Quartucciu
Quartucciu: Discover the History and Curiosities of the Municipality
Quartucciu is a Sardinian municipality located in the metropolitan city of Cagliari, with a population of about 12,848 inhabitants. If you are curious to learn more about the history of the municipality and its places of interest, keep reading!
Origins of the Name
The name Quartucciu derives from Quarto Suso, an old village that was located in the area where Quartucciu now stands. In the past, the area between Quartucciu and Quartu Sant'Elena was populated by various villages with the name Quarto. Quarto Suso, also called Quarto Toto or Quartutxo, was the last village left and the municipality took its name from it.
History
The territory of Quartucciu has been inhabited by humans since the Nuragic period. In the fifth decade of the 5th century, Quartucciu suffered numerous raids by the Vandals. During the Middle Ages, Quartucciu belonged to the Judicate of Cagliari, in the curatorship of Campidano di Càlari, and later came under the control of the Republic of Pisa.
In 1426, the Barony of Quartu, which also included Quartucciu, was granted by Alfonso V of Aragon to Antonio de Sena. In 1491, the barony was alienated to the De Sena and the town was incorporated into the royal patrimony a few years later.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the town experienced difficult times due to frequent barbarian raids and outbreaks of the plague. At the beginning of the 18th century, Quartucciu, still part of the Barony of Quartu, granted in fief to the Pes family, began to recover.
In 1717, Quartucciu and Quartu were occupied by the troops sent by Giulio Alberoni to the Spanish Expedition in Sardinia. In 1720, the island passed to the House of Savoy and Quartucciu was confirmed as a fief to the Pes family. In 1839, with the suppression of the feudal system, the town was redeemed.
Quartucciu was always a municipality, although it was part of the district of Quartu Sant'Elena until 1928, when it became, along with Pirri, Monserrato, and Selargius, a fraction of Cagliari. It became an autonomous municipality again only in 1983.
Symbols
The coat of arms and the gonfalon of Quartucciu were granted by decree of the President of the Republic in 1989. The municipal coat of arms depicts the church of Sant'Efisio with a milestone inscribed with the Roman numeral IV, from which the name of Quartucciu derives.
Monuments and Places of Interest
Religious Buildings
The Church of San Giorgio Martire is one of the most important places of interest in the municipality. Built by the Aragonese in the 14th century on an ancient structure dating back to the Pisan period, it houses several works of art, including the "Retablo" by Castagnetta from the 16th century and nine crucifixes from the 18th century. The miraculous crucifix, also called the "rain crucifix," is particularly suggestive.
Other Places of Interest
The historic center of Quartucciu is worth a visit, with its characteristic stone houses. In the municipal territory, there are also several pre-Nuragic necropolises, including the Monte Iti necropolis. The Cala Regina park, with its beautiful beach, is an ideal place to spend a day outdoors.
We hope you enjoyed this journey through the history and curiosities of Quartucciu! If you have the opportunity to visit the municipality, don't hesitate to do so. You can discover more about its history rich in events and enjoy its places of interest.
