Holiday apartment in Furtei – Culture, Churches and Easter Traditions

Furtei combines impressive evidence from different eras with lively religious festivals. Between Nuragic ruins, Roman remains, medieval churches and Sardinian songs, a varied picture of the town emerges. For planning your day in Furtei, you can combine the Easter celebrations, the five Nuragic ruins, Is Bangius and the churches as distinct historical and religious highlights.

Easter traditions and a festival featuring the Sardinian language

Furtei’s religious tradition is particularly striking at Easter. Following the Good Friday liturgy, Su Scravamentu reenacts the Passion and death of Jesus in a staged performance presented by local residents. A procession follows. During S'Incontru, the images of the risen Christ and the grieving Madonna are brought together at Easter, before a procession takes place to the Church of Santa Barbara.

The celebration of Saint Narcissus also combines liturgy, language and local tradition. In the 13th-century chapel, a rosary is sung alternately by men and women in Campidanese Sardinian; this is followed by Is Coggius, also performed in Campidanese Sardinian. The festival also includes a tasting of roasted chestnuts and new wine.

Nuraghi, Roman traces and churches

The town’s earlier history can be traced through several archaeological sites. In Furtei, five nuraghi now survive only as ruins: Cummossariu, Bangius, Sa Conca Manna, Noraxiais and Su Bruncu'e Su Senzu. In the courtyard of the Cummossariu nuraghe, two small bronze objects were discovered in the 1950s; they are displayed on the first floor of the National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari.

The Is Bangius archaeological area comprises the remains of a Roman bath complex uncovered in the 1980s. Surviving traces of the complex are visible there; another excavation campaign that could uncover more significant sections has yet to take place. In Cuccuru S. Biagio, or Santu Brai, the Carthaginians converted an existing Nuragic fortification into a military installation. The nuraghe was partly incorporated as a central, square mastio or tower structure.

The sacred buildings include Santa Maria, whose construction dates from the late 12th to the early 13th century and is probably Romanesque in origin. Santa Barbara preserves a panel depicting the Crucifixion, attributed to the 16th-century painter Antioco Mainas. The rural church of San Biagio probably dates from the Byzantine period and was the parish church of the now-forgotten former village of Nuraxi.

Sights with different access conditions

When planning your day, you should take into account the different access conditions at the sights. The Church of San Narciso is accessible and can be visited only during Mass times or festivals. The rural church of San Biagio is not accessible; however, its architectural elements can be viewed at the entrance gate.

Landscape between Campidano and Marmilla

The fortified settlement of Cuccuru S. Biagio was located near a ford across the Flumini Mannu and the Furtei gorge, which connects the Campidano with the Marmilla.

Further places for planning your trip:Turri, Villamar, Villacidro, Marina Di Gutturu Flumini, Tuili, Lunamatrona, Sanluri and Arbus.

For the higher-level travel overview: Medio Campidano.