Usini among churches, festivals and rural landscapes
Accommodation in Usini
Usini combines sacred architecture, archaeological evidence and a hilly landscape shaped by olive groves, vineyards and artichoke fields. There are also festivals featuring fresh pasta, music and traditional dances. If you are looking for a place with cultural attractions and a rural character for your trip to Italy, Usini offers various starting points for a personalised stay.
File:Chiesa Santa Maria, Usini SS, Sardinia, Italy - panoramio.jpg
Photo: trolvag via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Churches and historical traces
One of the most distinctive buildings is Santa Croce, formerly known as Santa Maria de S′Ena Frisca, which dates back to the 12th century. The church preserves the façade and parts of the side walls of its original single-nave Romanesque structure built of limestone. The cornice and pointed-arch corbel arches characterise these surviving sections. Inside, Santa Croce also has polychrome wooden Baroque altars.
Santa Maria Bambina also focuses attention on sacred art. The church preserves a polychrome wooden altar as well as paintings of the Turritanian martyrs. The church of San Giorgio di Oleastreto adds to this historical spectrum. It is located in the Usini area, about 8 km from the town, and was built in the 12th century.
Archaeology from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age
The necropolis of S′Elighe Entosu includes Domus III. It is assigned to the Early Neolithic period from 3,800 to 2,900 BC and is also known as “the seven rooms”. The Nuraghe di Monte Unturzu, by contrast, is evidence of the Bronze Age in the Usini area.
Museum and local culture
The building is a 19th-century residential house and is used for ethnographic exhibitions as well as a museum of peasant civilisation.
Festivals in July and August
The events calendar takes on a distinctive character in summer. The Andarinos Festival, a celebration of fresh pasta, takes place in July. In August, it is followed by the International Folklore Festival of Usini, featuring traditional costumes, music, singing and dancing. These two festivals appeal to different interests: while Andarinos places fresh pasta at the centre, the folklore festival thrives on music and dance culture presented collectively.
Hilly landscapes and regional specialities
The hills around Usini are cultivated with olive groves, vineyards and artichoke fields. The Camminata tra gli Olivi programme included a guided visit to the San Benedetto olive mill with a tasting of bread and oil.
Planning guidance for your trip
Usini is about 10 km from Sassari and can be reached via the SP 28. If you choose accommodation in Usini, you can focus on churches, archaeological sites, local culture, summer festivals or the agriculturally shaped landscape.
More destinations for planning your trip to Italy
If you would like to combine Usini with other destinations, you can also include Porto Torres, Bonorva, Alghero, La Muddizza, Banari, Putifigari, Maristella and Valledoria in your own research.
For the higher-level travel overview: Sassari.
