Marmilla and Sarcidano · Provincia del Medio Campidano

Things to do in Siddi

Siddi, Sardinia: the Sa Domu 'e s'Orku giants' tomb, tiny San Michele church, a bird museum, Casa Steri and hikes on the Giara di Siddi.

Siddi, Sardegna — © Gianni Careddu · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Siddi is a small village of around five hundred people in the Marmilla, at the foot of the plateau that bears its name, about an hour's drive from Cagliari. Within a few kilometres it packs one of Sardinia's best-preserved giants' tombs, a tiny Romanesque church with an enigmatic doorway, two unusual museums and a basalt plateau to explore on foot. It is ideal for archaeology lovers, nature fans and families looking for a quiet day full of discoveries.

What to see in Siddi

Sa Domu 'e s'Orku giants' tomb

The name means the ogre's house. Built of basalt blocks in the Middle Bronze Age, around 1500–1300 BC, it is considered one of the most complete giants' tombs on the island, its curved forecourt opening onto the countryside.

The church of San Michele Arcangelo

Dating from the late 13th century, it is often called the smallest Romanesque sanctuary in Sardinia. Look closely at the lintel over the door, carved with five human figures, one of them upside down: their meaning is still a mystery. The 18th-century parish church stands nearby.

Casa Steri and the Ornithological Museum

Casa Steri, a 17th-century courtyard house, hosts the Museum of Marmilla Food Traditions, devoted to farming know-how, tools and country cooking. The Ornithological Museum of Sardinia displays hundreds of the island's resident and migratory birds.

The old centre

Narrow lanes, courtyard houses with walls of ladiri (sun-dried mud bricks), grand doorways and colourful murals make for a pleasant, unhurried stroll.

Things to do in Siddi

The Giara di Siddi, known locally as su Pranu, is a basalt plateau with steep sides, perfect for hiking or cycling. On top lies Sa Fogaia park, a nature and archaeology area with trails, holm-oak woods, more than a hundred tree species and an interesting corridor nuraghe. You can combine hikes, guided tours of Nuragic sites and local food tastings. Take a look at the experiences offered by local operators just below.

History

People have lived here since the Neolithic, as the Scaba 'e Arriu rock-cut tomb (domus de janas) shows. The Nuragic age left about twenty nuraghi, villages and the great giants' tomb, followed by Punic, Roman and Byzantine remains. The village appears in records in 1346 as Silli. It belonged to the Judicate of Arborea and later the county of Quirra until the fief was bought out in 1839. In 1927 it was merged with Lunamatrona, regaining independence at the end of 1945.

Food and local products

The countryside produces grain, olives, grapes, almonds, vegetables and fruit. Food culture runs deep here: besides the Casa Steri museum, every summer the village hosts Appetitosamente, a regional good-food festival created with Slow Food. Try the bread, cheese, olive oil and Marmilla sweets.

Festivals and traditions

Sant'Antonio da Padova, 13 June.
Madonna delle Grazie, known as Sa Gloriosa, 2 July.
Appetitosamente, between late July and August.
San Michele Arcangelo, 29 September.

Nearby

Ussaramanna and the San Pietro nuraghe, a few minutes away.
Villanovaforru, with the Genna Maria nuraghe and the archaeological museum.
Barumini and the UNESCO-listed Su Nuraxi.
Giara di Gesturi, home of the wild ponies.

Getting there and when to go

The nearest airport and port are in Cagliari, about an hour away: take the SS131 to Sanluri, then continue into the Marmilla. From Oristano it takes about 45 minutes. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for walking on the plateau; summer is hot but brings the festivals and Appetitosamente.