Illorai
Illorai: Discovering the History of this Beautiful Sardinian Commune
Hello everyone! Today, we'll explore together some interesting facts about the history of Illorai, a small Sardinian commune located in the province of Sassari with around 757 inhabitants.
History
Illorai is one of the oldest villages in Goceano, the historical region of Sardinia where it is situated. The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times, as evidenced by the archaeological sites in the territory, including the nuraghi of Luche and Su montrigu 'e Sa Corona and the Nuragic bronzetti.
But the most important find in Illorai's territory is undoubtedly the Molia necropolis, discovered in the 1970s during the construction of the Ottana-Cantoniera del Tirso fast road. It is a complex of "domus de janas" dating back to the San Michele culture, between 3000-2300 BC. So far, nine tombs have been excavated and studied, and one of them, Tomb VII, is one of the most extensive and fascinating hypogeic constructions in Sardinia.
Illorai was also an important center during the Middle Ages, thanks to its favorable geographical location. It was part of the giudicato of Torres, in the curatorship of Goceano, a very fertile territory thanks to its vegetable gardens, crossed by the Tirso and characterized by the famous "Pont'Ezzu," the single-arched bridge of the Pisan era.
After the fall of the giudicato in 1259, Illorai passed under the dominion of the Genoese family of Doria, and then the Malaspina. In 1339, it passed to the giudicato of Arborea, and then under the Marchesato of Oristano in 1410. In 1478, Illorai was conquered by the Aragonese, becoming a royal fiefdom. Only in 1839, after the suppression of the feudal system, was it finally ransomed.
In the center of Illorai, there was also a monastery of the Augustinians, later closed due to the decline of the town in the Spanish era. The statue of St. Augustine and that of St. Nicholas of Tolentino, also an Augustinian, are now preserved in the parish church dedicated to San Gavino, together with silver objects belonging to the monastery.
In the countryside around Illorai, there are many other churches, including the sanctuary dedicated to Madonna della Neve. Still today, the day after Pentecost and on the 5th of August, one of the "long festivals" of Sardinia is celebrated here, preceded by a novena of fifteen days called "nuinare."
Illorai also had many marble, sulfur, and gypsum quarries, but today they are all abandoned.
Society
Demographic Evolution
In recent years, Illorai has seen a decline in the resident population, going from 848 inhabitants in 1951 to around 757 in 2021.
Languages and Dialects
The language spoken in Illorai is Logudorese Sardinian, more precisely Central or Common Logudorese.
Here ends our tale about the history of Illorai, I hope you enjoyed it! Come back to visit me to discover other wonderful corners of Sardinia. Bye!
