Siliqua
Welcome to Siliqua, the land of the pod!
Siliqua, also called ''Silìcua'' in the Sardinian language, is a small municipality in the province of South Sardinia, located in the valley of the Cixerri river. The city owes its name to the Latin word ''siliqua'' which means pod. In this area of Sardinia, the word ''siliqua'' is also used to indicate a piece of fruit, such as a slice of orange or lemon.
The history of Siliqua is very ancient and traces of human habitation dating back to the pre-Nuragic and Nuragic period can be found. During the Phoenician-Punic period, settlements were built in the area of ''Medau Casteddu'', where a necropolis was also found. During the Roman period, an important aqueduct that reached Cagliari, the current capital of Sardinia, passed through this area.
From medieval wars to the end of the feudal system
During the Middle Ages, Siliqua was part of the Giudicato of Cagliari and the castle of Acquafredda was built by the Lacon-Massa marquises, the last judges of Cagliari. At the fall of the Giudicato in 1258, the castle and the village passed to the Pisan family of Gherardesca. The castle came under the direct control of the municipality of Pisa and the judge of Arborea his ally in 1295. However, in 1324 it was attacked by the Aragonese, who took it a few years later, following the Aragonese conquest of Sardinia. In 1412 the territory was given in feudo by the Aragonese king Ferdinand I of Aragon ''the Just'' to Pietro Ogter. Subsequently, Siliqua was incorporated into the marquisate of Villacidro and Palmas. Finally, it was redeemed in 1839 to the Bon Crespi di Valdaura, last feudal lords, with the abolition of the feudal system, becoming a municipality administered by a mayor and a municipal council.
The symbols of Siliqua
The emblem of the Municipality of Siliqua represents the hill, declared a natural monument in 1993, on which the Castle of Acquafredda stands, which belonged to the family of Ugolino della Gherardesca, remembered by Dante in the ''Divine Comedy''. The village's standard, instead, is a white cloth.
Monuments and places of interest
Siliqua offers many places to visit during a visit to the city. First of all, the city has numerous ''domus de janas'', prehistoric tombs carved into the rock. The main monument of the village is the Castle of Acquafredda, a castle dating back to the thirteenth century that dominates the Cixerri valley. The castle is connected to the castles of Gioiosaguardia in Villamassargia, Baratuli in Monastir and San Michele in Cagliari. The castle owes its name to the spring of water that flows on the hill.
In addition, the town has numerous churches of Aragonese origin. Among these, the Church of Sant'Anna, the Church of Sant'Antonio da Padova, the Church of San Giorgio Martire, the Church of San Giuseppe Calasanzio and the Church of San Sebastiano are worth visiting.
Siliqua is also surrounded by countryside rich in fauna and flora, including Campanasissa and Mount Arcosu (which gives its name to the Monte Arcosu Reserve). Several naturalistic excursions are also available upon reservation, which cross the mountains surrounding the city.
Conclusions
In summary, Siliqua is a small town that offers numerous historical and naturalistic attractions to its visitors. The city not only represents an ideal stop for those looking to discover the beauties of Sardinia, but also offers many opportunities for history and nature lovers. Come and visit Siliqua and let yourself be enchanted by the beauty of the pod and the millennia-old history of this charming city.
