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Ballao

Ballao is visited for its town center—which features the well temple of Funtana Coberta—and its surrounding areas.

The Gerrei in the Historical Region of Sarrabus-Gerrei

Sarrabus-Gerrei is the historical region of southeastern Sardinia that belonged in antiquity to the Giudicato of Càralis, encompassing the curatorie of Sarrabus, Colostrai, and Gerrei. Sarrabus-Gerrei is divided into two distinct territories: the inland Gerrei (characterized by pastoralism) and the coastal and southern Sarrabus (agricultural and touristic).

The territory of Gerrei is located between Sarrabus to the east, Trexenta to the west, the Campidano of Cagliari to the south, and Ogliastra to the north. The municipalities that make up Gerrei are Armungia, Ballao, Escalaplano, Goni, San Nicolò Gerrei, Silius, and Villasalto. This area consists of a series of plateaus and deep valleys crossed by the Flumendosa River, where lush Mediterranean scrub grows abundantly with cork oaks, holm oaks, and wild olive trees.

The Municipality of Ballao

The municipality of Ballao (pronounced Ballào, Sardinian name Ballau, elevation 98 meters above sea level, population 731 as of December 31, 2021) is a significant agricultural center extending into the northeastern part of the Province of South Sardinia. The town is situated at the edge of the historical region of Gerrei, next to a wide bend on the right bank of the Flumendosa River, and is crossed by the SS387 del Gerrei. The municipal territory has an irregular geometric profile with sharp altimetric variations and features an environment of extraordinary natural variety and beauty.

Origin of the Name

It is very likely that the name means fortified village with a rampart (i.e., a fence and a ditch), deriving from the Latin phrase Vicum vallatum. Some scholars have offered a more imaginative interpretation linking it to the Phoenician Baal (signifying lord and the name of a deity), or alternatively to the Spanish word Balay (meaning basket or basin).

Economy

Ballao is a hilly municipality whose economy is based on traditional agricultural activities producing cereals, wheat, vegetables, fodder, olives, citrus fruits, grapes, and other fruits, alongside the breeding of cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats. Industry consists of small businesses operating in fishing, fish farming, and construction, while local craftsmanship specializes in making hampers, baskets, and mats.

For gastronomy enthusiasts, the town offers pastries and sweets such as Is Perichittusu de entu, Is Perichittusu normali, Is Pabassinas, Pistoccheddusu de crobi, Pistoccheddusu de caffei, Pardule (formaggelle), Amaretti, and Arrubbiousu. The surrounding rivers feature traditional funnel-shaped osier-and-pebble channel structures called Nessargius, as well as natural pools and canoeing routes. Local accommodation facilities offer dining but no overnight lodging.

Historical Overview

The territory was inhabited in prehistoric times, later gaining considerable importance during the Roman occupation due to rich mineral deposits and the strategic need to defend against rebellious mountain and pastoral populations of Gerrei. It became Byzantine territory before entering the curatoria of Gerrei within the Giudicato of Càralis in the 11th century.

Following the fall of the Giudicato, it passed to the Giudicato of Arborea in 1258, the Republic of Pisa in 1300, and the Crown of Aragon in 1324 (assigned to the Cornells in 1332). In 1681, it was incorporated into the County of Villasalto (Zatrillas family) and later into the Marquessate of Villaclara under the Zatrillas and Vivaldi Pasqua families until the feudal system was abolished in 1839. In 2016, Ballao transitioned from the Province of Cagliari to the new Province of South Sardinia.

Festivals and Traditions

• January 16: Festival of Saint Anthony the Abbot, featuring the lighting of a large bonfire called Su Fogadoni.

• Easter Monday: Festival of Saint Mary of Cleophas, celebrated at the rural church on the border with Silius.

• June 26: Festival of Saints Peter and Paul.

• July 22: Patronal Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, the town’s main festival.

• September: Festival of the Holy Cross, held at the eponymous rural church.

• First Monday of October: Festival of Saint Vitalia.

• November 2: Is Aimedasa festival, where children dressed as the souls of the deceased go door-to-door asking for sweets and fruit.

• Santu Predu Festival: Celebrated at the rural church located about one kilometer from the town.

The Festival of Saint Vitalia

Celebrated annually on November 2, the Festival of Saint Vitalia was once one of the most important feasts in Gerrei, drawing crowds on foot from neighboring villages bearing large candles and silver hearts. Festivities historically included a Maypole (albero della cuccagna), a Palio horse race, a livestock fair, and traditional Sardinian songs, and continue today with religious services, fireworks, dances, and traditional music.

Exploring the Center of Ballao

• Municipal Sports Facilities: Located in the Ceuri locality across the Flumendosa River bridge, featuring a natural grass football field with 100-seat stands, a tennis court, and a multi-sport court.

• Interacquas Municipal Park: A green city park along the Flumendosa River featuring a scenic walking path and an abandoned pumping station once connected to the Corti Rosas mine.

• Parish Church of Saint Mary Magdalene: Consecrated around 1200, the church was rebuilt following World War II bombings, preserving its 1581 bell tower, a 16th-century dome, and a 18th-century altar by sculptor Pietro Pozzo.

• Town Hall (Municipio): Located at Piazza Emilio Lussu 3.

• Municipal Cemetery: Located along Via Cagliari just before it exits the town toward the SS387.

Exploring the Surroundings of Ballao

Archaeological Sites and Monuments

• Funtana Coberta Archaeological Area & Well Temple: Located along the SP22 toward Escalaplano, this renowned Nuragic well temple dates back to the 12th century BC and was excavated by Antonio Taramelli in 1918. It features a tholos roof, a descending staircase of twelve steps leading to an underground chamber, and an active freshwater spring.

• Other Surrounding Sites: Includes the giants’ tombs of Canneri and Canneri II, and multiple Nuragic structures (including the simple nuraghi Corongiu ‘e Melas, Is Tancas, S’Arcu ‘e Sa Pira, and complex nuraghi like Saccui and Su Coronellu).

Historical Rural Churches

• Ruins of Saint Roch (Sant’Arrocu): Partial ruins of an ancient chapel likely tied to the refuge of Byzantine monks.

• Church of Saint Helen (Santa Ruxi / Holy Cross): A rustic local stone building situated on a 130-meter-high hill, hosting a festival in September.

• Church of Saint Mary of Cleophas (Santa Maria Nuraxi): A Byzantine-origin rural church located near the abandoned medieval village of Nuraxi on the mountain bordering Silius.

• Church of Saint Peter the Apostle (Santu Predu): A rural chapel located along the SS387 toward Muravera, linked by tradition to the Byzantine monastic presence.

Corti Rosas Antimony Mine

Located about three kilometers from the Flumendosa bridge, the Corti Rosas mine was a major antimony extraction center operating from the late 19th century until the 1970s, which employed up to a thousand workers alongside the Su Suergiu mine during the Fascist era. The site is currently undergoing state-sponsored recovery and enhancement as part of the geomining park.