Mamoiada

Mamoiada (Mamujada in sardinian barbaricino) is located in the inner part of the Barbagia of Ollolai, in a territory in which gush out and run several watercourses, through land in good part devoted to culture or to pasture. The presence of these environmental resources has attracted human settlements since the Neolithic and pre-Neolithic, with a variety of archaeological traces and anthropological significant (from votive stone, the nuragh, up to menhirs and dolmens, as regards the latter today there is more witness, if not the toponymy of places where stood e.g. copreccada sa). Strikes Sa Perda Pintà (i.e. "painted stone", also known as Stele of Boeli), a slab high 270 cm marked with concentric circles and cups, entirely similar to similar diffuse plates in the area of the Celts (Scotland, Ireland, Corsica, Wales and Britain).

The inhabited center develops in a gentle slope, almost imperceptible, which has its extremes to Sa Hosta and Maramele. Two large arteries cut the historical center: horizontally with corso Vittorio Emanuele III, vertically with the track Mannu, that intersect in Piazza Santa Croce, the heart of the country in which is located the city hall. The constant building expansion has exceeded the old periphery, invading the surrounding gardens, public drinking troughs all spaces where once were the IEA (arjolas sas), and fences for livestock (sos aggorros). It builds a Bacarru, s'Eredadu, sa 'and Carrai, sa 'and Mazzozzo, Earth Hihos, Boeli, Moddore, Perruncu.

Given its strategic position in correspondence of the north-south axis of Sardinia along the road Ulbiam-Caralis, the village of Mamoiada was affected by a military presence in Roman times. The rione on 'astru has a name that reflects what the Romans gave to their small Presidia (Castrum). The roman presence is also testified by the fountain of on 'antaru vetzu (i.e. "La Vecchia Fonte"), at the center of the homonymous district.

Other architectural legacies of successive eras are represented mainly by the churches. The Church of Loreto, with a dome is rich in frescoes, was probably built around 1600. The Sanctuary of the Saints Cosma and Damiano, which resembles a structure much more ancient, is located 5 km from the town center on the plateau of the Marghine, alongside the road that leads to Gavoi. The Sanctuary is surrounded by about fifty casette for pilgrims (umbissìas).

Between the IX and XV century Mamoiada was included in the Giudicato of Arborea, in particular in the curatoria of the Barbagia of Ollolai. At the beginning of the Aragonese period (XV century), Mamoiada and other barbaricini villages were a feud of Peter Mass of Arborea, while in 1604 it was assigned to the duchy of Mandas.

Mamoiada belongs to one of the most characteristic linguistic areas of Sardinia, the Barbagia di Ollolai, in which the talk are distinguished by special phonetic phenomena and lexical units.

Mamoiada is also the country of the wine. Intense aromas of the grapes enrich the landscape: from vineyards here cannonau and granazza. In recent years are numerous prizes won the local cellars at regional and national level. While in homes for the Carnival is preparing orulettas sas, 'chat' intertwined sprinkled with icing sugar, to taste together with other typical sweets. Excellent opportunity to taste the dishes is Tapas, the appointment mamoiadino of Autumn in Barbagia, generally in the first week of November.

The paths of the shepherds characterise the landscape, to be covered on foot or by mountain bike, to the discovery of beauties and testimonies of the past. Within the country there are three sites of Domus de Janas, the fountain of on 'Antaru vetzu (roman) and the mysterious stele of Boeli or Sa Perda Pintà (3500 a.C.), a huge menhir decorated with concentric circles, symbol of the cult of water, a unique testimony in Sardinia. Another peculiarity is the presence of Byzantine reminiscence dating back to the Early Middle Ages, expressed by the cult of the Saints Cosma and Damiano: a shrine dedicated to them can be visited just outside the country.

On Passu Torràu, literally "step back", is a dance, it is now widespread throughout Sardinia but it seems it is originating in the country of Mamoiada. In fact in many engravings of many musicians of Sardinia as Vercellino World, Mario and Francesco Bande is called "Sa Mamojadina".