Sestu

Sestu is a town on the Campidano plain, about a dozen kilometres north of Cagliari. Its name comes from the Latin ad sextum lapidem, at the sixth milestone, because it stood at the sixth mile of the Roman road leaving Karales for the interior of the island. For centuries it was a large farming village, with wheat fields, vineyards, olive groves and vegetable gardens; today it is a fast-growing town with shopping and residential areas, but it keeps an old centre of Campidano houses and some charming medieval churches, including the Romanesque church of San Gemiliano.

History

The area was inhabited in pre-Nuragic and Nuragic times, as village remains and nuraghi on the plain show. In Roman times Sestu was a station on the great road linking Karales to Turris Libisonis, and the plain was farmed with wheat. In the Middle Ages the town belonged to the Giudicato of Cagliari, in the curatoria of Campidano, and then passed to the Pisans and the Aragonese. For centuries it remained a farming centre tied to the city of Cagliari, which it supplied with wheat, wine and vegetables. After the Second World War the population grew rapidly, and today Sestu has more than twenty thousand inhabitants.

The centre and churches

The old centre keeps Campidano courtyard houses, with ladiri walls and arched gateways, and small squares. The parish church of San Giorgio Martire, with its bell tower, is the town's landmark. Just outside the centre is the church of San Salvatore, of medieval origin. The most evocative monument is the church of San Gemiliano, a Romanesque building of pale stone, isolated in the countryside and surrounded by spaces for pilgrims and the festival. It is dedicated to a Sardinian martyr of the early Christian centuries, much venerated in the Campidano.

The countryside

Around Sestu the Campidano plain opens out with fields, vineyards and olive groves. The area is ideal for walks and bike rides among old country churches and farmhouses. The hills to the north-east mark the way to the Parteolla and Trexenta, lands of wine and oil. The Poetto sea and the Molentargius Park are about twenty minutes away.

Festivals

The most heartfelt festival is that of San Gemiliano, with the pilgrimage to the country church, traccas, decorated ox-drawn carts, traditional costumes and launeddas music. The feast of San Giorgio, the patron, is held in spring, and in January the Sant'Antonio bonfires are lit. During the year there are also food fairs and events devoted to local farm produce.

Food

Sestu cooking is that of the Campidano: homemade bread, malloreddus, culurgiones, pulse soups, garden vegetables, roast meats and cheese. Sweets include pardulas, amaretti, pabassinas and gueffus. The wines are those of the Campidano, such as Monica, Nuragus and Cannonau.

Getting there

Sestu is about 15 minutes from Cagliari on the SS131 Carlo Felice and linked to the city by frequent buses. Elmas airport is about 15 minutes away. From here you easily reach Monserrato, Selargius, Ussana, Monastir, Dolianova and the Parteolla.

What to see

• Country church of San Gemiliano
• Old town con le case in làdiri

Festivals and traditions

• San Gemiliano, terza domenica di maggioMay
• San Gemiliano, prima domenica di settembreSeptember

Nearby beaches

• Poetto13 km

Nearby hikes

• Sella del Diavolo13 km
• Foresta dei Sette Fratelli28 km

Nearby towns

• Elmas · 5 km
• Monserrato · 7 km
• Assemini · 7 km
• Settimo San Pietro · 8 km
• Selargius · 8 km
• Quartucciu · 9 km
• Soleminis · 9 km
• Cagliari · 10 km

Sources: Grande Enciclopedia della Sardegna; ISTAT. Original texts by Gotosardinia.