Siddi

Siddi is a small rural hamlet in the core of Marmilla, which gives the name to its Giara, the tableland towering over the historical centre. The Giara of Siddi, also called “Su pranu”, is covered with lush Mediterranean vegetation, with typical Sardinian smells and colours. The Giara stands out for the singular reddish hue of the crevices appearing on its southern versant. They are mainly due to lichen living among volcanic rocks. They inspired the de nomination of “Sa Corona Arrubia” (the red crown) locality.

The lush vegetation is dotted with rich evidence of Pre-nuraghic and Nuraghic periods: seventeen nuraghs remains were excavated. Among them there is Sa Domu 'e s'Orku, the biggest tomb of giants on the Island (of Sardinia) built with basaltic blocks, still keeping its original roofing.

In the northern border of the Giara there is Sa Fogaia, important archaeological site with an interesting nuragh, in corridor structure.

Siddi area was then inhabited by a Phoenician population and later on by the Romans: the village was very likely built along the grain road, that took to Cagliari from Usellus Roman colony.

The historical centre is characterized by narrow alleys overlooked by typical Campidano “a corte” (with a court) houses, with ancient walls in “lardiri” (crude brick), monumental portals and coloured murals.

Steri House-Museum was obtained from a typical Campidano house situated in the core of the village: there are expositions dedicated to local agricultural and food traditions straddling the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries. The ancient Managu Hospital hosts the Ornithological Museum, exposing more than two hundred specimens of birds and mammals.

At the entrance of the village everybody can admire St. Michael Archangel’s church, which has a typical Romanesque original structure of the thirteenth century; today it is the smallest church with this configuration in Sardinia.

Siddi, finally, is the place of birth of the writer Antonio Puddu, to whom an inscription was dedicated in the church square.

Municipality web site: www.comune.siddi.ca.it