Discover Villamar: Nuraghi, Murals and Church Art

Villamar between Marmilla and Trexenta

Villamar lies on the gentle hills of lower Marmilla, on the border with Trexenta. The landscape gives the town a clear regional setting. This creates a destination where you can combine views of the town with an understanding of its surroundings – especially if you want to consider the landscape and local history together.

Twelve Nuraghi dating from the Bronze Age have been preserved in the Villamar area. This heritage places the town within a far-reaching archaeological history and gives travel planning a clear focus on Sardinia’s prehistoric past. The Bronze Age predates the two dated references associated with the church art: the Retablo was painted by Pietro Cavaro in 1518, while Madonna d'Itria was created in 1600.

Murals and Local History

The historic centre of Villamar is enlivened by colourful murals created by Sardinian artists and Chilean exiles. The so-called “quartiere Maiorchino” emerged through the intermingling of a colony with the local population of Villamar. Both aspects give the town centre a cultural and historical character that extends beyond individual buildings and also encompasses the development of the neighbourhood. The connection between Sardinian artists and Chilean exiles is part of the history of the quartiere Maiorchino’s origins.

Churches and Painting

The Chiesa di San Pietro in Villamar is distinguished by an unusual two-aisle layout, a feature rarely found in Sardinian Romanesque architecture. The Church of Madonna d'Itria in Villamar was built in 1600 and has three aisles separated by arcades resting on pillars. The Retablo di Villamar was painted by Pietro Cavaro in 1518. In Villamar, you will therefore find both distinctive church architecture and a dated work by a named painter. The two churches differ in the number of aisles: San Pietro has two, while Madonna d'Itria has three; in Madonna d'Itria, arcades on pillars separate the aisles.

Museums in the Surrounding Area

The Museo Civico Archeologico Genna Maria, the Museo Ornitologico della Sardegna, the Area Archeologica Del Nuraghe Sa Fogaia and the Museo Naturalistico del Territorio are located in the area around Villamar. In addition to the three museums, these four sites also include an archaeological area, the Area Archeologica Del Nuraghe Sa Fogaia.

The wider regional surroundings of Villamar include Monte Ochiazzanu, Bruncu de su Trigu, Pitza Sinai and Monte Fogu.

Cycling Route via Ales

The Samugheo–Ales–Villamar cycling route also connects Villamar with Samugheo via Ales. The section of the cycling route from Ales to Villamar follows the course of a disused railway line. Two details are therefore important for route orientation: the Samugheo–Ales–Villamar connection and the course of the Ales–Villamar section along the disused railway line.

More places for your travel planning: Barumini, Arbus, Gesturi, Turri, Sant'antonio Di Santadi, Guspini, Furtei, Lunamatrona

To the main travel overview: Medio Campidano.