LOFAR Magnetism KSP meeting




written by Ninni Orru' (italian version)


A brief Hitsorical overview 


Sant'Antioco, in south-western Sardinia, is the largest island of the Sulcitan archipelago.
It was, probably, colonized by people arriving from Africa, at least 2500 years B.C.
Many archeological remains of the "pre-nuragic" period are still visible, such as villages, domus de Janas and menhir. After some time the Nuragic civilization became dominant, and evidence is given by many findings such as 30 nuraghi,  "giant graves",  "holy wells" used for funeral and religious purposes.
The geographic position of the island, in the middle of Mediterranean sea, made it suitable for maritime  trades, so Phoenicians  built  in it  a city  called "Sulki",  conquered later by Carthaginians. The war between Punics and Romans ended with Sant'Antioco being conquered by Romans, which changed its name in "Sulci" and made it an important trading harbour. In the first century A.D. the city became municipium. During the IV century A.D. the island was subject to barbaric invasions, which caused the beginning of its decline. During the VII century A.D. under Byzantin dominion Sant'Antioco was afflicted by arabian invasions, which made its inhabitants move towards Sardinia, in more safe places. The incursions destroyed the sulcitan civilization and isolated Sardinia, wich faced the crisis by creating autonomous governments, called "i giudicati". Later the Saracens raids were fighted by maritime republics of Genova and Pisa.   
Pisans were then chased away from Sardinia by Aragoneses. After a period of spanish domination, Sardinia was assigned to the House of Savoy which started healing and populating again the Sulcitan archipelago, thanks to tenants coming from Tabarca. Descendants of these tenants ("tabarchini") are still living mostly in San Pietro island, and in Calasetta, one of the city in Sant'Antioco island.


Monuments 

A visit to the archeological museum "F. Barreca" is obligatory. There are very interesting findings from the phoenician-punic-roman period. Sant'Antioco's Basilica is also worth a visit. Under its foundations there is the only sardinian catacomb dated the first centuries AD. They were built by Christians in the hypogei of punic necropolis. Furthermore, other locations worthing a visit are the necropolis, the tophet, the temple and the Roman fountain, the sabaudian fort, the Roman mausoleum and the underground village. Very interesting and suggestive is a visit to the nuragic village "Grutti'acqua".


Tourists and natural information 

The island of Sant’Antioco can be reached by car through an isthmus and a bridge that connect it to Sardinia, the main island. The bridge appeared already in the Roman epoch. The sea in the island is suitable for all tastes, it goes from beaches with extremely thin sand to the wild and suggestive rocks (and cliffs). Driving towards the south on the East coast you will pass by the beaches of “is pruinis” (the dust), portixeddu (small harbour), maladroxia, the most popular and urbanized, "coe quaddus" (horses tails), whose colors are similar to the Caribbean sea, "Turri" and "S’Acqua e Sa Canna", which according to the tails could be made of stones or sand. The southern point of the island is "Capo Sperone".

Driving towards North on the West coast, you will reach the "Cala Sapone" bay, with its wild and uncontaminated rocks, suitable for hiking. In Cala Sapone bay there are both a sandy beach with small stones and flat rocks easily reachable by every one. The last beach in the territory of Sant’Antioco municipality is the so called "Cala Lunga", for its elongated shape in between two high cliffs which make it similar to a Norvegian fiord. Still on the island but belonging to the municipality of Calasetta there are also Spiaggia Grande, Le Saline, Sotto Torre. All the places we described are characterized by a crystal clear and uncontaminated sea water.

Restaurants and Pizzerie

Da Achille (where the social dinner will take place)

Il Passeggero, Lungo Mare A. Vespucci

Corru Longu, on the Istmo road

Zefiro, Via Carducci

Rubiu, Birreria & pizzeria (we will go on Monday)

Renzo & Rita pizzeria Via Nazionale

Rino Tutte Pizze C.V Emanuele

We finally want to point out the excellence of wines, produced from local vine varieties, by the winehouse Cantina Sociale di Sant’Antioco called "Sardus Pater". This brand of wines was several times awarded prizes at the national wine competition “vinitaly”. Last but not least is the quality of the ichthyic products fished in our sea.