Pabillonis, the village of pots “Pingiadas”
Pabillonis (40 mt above sea level) lies at the confluence of the Flumini Mannu and Flumini Bellu rivers in the central-northern Campidano region in the province of Sud-Sardegna. Its flat, irrigated, clayey territory has shaped its history and economy.
The village originally was in Località San Lussorio, where the ruins of the village destroyed by Saracen raids still stand today. Nowadays the village, with about 2,400 inhabitants, develops around the Romanesque-style Church of San Giovanni Battista, the oldest of the village’s religious buildings (dating back to the 12th century).
In the old centre, two typical earthen dwellings have been renovated and opened to visitors: the Casa Museo and the Casa Matta.
Pabillonis is approximately 60 km to Cagliari and Elmas Airport; and about 35 km to the beaches of the western coast of Sardinia.
The Origin of the Name
There are two hypotheses regarding the origin of the name, documented as early as 1341 as “De Pavilione”. According to the first one, it derives from the Latin “Pabillo Onis” (“Pavilion” or “Military Tent”) and is the basis of Sardinian names such as “Papidzone“, “Papiggione“, and “Babidzone“, which designate a wooden shelter for the overnight stay of draft animals.
The second hypothesis, however, derives the name from the Latin phrase “Villa vel praedium Papilionis”, (“estate of Papilione”), the name of a Roman landowner living in the area.
Città della Terra Cruda (town of raw earth)
Once marshy and unhealthy, the land was reclaimed in the mid-1930s and is currently characterized by an economy rooted in agricultural, pastoral, and artisanal traditions. In fact, basket making (Scateddus, Cibirus, and Corbis) and terracotta producing (Tianus, Pingiadas, and Sciveddas) are still the most important local handicrafts. Pabillonis is also known as the “fireworks capital” thanks to its master pyrotechnicians (“is arroderis”).
This village, known for centuries as “bidda de is pingiadas” (town of pots), is in fact a member of the National Association of Raw Earth Towns. The quality of products is guaranteed by the skill of its master potters and the quality of the raw materials available in the surrounding lands. Dedicated to the master potters and tile makers, the “Pingiadas” ceramic pot festival, takes place between late October and early November.
Since 2018, at the suggestion of Città della Terra Cruda, a project has also been underway to revive the production of terracotta pots in a contemporary and modern style.
An Ancient History
The earliest evidence of human presence in Pabillonis area dates back to the Neolithic. Frequent finds of worked obsidian suggest in fact the existence of numerous villages near water sources and rivers. The Nuragic civilization left behind the nuraghes “Surbiu” (completely destroyed), “Santu Sciori“, “Nuraxi Fenu,” and “Domu’e Campu.”
A Roman bridge, called “Su Ponti de sa Baronessa“, still stands close to the village. The ruins of the original settlement are located a couple of kilometres from the current location, near the country church of San Lussorio, near the banks of the Flumini Mannu.
Part of the Giudicato of Arborea during the Middle Ages, the ancient village was destroyed by the Saracens and rebuilt in its current location. With the fall of the Giudicato in 1420, Pabillonis became part of the Marquisate of Oristano, and from 1478, upon its final defeat, it came under Aragonese rule. In 1584, the Moors sacked the village, which was abandoned by the few survivors. After various vicissitudes, the village was redeemed in 1839 with the abolition of the feudal system. In 1934, the Fascist Regime reclaimed the marshes around Flumini Mannu. Allied forces severely bombed the Pabillonis airfield, in Località Foddi in early September 1943. This was the last act of war in Sardinia, just hours before Italy’s official exit from the conflict.
Interesting places
In this are you find important evidence of the Nuragic civilization, such as the Nuraghe di “Santu Sciori” and the “Nuraxi Fenu”, currently being studied and enhanced. A curious remnant of the Roman era is a bridge located about 8 km north of the village called “Ponte de Sa Baronessa”.
Inside the village, you can admire the 16th-century Parish Church of Beata Vergine della Neve and the ancient 14th-century Church of San Giovanni Battista.
In addition to visiting the historical and cultural sites, you can go hiking or cycling in the surrounding area, which offers interesting natural landscapes, such as the Monte Linas-Marganai area and the Rio Linas waterfalls.
Here you find the site comune di Pabillonis for info about this location
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Here you find the site Associazione Città della Terra Cruda
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