South-West · Provincia del Medio Campidano

Things to do in Villacidro

Things to do in Villacidro, Sardinia: Sa Spendula waterfall, Piscina Irgas, the Art Nouveau washhouse, museums, Montimannu hikes and cherries.

Villacidro, Sardegna — © No machine-readable author provided. Yugiz~commonswiki assumed (based on copyrig · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

All Adventure and sport Culture and traditions Families and kids Food and wine Nature and hiking Sea Wellness

We are gathering the first experiences for this area. Check back soon, or tell us about an operator you know.

Villacidro lies where the Medio Campidano plain meets the first slopes of Monte Linas, about 45 km from Cagliari. It's a lively town known for its waterfalls, the Montimannu woods, its cherries and as the birthplace of writer Giuseppe Dessì. Once a holiday spot for its healthy air, today it's ideal for nature lovers, hikers and anyone who enjoys places with a strong identity.

What to see in Villacidro

Sa Spendula waterfall

A few minutes from the centre, the Coxinas stream tumbles down in three leaps between rocks and greenery. This is Sa Spendula, the town's symbol, celebrated by the poet Gabriele D'Annunzio, who stayed here. It's at its best after the winter and spring rains.

Piscina Irgas and the Montimannu waterfalls

In the Monti Mannu area, the Linas river forms the Piscina Irgas waterfall, about 45 metres high. Close by, though within Gonnosfanadiga's boundaries, is Muru Mannu, considered Sardinia's highest waterfall.

Old town and public washhouse

The old centre fills the upper part of town at the mouth of the valley. Don't miss the Art Nouveau public washhouse, opened in 1893, with 36 trachyte basins under a roof on cast-iron columns, and the parish church of Santa Barbara, dating back to the 16th century, with a Catalan Gothic bell tower and main chapel.

San Sisinnio and the museums

Outside the centre, among ancient olive groves, stands the 17th-century church of San Sisinnio. In town you can visit the Villa Leni archaeological museum, set in an old granary, the Sa Potecarìa pharmacy museum and the museum of sacred art.

Things to do in Villacidro

The area is part of the great Linas–Oridda–Marganai mountain range, one of Europe's oldest landscapes: hiking trails in the Montimannu forest, mountain biking, horse riding and waterfall routes. Book lovers can follow the places of Dessì's novels, and in June the countryside is full of cherry trees heavy with fruit. Check out the experiences offered by local guides and operators below: they're the best way to reach the waterfalls and trails safely.

History

People have lived here since the Neolithic, as shown by obsidian tools, the Nuragic village of Cottega and many nuraghi (Bronze Age stone towers). Roman times left a necropolis and two bath complexes. In the Middle Ages the town, then called Xedri de Leni, belonged to the Giudicato of Cagliari; it later passed to Pisa and Aragon and in 1690 joined the Brondo marquisate. It became a municipality in 1839 and from 2005 to 2016 was joint capital, with Sanluri, of the Medio Campidano province. Giuseppe Dessì, winner of the Strega Prize in 1972, lived here.

Food and shopping

Villacidro is a land of olive oil, wine and above all cherries. Local tradition also gave birth to the yellow liqueur named after the town. Try homemade bread, cheeses and traditional Campidano sweets.

Festivals and traditions

Sant'Antonio abate (mid-January): night bonfire and blessing of animals.
Cherry festival (June): the town's best-known event.
San Sisinnio (early August): feast at the country church among the olive trees.
Is Animeddas (late October–early November): the festival of souls, tied to Villacidro's fame as the "town of witches".
Su trigu cotu (31 December): cooked wheat handed out as a New Year wish.

Around Villacidro

Gonnosfanadiga: Muru Mannu waterfall and the San Cosimo giants' tomb.
San Gavino Monreale: saffron and the church of San Gavino.
Montevecchio mines (Guspini): mining heritage.
Costa Verde (Arbus): the Piscinas dunes, about an hour's drive.

Getting there and when to go

Cagliari's airport and port are about 50 minutes away; Villacidro is reached via the SS 196. Spring is the ideal time, with full waterfalls and blooming fields; June is cherry month, and summer in the hills is cooler than on the plain.