of Ales has been quite stable in recent years. The local mother tongue is Western Campidanese Sardinian.
This is a brief introduction to Ales, a Sardinian municipality with an ancient history and a rich culture. If you find yourself in the area, I recommend visiting some of its monuments and tasting the delicious local cuisine!
