Discover Samassi, a charming village with around 5000 inhabitants in the province of South Sardinia, located less than 40 km from Cagliari and crossed by the Mannu River. Renowned for the fertility of its lands, Samassi is considered one of the main agricultural centers in Medio Campidano.
The first human settlements in Samassi date back to the recent Neolithic period, around 3500 BC. Archaeological findings in the area include relics from the pre-Nuragic era such as axes, mace heads, and obsidian objects used for hunting and domestic activities.
The famous Artichoke Festival, held in Samassi since 1987, along with the fair where you can taste Campidano’s specialties, is a well-known event in Sardinia. The traditional Campidanese houses, originally belonging to farming families and built with mud bricks, are opened during the festival.
In Samassi, an enchanting winter carnival has been celebrated since the 1950s, featuring allegorical floats and gastronomic delights. The carnival kicks off with Saint Anthony Abbot’s bonfires in mid-January.
In the historic center of Samassi stands a Romanesque architectural gem: the church of San Geminiano, dating back to the second half of the 13th century. The structure adorned with polychrome ashlars features decorative elements taken from a previous building. Inside, a single nave houses the mausoleum of Don Giacomo di Castelvy (1586) sculpted by Scipione Aprile, descendant of a family of sculptors active in Sardinia for many decades.
