Meana Sardo and the Barbagia di Belvì Region
The Historical Region of Barbagia di Belvì
The Barbagia di Belvì (Barbàgia de Brevìe), also called Central Barbagia, occupies the central core of Sardinia, positioned between the Mandrolisai region to the north and the Sarcidano and Barbagia di Seulo to the south. During the judicial period, it formed a curatoria within the Giudicato of Arborea known as the Curatoria della Barbagia di Meana (named after Meana Sardo). This region was notably less subjected to feudal hegemony than other areas, governed until the mid-18th century by a representative chosen from family heads. It comprises the municipalities of Aritzo, Belvì, Gadoni, and Meana Sardo.
Overview of Meana Sardo
Meana Sardo (Meana in Sardinian) is a hill center situated at 588 meters above sea level in the south-western part of the Province of Nuoro, bordering the Province of Oristano. It occupies a panoramic position beneath Mount Sant’Elia, west of the Barbagia di Belvì mountains and on the border with Sarcidano and Mandrolisai. The local economy centers on agriculture (cereals, vegetables, olives, fruit) and livestock (cattle, swine, sheep, goats).
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Origins of the Name: The name was modified to Meana Sardo in 1862 to distinguish it from Meana di Susa in Piedmont, though the specific adjective was mistakenly applied in the masculine form. Geographically, Meana is located almost at an equidistant point between the northernmost and southernmost tips of Sardinia, and between its eastern and western coasts. The name derives from the Latin Mediana, as a Roman road passed through the territory connecting Cagliari to Olbia (Bhiora, Valenza, Mediana, Augustis, Sorabile, Caput Tirsi), with Mediana positioned halfway along the route.
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History: Inhabited since prehistory (evidenced by a menhir in Polu and three Neolithic Mother Goddess figurines), the territory preserves Roman necropolises and oppida. Mentioned in the 12th-century Condaghe of Santa Maria di Bonarcado, it became the capital of the Barbagia di Meana under the Giudicato of Arborea. Following Aragonese conquest and various feudal shifts, the meanesi successfully fought for the privilege of being administered by a local compatriot in 1507. It later fell under the County of Santa Sofia (ruled by the Iostia family) until feudal abolition in 1839.
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Key Sites & Cultural Highlights:
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Nolza Nuragic Complex (Reggia Nuragica Nolza): A massive quadrilobed complex nuraghe situated at 711 meters elevation on the Su Planu plateau, featuring a central keep standing 13 meters high, four secondary towers, and an extensive surrounding village. Archaeologically studied by Giovanni Lilliu, it belongs to the category of “solar nuraghi” (nuraghi solari) due to its precise winter/summer solstice alignments.
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Funtana Manna: A complex comprising two historic fountains—a 16th-century Aragonese fountain with a pointed arch built in 1567 and a lower 19th-century fountain added in 1893.
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Church of San Bartolomeo Apostolo: The town’s main parish church, dating to the 16th century in Gothic-Aragonese and Renaissance styles, featuring a tall 30-meter square bell tower built beginning in 1653.
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