Things to do in Macomer

Macomer is the main town of the Marghine, home to around 9,000 people at almost 600 metres, overlooking the gorge of the S'Adde river. A crossroads between north and south Sardinia since ancient times, it is a perfect base for exploring one of the island's richest archaeological areas: monumental nuraghi (Bronze Age stone towers), giants' tombs and domus de janas. Ideal if you travel by car or train, love prehistory or want cheeses and pastoral traditions.

What to see in Macomer

Nuraghe Santa Barbara

The town's best-known site: a central tower about 15 metres tall, a bastion with four towers and a large village around it, on a basalt shelf above the valley. You can even see it from the SS131 highway.

Tamuli archaeological area

An evocative complex with a corridor nuraghe, a village, giants' tombs and the famous betyls, conical sacred stones, some carved with breast-like reliefs.

Filigosa necropolis and more

The Filigosa domus de janas (rock-cut tombs), below nuraghe Ruju, gave their name to a Sardinian prehistoric culture. The rich territory also holds the Puttu 'e Oes giants' tomb and nuraghe Ruju, with a single large tower.

Old town and museum

The parish church of San Pantaleo (1635), with a panoramic 1573 bell tower, holds a 15th-century altarpiece. The churches of Nostra Signora d'Itria and the Vergine del Soccorso show Byzantine traces, and the centre keeps houses from the Spanish era. The Le Arti Antiche museum, in a 19th-century mansion, tells the story of farming, herding and crafts.

Things to do in Macomer

• Archaeology tours of Santa Barbara, Tamuli and Filigosa.
• Hiking on Monte Sant'Antonio, up to about 800 metres, among ancient oaks.
• Bike or horse rides on the Campeda and Abbasanta plateaus.
• Dairy visits and cheese tastings.

To explore the Marghine with a guide or on horseback, check the experiences offered by local operators just below.

History

Inhabited since the Palaeolithic (the Marras cave yielded the figurine known as the Venus of Macomer, now in the Archaeological Museum of Cagliari), the area was a heartland of Nuragic civilisation. Punic Macopsissa, mentioned by Ptolemy, probably stood here; the Romans ran their main north-south road through it, and some milestones survive. In 1478, near Macomer castle, the defeat of Leonardo Alagon by the Aragonese ended the last Sardinian resistance. In the 20th century the railway made it a major trading and industrial hub.

Food and shopping

Macomer is cheese country: sheep's milk dairying is one of its main activities. At the table expect lamb, suckling pig and traditional Marghine breads.

Festivals and traditions

• Sant'Antonio, on 13 June, with thousands of pilgrims at the chapel on top of Monte Sant'Antonio.
• Mostra del Libro, one of the island's main book fairs.
• Macomer in Fiera, a fair of local products and traditions.

Nearby

• Birori and its dolmens, about 6 km away.
• Borore and the Imbertighe giants' tomb.
• Nuraghe Losa in Abbasanta.
• Bosa, about 30 km away, with its castle and the sea.
• Santu Lussurgiu and the Montiferru.

Getting there and when to go

Macomer lies on the SS131 highway and is linked to Nuoro by the SS129. It has a station on the Cagliari-Golfo Aranci line and the ARST station for Nuoro. Alghero-Fertilia is about an hour and a quarter away, Cagliari-Elmas and Olbia about an hour and a half to two hours, and Porto Torres port about an hour and a half. Spring and autumn are ideal; in winter it can snow.

FAQ

How many days do you need for Macomer?

One day for Santa Barbara, Tamuli and the centre; two or three if you use it as a base for the Marghine.

Is Macomer good for families?

Yes: the archaeological sites are easy to reach and Monte Sant'Antonio offers shady walks.