Ittireddu and the Meilogu Region
The Historical Region of Meilogu (Logudoro Meilogu)
The Meilogu region, whose name translates from Mediu logu (“in the heart of the Giudicato”), occupies the central-western core of the historic Logudoro territory in northern Sardinia. Characterized by volcanic plateaus, rolling plains, springs, and streams, its economy relies heavily on cereal cultivation, vegetable farming, and extensive sheep dairying.
Overview of Ittireddu
Ittireddu is a small village situated on a red-hued volcanic hill (Monte Ruiu) on the eastern edge of the Meilogu plateau, near the foot of the Ruini, Zuighe, and Lisiri mountains. The local economy is primarily based on agriculture (cereals, vegetables, forage, grapes, olives), livestock farming, and pumice stone extraction from large quarries located southeast of the village. Traditional craftsmanship includes the weaving of marshland plants (giunco, biodo, canna) into ropes, baskets, and mats.
Origins & History: Originally known as Itiri Fustialbos to distinguish it from Itiri Cannedu (modern Ittiri), the name Ittireddu (“Little Ittiri”) dates back to 1626. The name likely stems from the Latin Iter (“road”), referencing a Roman bridge that linked Meilogu with Logudoro and Goceano. The area was the epicenter of the powerful Logudoro earthquake of 1870, the strongest recorded mainland earthquake in Sardinian history. Inhabited since prehistory (evidenced by multiple necropolises and ancient corridor nuraghi like Sa Domu e S’Orku), medieval Ittireddu belonged to the Giudicato of Torres (Ardara/Oppia curatoria) before passing to the Doria family and the Arborea judiciary.
Key Sites & Cultural Highlights:
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Parish Church of Nostra Signora di Intermontes: Dedicated to the Immaculate Conception and serving as Ittireddu’s main parish church, featuring historical additions like a bell tower, presbytery, and side chapels dedicated to Saint Francis and Saint Anthony.
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Church of Santa Croce: A medieval church whose initial phase dates to the 9th–11th centuries as a Greek-cross structure, later lengthened into a Latin-cross layout during the 13th century.
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Civic Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum: The fourth museum of its kind established in Sardinia, displaying prehistoric-to-medieval artifacts from local excavations (including an exquisite askoid jug found inside the Funtana nuraghe) alongside traditional pastoral and agricultural tools.
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Partulesi Necropolis: A complex of roughly thirty domus de janas featuring multi-cellular chambers, cornices, false lintels, and cup-mark carvings dating to the Final Neolithic (Ozieri culture).
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Funtana Nuraghe: A complex nuraghe featuring a central tower with preserved tholos, an internal staircase, a unique floor hearth, and an outer bastion enclosing secondary towers and a courtyard.