Marmilla and Sarcidano · Città metropolitana di Cagliari

Things to do in Ballao

Things to do in Ballao, Sardinia: Funtana Coberta sacred well, swimming and canoeing on the Flumendosa, Corti Rosas mine, festivals.

Ballao, Sardegna — © Aga Khan (IT) · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Ballao is a village of about 700 people in the Gerrei, set in a wide bend of the Flumendosa, Sardinia's river with the largest water flow. Hills covered in cork oak, holm oak and Mediterranean scrub frame a landscape where the river is the real star, with oddly shaped rocks and natural pools. It's also home to one of the island's finest Nuragic sacred wells, Funtana Coberta. Ideal for nature lovers, birdwatchers, canoeists and archaeology fans.

What to see in Ballao

Funtana Coberta sacred well

About 3 km from the village lies the Nuragic sacred well of Funtana Coberta, built of limestone blocks. An atrium with its original paving leads to twelve steps down to the water chamber, roofed with a corbelled tholos dome. It was a place of water worship, also used in Roman and Byzantine times, and recalls the famous well of Santa Vittoria at Serri.

Corti Rosas mine

The disused Corti Rosas mine, where antimony was extracted until the 1970s, is part of Sardinia's Geomining Park. The washery, flotation plant and power station still stand: a stop for industrial-heritage fans.

Country churches

Out in the countryside stand chapels of Byzantine origin, later rebuilt in Romanesque style: Santa Cruxi (Holy Cross), Sant'Arroccu (St Roch), Santu Pedru (St Peter) and Santa Maria Nuraxi.

Things to do in Ballao

The Flumendosa is all about water: the natural pool of Corru 'e Arenas is the favourite summer swimming spot, while the river bends are great for canoeing and fishing. Along the banks, among tamarisks and oleanders, you can spot grey herons, mallards, pheasants and brightly coloured bee-eaters, as well as turtles and eels. The hills offer trails for hiking and mountain biking and, in autumn, mushroom foraging. Discover local operators' experiences below.

Beaches near Ballao

Ballao has no sea, but it has its own river «beaches»: the sandy banks and pools of the Flumendosa, such as Corru 'e Arenas, are perfect on hot days. The nearest sea is on the south-east coast near Muravera, about an hour's drive away.

History

The area was inhabited in the Bronze Age, as the nuraghi and the sacred well show. In Roman times there was a staging post here. In the Middle Ages Ballao belonged to the Judicate of Cagliari, then passed to Arborea, Pisa and in 1324 to Aragon. In the 14th century plague emptied the nearby village of Nuraxi. In 1681 Ballao became part of the county of Villasalto, then the marquisate of Villaclara, until it was redeemed in 1839.

Food and shopping

The riverside fields produce citrus fruit, olives, vegetables and fruit. Traditional sweets include pardulas (sweet ricotta pastries), amaretti and pabassinas with raisins. Weaving baskets and mats is an old local craft.

Festivals and traditions

16 January: Sant'Antonio Abate bonfires, with sweets, broad beans and wine.
Easter Monday: feast of Santa Maria, with a procession, communal lunch, traditional singing and dancing.
22 July: Santa Maria Maddalena, the patron saint, a festival lasting several days.
2 November: Is Aimedasa, when children go door to door for sweets and fruit.

Nearby

Armungia: a nuraghe in the square and Emilio Lussu's house.
Villasalto: the Su Suergiu antimony mine.
Silius: the ruins of Sassai castle.
Goni: the Pranu Muttedu menhirs.

Getting there and when to go

Cagliari's airport and port are about an hour and a quarter away along the SS387 through the Gerrei. Spring is ideal for birdwatching and hiking; summer for swimming in the river's natural pools.