Villa Verde
Welcome to Villa Verde, a small Sardinian municipality with a great history and unique natural beauties
Hello everyone, today I want to take you on a journey to discover Villa Verde, a municipality located in the province of Oristano in Sardinia, with a millenary history and a surprising natural beauty. In this story, I will talk about the physical geography of this place, the history that made it what it is today, and all the natural beauties that make it unique and beautiful.
Physical geography
Territory
Villa Verde is located 200 meters above sea level and its territory extends for 17.34 km² on the northeastern slope of Mount Arci. The territory is predominantly hilly, with a high area of volcanic formation and a low area of sedimentary formation. The high area is characterized by a rich vegetation of oak and cork trees, while the low area is characterized by wooded crops and pastures. In this place there are also several watercourses, such as the Rio Bau Majori and the Rio Bingia Cresia, which join to form the Rio Croxiugrussu, and numerous springs, including those of Mitza Margiani, Santu Mauru, and Gergui.
History
Prehistory and ancient and medieval history
The territory of Villa Verde has a millenary history, inhabited since the Neolithic period, as evidenced by the numerous findings of worked obsidian. In the territory of Villa Verde there are the remains of about twenty nuraghes, some of notable importance such as the towers of Gergui, Is Cottillas, and Truttiris, and the villages of Brunk'e s'Omu and Nurax'e Mau. In Roman times, in the territory of Villa Verde there was a vertical oven for the ceramics' cooking and a stretch of road inside the Mitza Margiani forest. In the Middle Ages, the territory was called Bànnari and was part of the curatorship of Parte Usellus of the Judicate of Arborea.
Contemporary history
Following the fall of the Judicate of Arborea, Villa Verde passed under the Marquisate of Oristano and then under Aragonese dominion. In 1603 the village was incorporated into the Marquisate of Quirra and subsequently was redeemed by the feudal lords in 1839 with the suppression of the feudal system. In 1861 Villa Verde became an autonomous municipality with the name of Bannari, and then assumed its current denomination in 1954.
Cultural heritage
Monuments and places of interest
Villa Verde is a municipality rich in monuments and places of interest that bear witness to its millenary history. Among the main monuments, we can mention the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta, built in the thirteenth century in Gothic-Catalan style and modified in the eighteenth century with the addition of a Baroque bell tower; the church of San Sebastiano, dating back to the fifteenth century; and the Nuraghic Complex of Nurax'e Mau, which includes a central tower surrounded by three minor towers and an imposing wall. Furthermore, Villa Verde is surrounded by numerous medieval and nuraghe villages, including Brunk'e s'Omu.
Traditions and festivals
Villa Verde is a municipality that still preserves the ancient Sardinian traditions. One of the most important events is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, which is held every year on September 13, 14 and 15 and includes a solemn procession through the streets of the village and the preparation of typical Sardinian dishes such as porceddu, culurgiones, and pane carasau.
Natural beauties
Mount Arci and green areas
Villa Verde is surrounded by the wonderful nature of Sardinia, and in particular of the volcanic massif of Mount Arci. This volcanic massif is known for the great presence of real obsidian mines, thanks to which the nuragic people developed a strong commercial activity. Mount Arci is now an ideal destination for hiking, walking and nature lovers. In addition, near the village there are some green areas such as the Natural Reserve of Sasso di Simone, ideal for birdwatching enthusiasts, and the Regional Reserve of Mount Arci, a real natural oasis.
Lake Omodeo
Finally, we cannot fail to mention Lake Omodeo, located a short distance from Villa Verde. This artificial lake, the largest in Sardinia, is a perfect place to practice water sports such as fishing, windsurfing and canoeing, but also to relax in a unique atmosphere immersed in nature.
I hope that this story has allowed you to get to know Villa Verde better, a municipality with a great Sardinian heart that awaits you for a visit to discover its history and natural beauty.
