Dualchi and the Marghine Region
The Historical Region of Marghine
The Marghine is a plateau and mountain subregion in central-western Sardinia formed by post-Miocene lava flows from the Montiferru volcanoes. It is characterized by oak, cork, and holm-oak forests, and a rich prehistoric and environmental heritage.
Overview of Dualchi
Dualchi (Duarche in original Sardinian) is a high-altitude agropastoral center situated on the Murtazzolu plateau within the Marghine region, bordering the province of Oristano. The local economy centers on traditional agropastoral activities, cereal cultivation, olive farming, and livestock raising.
Origins & History: Attested since 1341, the toponym’s origin is unclear, though some scholars suggest a Phoenician derivation (Darac, meaning road or passage). Inhabited since prehistoric times, the village belonged to the Giudicato of Logudoro (Marghine curatoria) in the Middle Ages before passing to the Giudicato of Arborea and subsequent Aragonese feudal lords (Centelles, Cubello, Alagon) until its state redemption in 1843.
Poetic Tradition: Dualchi is famously celebrated as the “Village of Poets” (Paese dei poeti), having served as the cradle for renowned extemporaneous verse composers in the Sardinian language, including the legendary poet Gregorio Giordano (featured in Grazia Dledda’s novel Canne al vento).
Key Sites & Cultural Highlights:
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Parish Church of San Leonardo: Built in the 16th century in Spanish-Gothic style over the ruins of a 12th-century church, serving as the town’s main parish church. In the 18th century, its interior served as a burial place for local noble families.
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Church of Sant’Antonio Abate: A 16th-century stone church featuring an interior wooden altar and serving as the focal point for the traditional January fire festival (Su Fogone and Sagra di Sant’Antonio Abate).
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Church of San Pietro (Santu Pedru): A 16th-century Aragonese rural sanctuary located outside the town, famous for hosting the Ardia di Dualchi (a spirited, traditional horse race) every June.
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Cubas Archaeological Complex: A multi-period site featuring a well-preserved protonuraghe (nuraghe a corridoio), an intact small sacred well with a corbelled tholos dome, and three distinct Giants’ Tombs (Tombe di Giganti), one of which (Cubas III) was originally fronted by five finely worked basaltic betyls.
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Crabas Protonuraghe: A massive corbelled protonuraghe positioned on a rocky basalt cliff overlooking the Murtazzolu valley.
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Ponte Nuraghe: A remarkably well-preserved single-chamber nuraghe standing over 11.5 meters tall, featuring a massive three-and-a-half-meter architrave stone weighing roughly 16 tons.
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Uana Complex & Biriola Nuraghe: A complex nuragic settlement featuring the Uana protonuraghe surrounded by hut remnants and an outer megalithic wall, alongside the Biriola protonuraghe where the archaeo-astronomical phenomenon of the “Apical Light Hole” occurs during the summer solstice.
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Caddaris Nuraghe: A single-tower nuraghe where the unique archaeo-astronomical phenomenon known as the “Bull’s Light” (Luce del Toro) occurs at dawn during the winter solstice, casting a illuminated bull-head shadow inside an opposing wall niche.