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Villaperuccio is located in south-western Sardinia, in the region of
lower
Sulcis, reachable from the State Road 293 (connected, near Siliqua, to the State Road 130
Cagliari-Iglesias); after 60 km, the highway branches off into the provincial road crossing the
village westwards.
The village, counting about 1200 inhabitants, lays at an altitude of 68 m, on a plain crossed
by the main watercourse of lower Sulcis, called Rio Mannu. In the south-western area, the Rio Mannu
flows into the artificial lake of Monte Pranu, where a few paths bordering the lake allow to enjoy
the beauty of the landscape.
The territory, covering about 36 sq km, was intensely anthropized since time immemorial: a few
settlements, such as ‘S'Arriorgiu’, refer to the
Recent
Neolithic (end of 4th- early 3rd millennium B.C.), as well as cultual places, such as the
sacred area of ‘
Terrazzu’, with its menhirs
(over 5 metres high) and some burial sites, among which the ‘domus de janas’ necropolis of
Montessu stands out.
Also, there are several
nuraghi,
either single-towered (e.g., ‘Is Mocci’) and complex (‘Muentinu’, ‘Frassu’, etc.). Finally, some
evidence referring to the
Roman
age has been preserved, including a few villages (‘Niedda’ and ‘Manigas’ areas, among others)
and necropolises (e.g., in proximity to the nuraghi ‘Is Grazias’ and ‘Is Animas’).
The present village has medieval origins, most probably linked to monastic communities
settling in Sardinia between the 11th and the 12th centuries. It was part of the Kingdom
(Giudicato) of Cagliari, until Pisa assigned it to the household of the Donoratico della
Gherardesca, in 1258. At the end of the 13th century, Villaperuccio passed under the direct
administration of the Pisans. After the Aragonese conquest, the village experienced alternate
events. In 1348 its population was decimated by plague; then, the wars between Mariano IV and
Pietro IV led to the decline of the village, which was reduced to a handful of houses in the 15th
century. The territory became a feud of the Otgers (1464),an ancient family of Catalan origins, who
kept owning the feud, although depopulated, throughout the following centuries. The present centre,
like other ones in the area, derives from a
furriadroxiu, a
complex of humble rural dwellings risen in the 18th century along with the settlement of a number
of farmers’ families. With the end of the Otger family, Villaperuccio was never to be a feud again;
in 1821, it was included in the province of Iglesias and united to the municipality of Santadi; in
1848, it was part of the administrative division of Cagliari and, in 1859, of its province. In 1979
it became an autonomous municipality once again.
The modern centre has got a linear plan, stretching along the main road, crossing the village
for a few kilometres. Traditional houses, now limited to a few examples only, are rather simple,
with a single floor looking onto the street and a small backyard/orchard. The parish church is
worth visiting: dedicated to the Madonna del Rosario, it was built in 1913, following the donation
left by a local rich landowner’s will, a certain Bartolomeo Argiolu. Around the mid-19th century,
he donated many lands to the parish, provided that a church was built to be dedicated to the
Madonna del Rosario.
The rural settlement (furriadroxiu) of ‘Is Grazias’ is located near the village, to the
north-west of the inhabited centre. It hosts a characteristic small church dedicated to Our Lady of
Graces and a group of rural structures looking onto a common courtyard.
Local economy is mainly based on breeding and farming; yet tourism, mostly thanks to the
valorisation of the Archaeological Park of Montessu, has been taking on a major role within the
frame of local development. Moreover, artistic craftsmanship has always been alive, mainly in the
production of reed basketry and valuable carpets.
Among local dishes are the delicious ‘gnocchetti’ (malloreddus), the ravioli, filled with
ricotta, various tasty ovine cheeses, excellent citrous fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruits) and
the traditional local sweets (pardulas, pistoccus, pabassinas, pirichittus, zippulas). Specially
interesting is the local production of first-rate wines, chiefly represented by Carignano del
Sulcis, Moscato, Nuragus and Monica.
A number of religious festivals liven up the village in summertime and in December as well.
The most important feast, on 20th August, is held in the honour of the patron Saint, the Madonna
del Rosario. In early summer, celebrations are dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie, while
December honours Santa Lucia. Finally, the Fair of Oranges and the Craftsmanship Show respectively
take place in March and in December.
