Mandas
The story of Mandas: a journey through time
Mandas is a town located in the province of South Sardinia with a population of approximately 2086 inhabitants and a rich history full of events and curiosities. The name of the town, which was already known in the 13th century, derives from the word "mandara" in Sardinian and "mandra" in Latin, both indicating a enclosure for livestock.
From Nuraghi to the Duchy of Mandas
The territory of Mandas has been inhabited since pre-Nuragic and Nuragic times, as evidenced by the presence of giants' tombs and some Nuraghi in the area. In the Middle Ages, Mandas belonged to the Giudicato of Cagliari and was part of the curatoria of Siurgus, becoming its capital after Siurgus Donigala. After the fall of the Giudicato in 1258, it passed to the Pisans and later to the Aragonese, who made it a fiefdom. In the 14th century, the fiefdom was granted to the Carroz, who turned it into a duchy in 1604.
The end of the feudal system and the 2016 reform
Mandas declined in the 15th century along with other towns in the curatoria. In 1839, the feudal system was abolished and the town was redeemed from the lordship of the last duke, Pedro Tellez-Giron di Alcantara. In 2001, following the establishment of the new provinces in Sardinia, the town of Mandas was supposed to be aggregated to the newborn province of Medio Campidano. However, with the Regional Law of October 13, 2003, it was decided to maintain the town in the province of Cagliari, of which it was a part until the 2016 reform.
Monuments and places of interest: discovering the beauty of Mandas
The parish church of San Giacomo, located on the outskirts of the town, is the most important monument. The structure preserves several works by local and Spanish carvers, including a wooden group with the crucifix, the Madonna and Saint John, the statues of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne in the main altar and various carved and gilded wooden altars.
Society: demography and language of Mandas
The demographic evolution of Mandas has undergone various phases, starting from 2809 inhabitants in 1861 to 2086 in 2018. The variant of the Sardinian language spoken is Western Campidanese Sardo.
Economy: agriculture and livestock make the difference
Mandas' economy is mainly based on agriculture, with wheat cultivation and viticulture representing the main activities. There is also a significant presence of sheep, pig, and cattle farming activities.
Infrastructure and transportation: Mandas railway
The city of Mandas houses an ARST station on the Cagliari-Isili railway and serves as the terminus for the Mandas-Arbatax railway, now only active as the tourist railway of the Trenino Verde.
Discovering Mandas means taking a journey through time: from prehistory to the present day, the city can amaze visitors with its history and beauty. The church of San Giacomo and the Mandas railway are just some of the spectacular examples of what the city has to offer. But not only that: agriculture and livestock are the main economic activities, and the city boasts a rich historical language, Western Campidanese Sardo.
