The Territory

Isili is located in the Sarcidano, a historic region that acts as a bridge between the Campidano plains and the mountains of Barbagia. It is a small hill town that has gained prominence in the area due to its public services, schools, and sports facilities. Isili boasts a hospital, high schools, and various other offices and commercial activities. Despite having fewer than 3,000 inhabitants, it offers a level of services and regional importance comparable to a small town while maintaining the relaxed pace of life typical of Sardinia’s inland villages. Historically, Isili’s economy was based on agriculture and shepherding, like many other towns in the area. However, it stands out for two major artisanal traditions: copperworking and weaving. Isili is the only town in Sardinia with a copperworking tradition. Until the 1970s, Isili’s coppersmiths produced most of the copper utensils used for household and work purposes across Sardinia, selling them throughout the island.

A fascinating aspect of these coppersmiths is their unique jargon, essentially a distinct language compared to Sardinian, known as S’Arromaniska or Arbaresca. The Municipality of Isili has dedicated the MARATE Museum to these artisanal traditions, housed in the ancient convent built by the Piarist Fathers in the 17th century, located in the town center.

The territory of Isili is quite diverse, ranging from hills and valleys where locals cultivate their gardens to the forested mountains of Pranu and Trempu. A canyon runs through the area, offering scenic trails for hikers and rocky walls popular with free climbers. The artificial Lake San Sebastiano, with its small island and the namesake chapel, adds to the charm.

Like the rest of Sarcidano, Isili has been inhabited since ancient times, and its landscape is dotted with archaeological sites from various eras. These range from prehistory to the Middle Ages, including the pre-Nuragic, Nuragic, and Roman periods. Archaeology enthusiasts should not miss the Nuraghe Is Paras, famous for its beautiful tholos, the Nuraghe Asusa in the Asusa Park, the Roman bridge of Brabaciera, or the Domus de Janas visible from the Belvedere. These are just the most accessible and well-preserved sites among the many scattered throughout the municipality. For medieval history, visitors can explore churches within the town, such as San Saturnino, San Giuseppe, Sant’Antonio, and the ruins of San Mauro, as well as recently restored rural churches like Sant’Antonio in Fadali and San Sebastiano on the lake.

Isili offre ampie possibilità anche a chi ama l’attività sportiva, ce n’è per tutti i gusti, si va dai percorsi di trekking e mountain bike di vari livelli di difficoltà alla possibilità di esplorare il lago a bordo di canoe e kayak senza dimenticare le falesie su cui è possibile praticare il free climbling. Isili also offers plenty of opportunities for sports enthusiasts. Options range from trekking and mountain biking trails of varying difficulty to exploring the lake by canoe or kayak. Rock climbing enthusiasts will appreciate the cliffs, while the town also features excellent sports facilities, including a swimming pool, soccer and futsal fields, tennis and basketball courts, and bocce courts. Nature lovers can enjoy birdwatching and sport fishing at the lake.