Marmilla and Sarcidano · Provincia del Medio Campidano

Things to do in Villamar

Things to do in Villamar, Sardinia: Pietro Cavaro's altarpiece, San Pietro church, Punic necropolis, Chilean murals and travel tips.

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Villamar (Mara Arbarèi in Sardinian, “the marsh of Arborea”) is a village of about 2,400 people in the heart of the Marmilla, on gentle hills bordering the Trexenta, about 55 km from Cagliari. Its old centre is surprisingly rich: eight churches, a Renaissance altarpiece by Pietro Cavaro, a Punic necropolis right in the village and murals painted by Chilean exiles. Perfect if you love art, history and lively inland villages, just minutes from Barumini.

What to see in Villamar

Parish church of San Giovanni Battista and Pietro Cavaro's altarpiece

The church stands on a 13th-century Romanesque building, still visible in the façade, and was rebuilt in the 16th century in Catalan Gothic style. Above the 18th-century polychrome marble high altar is the retablo (a large altarpiece of painted panels) created in 1518 by Pietro Cavaro, one of Sardinia's greatest Renaissance painters: its panels tell the lives of Jesus and Mary, the apostles and saints.

Church of San Pietro and the Majorcan quarter

San Pietro, in sandstone and volcanic stone, has two naves built in the late 13th century and shortly after. Between it and the parish church lies the Majorcan quarter, where merchants from the Balearic Islands settled in the 16th century: traditional houses of stone and sun-dried mud bricks (ladiri).

Punic necropolis

Inside the village, archaeologists have uncovered Punic chamber and pit tombs, some with wall paintings and geometric motifs, along with their grave goods.

Murals and Beata Vergine d'Itria

As you stroll, you'll notice the murals: many were painted by exiled Chilean artists, alongside works by local artists. About 3 km out, alone among the fields, stands the church of the Beata Vergine d'Itria, in Spanish-influenced late Gothic style.

Things to do in Villamar

Villamar is a handy base for exploring the Marmilla: tour the old centre and murals, cycle through farmed hills, visit the twelve nuraghi (prehistoric stone towers) in the area and the big sites nearby, such as Su Nuraxi in Barumini and the Giara di Gesturi plateau with its wild ponies. Below you'll find the experiences offered by local operators: pick the one for you and book.

History

The area was inhabited at least from the 3rd millennium BC; twelve Bronze Age nuraghi, the Punic necropolis and Roman traces survive. By the 13th century the village of Mara Arbarei already existed, prospering in the Middle Ages under the Judicate of Arborea and then the Crown of Aragon. In 1409 King Martin I granted it as a fief to Gerardo Dedoni; in 1643 it became a county of the Aymerich family, until feudalism ended in 1839.

Food and local products

Villamar is a farming town: wheat, olive oil, pulses and wine are the basis of its cooking. Try traditional bread, fresh pasta, sheep's cheese, roast meats and the almond sweets of the Marmilla. Sculpture and crafts are also alive here, showcased in a summer exhibition.

Festivals and traditions

Late August: feast of the Beata Vergine d'Itria, with a procession led by horsemen, traccas (decorated ox carts) and pilgrims singing traditional songs; at the same time, a crafts and sculpture exhibition.
Early September: feast of Santa Maria, with an improvised poetry contest and a horse race.

Nearby

Barumini and UNESCO-listed Su Nuraxi, about 15 minutes away.
Las Plassas and the Marmilla castle on its cone-shaped hill.
Villanovafranca, with the Su Mulinu nuraghe and museum.
Giara di Gesturi, the plateau of the wild ponies.
Villanovaforru and Nuraghe Genna Maria.

Getting there and when to go

The nearest airport and port are in Cagliari, about 50 minutes' drive: take the SS131 to Sanluri, then the SS197 towards Barumini. Spring and early autumn are the best times, with green or golden hills and pleasant temperatures; late August brings the most heartfelt festivals.