Pompu is a small village situated in Riu Laccus (river), also called Riu de Pompu, valley, among marl hills, whereby Mount Futtu sticks out. Notably interesting from a geologic point of view are the near Mount Arci’s basal rocks, where there are minerals such as agates, cornelians and amethysts.
The first evidence of human presence in Pompu territory go back to the Neolithic period. In the border with Morgongiori municipality, there is the "Prabanta" archaeological complex, with the imposing menhir and the "Su Forru de Luxia Arrabiosa" domus de janas necropolis. Also, seven stations and three workshops of obsidian, the so-called “black gold of Sardinia”, were found.
Saint Miali’s megalithic complex stands dominating the whole surrounding area, offering a splendid example of complex nuragh, built with perfectly square blocks of light sandstone. Excavations exhumed a good deal of materials, such as many lanterns of late-ancient epoch, which confirm that the nuragh was used as a place of cult, probably dedicated to Ceres, the grain goddess.
The vitality of the area is confirmed also by the presence of materials dateable to the Punic Age and of a Roman tomb, known as "Su laccu de su Meli".
The parish Church of the village is a modern construction, dedicated to St. Sebastian. The interior of the church contains the statue of St Sebastian and the one of St. George on horseback fighting with the dragon, both going back to the eighteenth century. Pompu owned a more ancient church dedicated to St. Sebastian, which became a parish very soon, but collapsed on its own foundations in 1865. Then, the statue of the Patron Saint was taken to the ancient church of Saint Mary of Monserrato on the hill, until the new church dedicated to the patron saint was built.
St. Sebastian’s celebrations begin every year the 19th of January. During the night a big fire is lighted, then the 20th the statue of the Saint is carried in procession, finally the big bonfire is blessed in the main square of the village.
The 25th of April there is the feast in honour of St. George, patron saint of farmers. The Saint is carried in procession along the streets of the village, accompanied by tractors, which, on that occasion, are decked with carpets, hangings and saddlebags.
Municipality web site: www.comune.pompu.or.it
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