Monastir
A Brief History of Monastir
Monastir is a municipality in the province of Sud Sardegna with a population of around 4554 inhabitants. The history of this territory dates back to the Neolithic era, when the first inhabitants settled in. Over the following millennia, this territory has seen a series of civilizations, including the Nuragic, Punic, and Roman civilizations. In the Middle Ages, the village became a monetary settlement thanks to the Camaldolese monks. The name Monastir derives from the Catalan word indicating a monastery or the Sardinian term Muristenes, indicating places dedicated to stopping and supplying provisions for travelers. Monastir was part of the Giudicato of Cagliari and later to the Giudicato of Arborea. In 1295, it was ceded to the Republic of Pisa by Mariano II of Arborea and in 1324 it passed to the Kingdom of Sardinia, under the rule of the Aragonese. In 1839, the area was liberated from the suppression of the feudal system.
Symbols
The flag of Monastir has a white flag bordered in blue.
Places of Interest
The city has several religious architectures, including the Church of San Pietro, the Church of Santa Lucia, the Church of San Giacomo, the Church of Sant'Antonio, the Church of San Sebastiano, and the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as the Church of Madonnina. Additionally, the city has a fortress of Baratuli that was built for military purposes.
Archaeological Sites
In Monastir, it is possible to visit some interesting archaeological sites. Several domus de janas (prehistoric tombs) can be found such as the Monte Oladiri (or Is Aruttas), Monte Zara, and the Mitza Morta or the Bía de Monti and a sacred nuragic area. Additionally, there is the Nuraghe Su Cuccumeu and remains of Roman times in the Santa Lucia area.
Society
The population of Monastir has had fluctuations over the years, but has stabilized around 4554 inhabitants. The variant of Sardinian language spoken in Monastir is the Campidanese Western## Campidanese occidentale.
Administration
The municipality of Monastir has a local administration that deals with internal activities of the city.
In general, Monastir is a little-known city but has interesting historical and cultural heritage. Its geographical position makes this city a place of rest and supply for travelers who travel the South-North axis. Its churches and archaeological sites are definitely worth a visit.
