Gal Marmilla

Turri stands in the core of Marmilla plain, between the Giara of Gesturi and Siddi. In “Molinu” zone, at the entrance of the village, there is the biggest concentration of century-old olive trees (about two hundreds) in all Sardinia. The peculiarity of that display of plants is that the owners’ names’ initials are carved on the trees.

In Turri area there are many nuraghs, such as the ones of Bruncu Monti Ari, Turriga, Sirissi and the two complex nuraghs of Cabonu and su Senzu.

The historic centre still has its original conformation, with the typical “a corte” (with a court) houses of the area and cereal agriculture. Turri has also many stone portals: the most ancient go back to the nineteenth century and are distinguished for materials and decorations indicating the social condition of the family which lived in the house.

Turri population has ever since devoted itself to agriculture and pastoral farming, producing cereals, legumes, vegetables, wine, oil, almonds and cheese. Local craft is characterized by the manufacturing of works in wood and stone, knifes, baskets and embroideries.

The village is also famed for saffron production, boasting a secular tradition.  During blossom time (around the second Sunday of November), since more than ten years ago, Turri organizes the Festival of Saffron: in addition to the opportunity to buy the so-called “red gold” of Sardinia, it is possible to visit fields in flower, to watch the saffron working and to taste typical dishes of Sardinian cuisine.

During the first weekend of July there is the “Festival of Grain Harvest and Threshing”, which, in the current year celebrates its twentieth anniversary.

The feast takes place in MOLINU locality, near the centuries-old olive tree park. It is based on the faithful reproduction of farm work in the old days: starting early in the morning with harvesting by hand, then going on with wheat carriage to barnyard by cart, threshing with oxen, “sa bentuadura”, that is the separation of the grain from the straw with the use of the wind, and “s’incungia”, that is the grain conservation. In parallel, in the adjacent field there takes place the threshing with the usage of an ancient thresher, moved by a tractor.

In the middle of the morning, visitors can refresh themselves with “su murzu”, a snack based on bread, onions, cheeses and sausage. For lunch there is “sa marraconada”, typical “gnocchetti alla campidanese” (small gnocchi cooked as people do in Campidano area). The meals are washed down with a good native wine. 

During the event it is possible to walk among several local product exhibitions or admire the “messadorisi e spigatriscisi” with their typical dresses, period tractors and carts pulled by oxen.

Municipality web site: www.comune.turri.vs.it