Masainas

Masainas is a farming village in the lower Sulcis, with lagoons, nuraghi and a short stretch of coast in its territory. The village developed around an agricultural settlement in the late eighteenth century and became an autonomous municipality in 1975.

Why it matters

The territory preserves remains from Neolithic, nuragic, Punic and Roman periods, while agriculture remains central to local identity. Lagoons near the coast support birdlife, and the area is known for its Carignano grapes and spiny artichoke.

What to notice

The chapel of San Giovanni Battista, around which the settlement formed, has late Gothic-Aragonese features and may incorporate an earlier structure. The nuragic complex of Is Fais has a main tower and satellite towers arranged in a cross, according to the regional tourism portal; the national heritage catalogue records the site as private property. In the centre, Sa Matta 'e sa Cruxi is a monumental olive tree included in the national register in 2017. Along the coast, dunes separate the sea from the Baiocca and Porto Botte lagoons.

Context and history

The territory's archaeological record includes about ten nuraghi, Punic and Roman remains, sarcophagi, coins and rock-cut tombs. The modern village began as a medau around the chapel of San Giovanni Battista in the late eighteenth century. It became an autonomous municipality in 1975. Local agriculture includes vineyards and the cultivation of the spiny artichoke.