Villanova Truschedu

Overview and Geography

Villanova Truschedu (Biddanoa Truschedu in Sardinian) is a small agricultural municipality of 293 inhabitants situated at an elevation of 6 meters on the left bank of the Tirso River in Oristano province. Set within the Barigadu historical region, its municipal territory features significant elevation ranges rising from 17 meters to 380 meters above sea level.

Etymologically, Villanova translates the Sardinian Bidda Nòa (“New Village”). Unconfirmed theories attribute Truschedu to Etruscula (a Roman-era settlement located between Forum Traiani and the Campidano) or to Su Truiscu (mountain pepper, a plant historically used to groom work animals). Flavio Soriga’s novel Sardinia blues is partially set in the village.

Economy and Local Culture

• Agriculture & Mining: The primary economy centers on cereal, wheat, vegetable, citrus, olive, and grape farming, along with livestock (cattle, sheep, swine, horses) and small stone quarries.

• Sagra degli Asparagi (March/April): An annual spring festival in Piazza Luigi Cadorna celebrating wild asparagus harvested in local fields. Serves asparagus risotto made with rice from nearby Simaxis and ricotta-filled ravioli alongside guided archaeological tours.

• Festivals and Traditions: Key annual events include:

  • Sagra degli Asparagi (Spring).

  • Festa Campestre di San Gemiliano (September 16): Celebrated following a 9-day novena at the rural San Gemiliano sanctuary.

  • Patronal Feast of Sant’Andrea Apostolo (November 30): Celebrated with religious services and public events at the parish church.

History

The area contains prehistoric Nuragic settlements and Roman remnants from ancient Etruscula, a village that served as a transit point between the thermal center of Forum Traiani (Fordongianus) and the Campidano plain.

In the Middle Ages, it belonged to the Curatoria of Parte Barigadu in the Giudicato of Arborea. Following the fall of the Marquisate of Oristano in 1478, it passed under Aragonese rule. Under Savoy rule in 1829, it was granted to the Manca Ledà family as part of the County of San Placido until feudalism was abolished in 1839. The municipality was briefly merged into Fordongianus from 1928 to 1959 and was incorporated into the Province of Oristano in 1974.

Main Landmarks and Architecture

Town Center

• Parish Church of Sant’Andrea Apostolo: Located on Piazza del Duomo, dating to the 18th century (consecrated in 1835). Features a bell gable, a linteled doorway, and pink trachite window frames with geometric carvings. The interior contains three naves resting on square piers with ogival arches and an elevated semicircular apse.

• Piazza Luigi Cadorna (Pratza de Is Argiobas): Main public square featuring:

  • War Memorial: A pink trachite statue carved by local sculptor Giuseppe Solinas.

  • Murals: A traditional agricultural mural by Angelo Pilloni (depicting sheep shearing and plowing) and a processional mural by Pina Monne.

• Ruinas Historic District: The oldest section of the village, gathered around the parish church on the remnants of the Roman-era settlement.

• Town Hall (Municipio): Located at Via Alberto La Marmora 20.

• Sports Complex: Located on Via Santa Barbara, containing a synthetic-turf calcetto pitch (120 seats) and a grass rugby field.

Archaeological Sites and Surrounding Area

• Sanctuary of San Gemiliano: A 16th/17th-century Catalan-Gothic rural sanctuary located in a park across the Tirso River, dedicated to St. Gemilianus (martyred Bishop of Cagliari). Features a crenellated horizontal façade with a Gothic rose window, a two-part interior nave (timber-roofed front and barrel-vaulted rear), a 17th-century carved wooden high altar, and surrounding pilgrim huts (muristenes or cumbessias).

• Nuraghe San Gemiliano: A single-tower basalt nuraghe standing 4 meters high adjacent to the San Gemiliano sanctuary, preserving an entrance and two ogival interior niches.

• Nuraghe Santa Barbara & “Stanza del Sole” (Room of the Sun): A complex tancato-style basalt nuraghe featuring a well-preserved primary tholos tower with an upper staircase, an added secondary tower with 8 loop-holes, and a square central courtyard with a water well.

  • Stanza del Sole & Archaeoastronomy: The secondary tower contains a chamber dubbed the Stanza del Sole (“Room of the Sun”). During the winter solstice sunrise, light entering through a small window above the entrance lintel projects a bull’s head (protome taurina) light beam onto the opposite interior wall. The alignment also tracks equinoxes, solstices, and agricultural calendar dates.

• Other Nuraghi: Includes the ruins of Campu ‘e Cubas, Crabu, Dominigu Porru, Ruinas, Su Strampu, and Zoppianu.