Usellus is located in the border between the Giara of Gesturi and Mount Arci, surrounded by holm-oak and cork woods.
The populating of Usellus zone goes back to a very ancient epoch, because of the attraction pole represented by Mount Arci, that, with its rich obsidian fields let it possible to create utensils and weapons since the Neolithic Age.
Among nuraghic period finds made, there sparkle the following: St. Lucy’s nuragh (surrounded by Cyclopean walls and the remains of many huts), Pinna, Stampasia and Tara nuraghs and “Matrox' 'e Bois” tomb of giants. In the Roman epoch the area was chosen for the foundation of the Uselis settlement (second century B.C.), so strategic for overseeing and protecting the ways of communication from the Barbagia populations, to win even the status of a colony, with the name of Iulia Augusta Uselis. Almost in the twelfth century the village was abandoned for unknown reasons and later on rebuilt lower down, where it is located still today.
Usellis historic centre still has many traditional houses, with typical portals of Campidano architecture, and St. Bartholomew’s parish church, erected in the seventeenth century in yellowish marl and trachyte. In the surrounding country there are also St. Lucy’s country church (going back to a vandal epoch, with two sculptured faces on both sides of the entrance) and St. Reparata’s church (inside the Roman town archaeological area).
Escovedu hamlet, too, is very pleasing, with its well kept traditional architecture, such as Prinzis family proprietary house (going back to the eighteenth century) and St. Anthony of Padova’s church. Finally, there is the wine-producers' co-operative, which produces Monica, Vermentino and Malvasia, excellent wines typical of the area.
The 15th of May Usellus organizes celebrations in honour of St. Isidoro and the Festival of the sheep, with degustation of dishes based on boiled sheep meat and cheese, cooked according to Sardinian culinary tradition.
Municipality web site: www.comune.usellus.or.it/index.asp
© GalMarmilla