Things to do in Mandas
Things to do in Mandas, Sardinia: San Giacomo church, the Trenino Verde heritage train, a folk museum, Nuragic sites and the July feast.
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Mandas is a village of about two thousand people in south-central Sardinia, between the Trexenta and Sarcidano areas, roughly an hour's drive from Cagliari. It is best known as the historic station of the Trenino Verde, the heritage tourist train that climbs from here into the island's mountainous interior. Come for the Catalan Gothic church of San Giacomo, for its past as a dukedom under Spanish rule and for a countryside packed with Nuragic sites.
What to see in Mandas
The church of San Giacomo
The parish church, on the edge of the centre and enclosed by a high wall, was built between the late 16th and early 17th centuries in Catalan Gothic style. Inside you will find a wooden group of the Crucifix with the Virgin and St John, painted 17th-century statues, gilded wooden altars and an 18th-century marble high altar. Near the exit stands sa perda de sa bregungia, the stone of shame, an old pillory.
Other churches and the old centre
Around the village you will find the small church of Sant'Antonio Abate and its convent, medieval in origin and facing a stretch of the Roman road that linked Karalis (Cagliari) to Olbia, the 17th-century complex of San Cristoforo and San Francesco, and the church of Santa Vitalia.
Is Lollas 'e is Aiaiusu museum
The name means the grandparents' rooms: an ethnographic museum set in an 18th-century house, filled with furniture and everyday objects of old farming life.
The station, a park and Nuragic sites
The railway station is the village's symbol. The territory holds around fifty Nuragic sites, including the giants' tomb of s'Arruina de su Procu and the Su Angiu complex, where a bronze boat model was found; it is now in the National Archaeological Museum in Cagliari.
Things to do in Mandas
The signature experience is a ride on the Trenino Verde: when the service runs, the narrow-gauge heritage trains wind through farmed hills, gorges and along the shores of Lake Mulargia. The countryside is great for walks and bike rides among wheat fields, vineyards and nuraghi. Take a look at the experiences offered by local operators just below.
History
People have lived here since prehistoric times, as the nuraghi and giants' tombs show. In the Middle Ages Mandas was the main village of the Siurgus district in the Judicate of Cagliari, then passed to Pisa and to the Crown of Aragon, which granted it to the Carroz family. In the early 17th century the Spanish Crown raised it to a dukedom, a very rare title in Sardinia at the time, and the fief lasted until it was bought out in 1839. In 1921 the writer D. H. Lawrence stopped here by train and described it in Sea and Sardinia.
Food and local products
Mandas is a farming and herding village built on wheat, vines and livestock. Its signature product is cheese, celebrated with its own festival: try the local pecorino along with homemade bread and wine from the surrounding countryside.
Festivals and traditions
The main celebration honours the patron saint San Giacomo (St James) in late July, together with the cheese festival. On the weekend after Pentecost, the procession of the feast of San Simone, organised by neighbouring Escolca, still passes through Mandas under an old agreement between the two villages.
Nearby
- Escolca and the abandoned hamlet of San Simone, a few minutes away.
- Serri and the Nuragic sanctuary of Santa Vittoria on its plateau.
- Isili, with the Is Paras nuraghe and Lake San Sebastiano.
- Barumini and the UNESCO-listed Su Nuraxi, about half an hour away.
Getting there and when to go
The nearest airport and port are in Cagliari, about an hour's drive away, heading north through Trexenta on the SS128 road. Spring and early summer are the best time, with green hills and mild days; September is pleasant too.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I need to visit Mandas?
Half a day covers the centre, San Giacomo and the museum; plan a full day if you add a stretch on the Trenino Verde or a trip to Serri or Barumini.
Can I catch the Trenino Verde in Mandas?
Yes, Mandas is the starting point of the Trenino Verde tourist lines into the interior. The service is seasonal, so check the current timetable before you go.
