Ussaramanna

Overview and Geography

Ussaramanna (Ùssara Manna in Sardinian) is an agricultural village situated at an altitude of 158 meters above sea level in the Marmilla hills, within the northwestern area of the Province of South Sardinia (bordering the Province of Oristano). Nestled in a valley between the Giara di Gesturi and the Giara di Siddi, the municipal territory displays an irregular terrain ranging from 132 to 357 meters in elevation.

Ussaramanna belongs to both the Associazione Nazionale delle Città della Terra Cruda (promoting traditional mudbrick architectural heritage) and the Associazione Nazionale Città dell’Olio. Etymologically, its name combines Ussara (a pre-Roman local name) with the Sardinian adjective Manna (from Latin Magna, meaning “Great”) to distinguish it from the nearby extinct village of Ussaraminore or Ussaredda (“Little Ussara”).

Economy and Local Culture

• Agropastoral Economy: Agriculture drives the local economy, with crops including cereals, wheat, vegetables, fodder, fruits, and extensive olive groves and vineyards. Animal husbandry includes pigs, sheep, and horses.

• Wine & Specialty Goods: The area is noted for its native wines—including Malvasia and Nuragus—and extra virgin olive oil. Ussaramanna is also known for processing and canning Sardinian tuna caught off the coasts of Carloforte, Calasetta, and Sant’Antioco.

• Festivals and Traditions: Key annual events include:

  • Feast of Sant’Antonio Abate (January 17): Features a traditional public bonfire.

  • Carnevale Ussaramannese (February): Includes Sa Predica, a humorous ritual where three masked figures deliver a sermon poking fun at local vices, followed by fireworks and burning a carnival effigy.

  • Mostra delle Erbe e Sagra de Sa Pardula (Early May): Celebrates the wild flora of the Marmilla region and local craft traditions. Highlights include botanical workshops, exhibitions, and the preparation/tasting of pardulas (traditional Easter pastries made with ricotta, saffron, and lemon zest) alongside herb-infused dishes.

  • Patronal Feast of San Quirico (July 15): Features a solemn procession, holy mass, devotional chants (Is Coggius de Santu Cirigu), and the traditional Ballu Sadru dance.

  • Feast of San Lorenzo Martire (August 10): Celebrated with a launeddas-accompanied procession and a broad program of music and gatherings for returning emigrants.

History

The area has been settled since the Nuragic period, as evidenced by local archaeological ruins. A Roman-era settlement subsequently developed along the ancient grain transport road linking Caralis (Cagliari) to Uselis (Usellus).

In the 11th century, Ussaramanna was part of the Curatoria of Marmilla within the Giudicato of Caralis, frequently disputed by the Giudicato of Arborea. Following the collapse of Caralis in 1258, it was annexed to Arborea until falling under Aragonese rule after the fall of the Marquisate of Oristano in 1478. Aragonese administration placed it in the Incontrada di Parte Montis within the County (later Marquisate) of Quirra under the Carroz and Centelles families.

According to local folklore, the neighboring village of Ussaredda was destroyed in the late 17th century by a plague or legendary swarm (Sa Musca Marcedda); the surviving population relocated to Ussaramanna. Feudal rights passed to the Osorio de la Cueva family in 1798 before being redeemed by the Crown in 1839. Formerly in the Province of Cagliari and later Medio Campidano, Ussaramanna joined the Province of South Sardinia in 2016.

Main Landmarks and Architecture

Central Town

• Parish Church of San Quirico Martire: Located on Via Dante Alighieri, this parish church was originally built in the 16th century over an earlier structure. It contains a 1608 Latin inscription in the Rosario Chapel (Capella Pintada), as well as a polychrome marble high altar and a carved marble pulpit and holy water stoup.

• Ex-Church of Santa Maria del Carmine: Constructed at the end of the 16th century as a small sanctuary, it was deconsecrated in the 18th century and converted into the local grain bank (Monte Granatico). It has since been restored and repurposed by the municipality as a conference hall.

• Cantina Lilliu: A private winery operating four hectares of organic, chemical-free vineyards (Cannonau, Bovale, Cabernet, Malvasia) using natural vine protection techniques.

• Town Hall (Municipio): Situated on Via Marmilla, accommodating municipal offices, the local Sardinian Language Desk, and the village news organ Pispisalla Soramannesa.

• Parco Funtanedda & Civic Sports Facilities: Includes a public park featuring a nuraghe-shaped fountain and a local football pitch (Campo Sportivo Comunale) on Via Trento.

Archaeological Sites and Surrounding Area

• Nuraghe San Pietro: A complex nuragic site situated on a hill at 165 meters elevation on the outskirts of town. Built with a central keep (mastio) reaching seven meters in height and a quadrangular bastion with four circular corner towers aligned to the cardinal points, constructed from basalt, marna, and sandstone blocks. Surrounding excavations have uncovered rectangular structures dating to the Roman era.

• Nuraghe su Sensu: The buried ruins of a complex basalt nuraghe situated on a hill at 338 meters elevation northwest of town.

• Rural Church of San Lorenzo Martire: A simple 14th-century single-room chapel with wooden roof trusses, located two kilometers from the village among ancient olive trees. It stands as the sole surviving structure of the extinct village of Ussaredda. Two panels of a Renaissance polyptych depicting St. Roch and St. Sebastian painted by the Master of Oliena originated here and are preserved at the National Gallery of Cagliari.