Marmilla and Sarcidano · Città metropolitana di Cagliari

Things to do in Barrali

Things to do in Barrali, Sardinia: Monte Uda pine forest and views, the Rio Mannu, nuraghi, local bread and wine and the Santa Lucia festival.

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Barrali is a small farming village of about a thousand people in Trexenta, the hilly area north of Cagliari, about 40 minutes' drive from the city. It lies on the banks of the Rio Mannu at the foot of Monte Uda, a pine-covered hill with views from the Gennargentu mountains to the Gulf of Cagliari. It's a simple, authentic place, ideal if you're after green walks, country flavours and village festivals.

What to see in Barrali

Monte Uda

Monte Uda (about 370 metres) is home to a large pine forest and a municipal park. At the top are a stone altar and a statue of Mary Help of Christians facing the village. On clear days you can see Trexenta, Marmilla as far as the Giara plateau, the Campidano plain and the sea at Cagliari. On the slopes stand old shepherds' farmsteads called masonis.

The village

In the centre are the parish church of Santa Lucia, the patron saint, and the square of Funtana Manna, named after the old spring where women went to fetch water. Casa Maxia, a late-19th-century manor house, shows the typical layout of Trexenta homes, with a large courtyard and rooms for farm work.

Archaeology

The area has Nuragic remains, including a lookout tower on Monte Uda and the nuraghe known as sa Domu 'e s'Orcu («the ogre's house») on the road to Donori, plus the ruins of the medieval village of Natali.

Things to do in Barrali

Monte Uda is perfect for walking, running and mountain biking in the pine woods, with scenic stops at sunset. Along the Rio Mannu you'll find small gorges and old fords to explore on foot. You can visit farms and wineries in Trexenta and taste bread baked in wood-fired ovens. Below this text you'll find experiences from local operators, ready to book.

History

The area was frequented in the Neolithic and the Nuragic age, with towers built on the hills to watch over the plain. In the Middle Ages Barrali belonged to the Judicate of Cagliari, in the Trexenta district; it then passed to Arborea, Pisa and the Aragonese, who placed it among the Alagón family's lands. Depopulated by plague and hardship, it was refounded in 1646 and became a self-governing municipality after feudalism ended in 1839. The name is thought to come from barralis, pergola-trained vines.

Food and shopping

Barrali is a land of orchards and vegetable gardens: peaches, oranges, apples and grapes, extra virgin olive oil and wines such as Nuragus and Monica. Durum-wheat bread baked in wood-fired ovens is a living tradition, as are sheep's and goat's cheeses.

Festivals and traditions

The main festival is Santa Lucia on the first Sunday of July, with a procession, folk groups and launeddas players (Sardinia's ancient reed pipes); a second, quieter feast is held on 13 December. In early September comes San Gemiliano, once the day farm-labour contracts began.

Nearby

Pimentel: the Corongiu and s'Acqua Salida domus de janas.
Senorbì: Monte Luna archaeological park and the Sa Domu Nosta museum.
Ortacesus: the Wheat Museum.
Barumini and the UNESCO-listed Su Nuraxi nuraghe, about 40 minutes away.

Getting there and when to go

The SS 128 runs through Barrali. Cagliari-Elmas airport and the port of Cagliari are about 40 minutes by car; the nearest beaches, such as Poetto, about 45 minutes. Spring and autumn are ideal for hiking; July for the Santa Lucia festival.