Oniferi
Oniferi: A Municipality in the Province of Nuoro
Hello everyone! Today I will talk to you about Oniferi, a municipality in the province of Nuoro, in Sardinia. It is a small town with about 863 inhabitants, but with a very fascinating history and culture.
History
The area of Oniferi has been inhabited since the pre-Nuragic and Nuragic periods, as shown by the presence of domus de janas and numerous Nuraghe in the surrounding territory. In the Middle Ages, the town was part of the Giudicato of Torres, and then passed to the curatoria of Sarule and Ottana. After the fall of the Giudicato around 1259, Oniferi became part of the Giudicato of Arborea, and from 1410 to the Marchesato of Oristano. In 1478, the city was conquered by the Aragonese and made a fiefdom that was then incorporated in 1617 in the Marchesato of Orani, before being redeemed in 1839 with the suppression of the feudal system.
Symbols
The coat of arms and the banner of Oniferi were granted by decree of the President of the Republic on August 2, 2007. The banner is a yellow cloth.
Monuments and Places of Interest
Archaeological sites
The territory of Oniferi is characterized by the presence of numerous archaeological sites from the pre-Nuragic and Nuragic periods, such as the necropolis of Sas Concas.
The hypogeal necropolis of Sas Concas is one of the most extensive and ancient complexes of domus de Janas in Barbagia. Dating back to around 2700 BC, it is located on a trachyte outcrop near State Road 128, just before the junction with 131 Dcn towards Nuoro. It is characterized by tombs with complex layouts and mysterious architectural and symbolic elements. In particular, some tombs have graffiti depicting stylized men upside down. In the same tomb, there is a representation of the Great Bear with the horizon line and figures of topsy-turvy characters descending along the east wall. Furthermore, in the same tomb, there is the engraving of the "butterfly," unfortunately stolen by unknown individuals. The representation of Sas Concas in Oniferi was a complex and difficult-to-read representation, perhaps meant to signify the rebirth of life after death.
Society
Demographic evolution
Oniferi has seen a constant decrease in population since the 1950s. In 1951, the population was 1,736 inhabitants, while in 2019 it was 863 inhabitants.
Ethnic and foreign minorities
According to ISTAT data as of December 31, 2009, the foreign population of Oniferi was 15 people, with Romania as the most represented nationality.
Languages and dialects
Oniferi speaks the variant of the Sardinian language called Logudorese of Nuorese type.
Culture
Music
In Oniferi, you can breathe an air of tradition thanks to the presence of the famous canto a tenore, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a form of polyphonic singing typical of the central regions of Sardinia, in which four male voices alternate in an elaborate counterpoint.
Economy
Oniferi's economy is predominantly pastoral, thanks to the large quantity of pastures present in the surrounding territory. The town is also known for cheese production, such as pecorino sardo.
In summary, Oniferi is a town with a great historical and cultural charm, where important archaeological sites can be found and where an atmosphere of tradition and authenticity can be breathed.
