Marmilla and Sarcidano · Provincia di Oristano

Things to do in Baradili

Things to do in Baradili, Sardinia's smallest municipality: a medieval-looking village, Santa Margherita church, archaeology and a ravioli festival.

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Baradili, Bobadri in Sardinian, is the least populated municipality in Sardinia: fewer than a hundred people in a village that still looks medieval, in Marmilla between the Giara plateau and Monte Arci, province of Oristano. You can see it quickly, but it leaves the memory of a place outside time – stone houses, silence and countryside of vines, olives and almonds. It's perfect if you love tiny villages and genuine traditions, and it's famous across the area for its ravioli festival.

What to see in Baradili

The village

Baradili keeps its traditional courtyard houses, including the old monte granatico, the communal grain store, and historic homes such as casa Usai and casa Lavra. Local tradition says the village stands on top of a nuraghe from which you could see the Su Nuraxi fortress at Barumini.

Church of Santa Margherita

The parish church, begun in the 18th century and completed in 1935, is dedicated to the patron saint, Margaret of Antioch. Inside are wooden statues of saints, including Saint Anthony of Padua with the Child. Out in the countryside stand the little churches of Santa Maria and Santa Restituta.

Archaeology

The area has a single-tower nuraghe and a Nuragic-era fountain cut into the rock, reworked over the centuries and still in use. At Cibixia, the foundations of a large Roman building divided into many rooms – possibly baths – have come to light, along with tombs containing amphorae and oil lamps.

Things to do in Baradili

Baradili is a great base for exploring Marmilla at a gentle pace: the Giara, home to wild ponies, and Monte Arci are close by, and the country roads are lovely on foot or by bike. Some of Sardinia's most important nuraghi are just minutes away. Have a look below at the experiences offered by local operators.

History

Inhabited in Nuragic and Roman times, Baradili appears in documents in 1342 as Baratuli. In the Middle Ages it belonged to the Judicate of Arborea; it then passed to the Aragonese as part of the Carroz fief and, from 1603, to the marquisate of Quirra, until it bought its freedom in 1839. In 1927 it was merged into Baressa, later regaining its independence.

What to eat and buy

The speciality is handmade ravioli: filled with ricotta and lemon, ricotta and spinach, or potato. The countryside produces wine, olive oil and almonds, which go into traditional sweets.

Festivals and traditions

Sa festa manna, the «big feast», in late May, in honour of Saint Margaret.
Santa Margherita and the Ravioli Festival, in mid-July. Legend has it that farmers found a small statue of the saint while ploughing and took it to the parish priest, who was about to eat a plate of three ravioli: as the crowd gathered, the meal turned into a banquet with ravioli for everyone. The festival has been held since 1995.

Nearby

Baressa, about 2 km away: the village of almond trees.
Genuri, with the San Marco nuraghe, and Ussaramanna, with the San Pietro nuraghe.
Gonnosnò, with the sacred well of San Salvatore.
Tuili, with Villa Asquer and the Sardegna in Miniatura park.
Barumini and Su Nuraxi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, about a quarter of an hour away.

Getting there and when to go

From the SS 131 Carlo Felice, exit at Uras and head inland, or follow the SS 197 to Villamar and then the roads to Lunamatrona and Ussaramanna. Cagliari airport and port are about an hour and a quarter away. The best time is from spring to early summer; in mid-July the festival brings the village to life.