Collinas
Collinas is a lovely village nestled on the hills of the Marmilla region, inhabited by a community of 900 people. Surrounded by impressive holm oaks, cornfields and vineyards, this picturesque village is steeped in history and traditions. Known in the past as Forru, in 1863 it was renamed Collinas, taking inspiration from the surrounding hills, at the behest of Giovanni Battista Tuveri, the Mayor, to avoid confusion with mail deliveries to the nearby village of Villanovaforru.
A historical village set amidst elegant hills, enchanting woods and a multitude of Nuragic sites
Today, Collinas is famous for its old centre, its traditional celebrations and most importantly for its Nativity Scene contest "Collinas paese di presepi", with the grand finale of a charming live Nativity scene in Sardinian language on the Twelfth Night.
The surrounding area is a treasure-trove of historical vestiges, with pre-Nuragic tombs such as Sedda de Sa Caudela and nuraghes such as Nuraghe Concali, interspersed amidst the landscape of the Collinas plateau. The most outstanding churches are the Church of St Roch and the Church of St Sebastian, held to be the first parish church. The patronal feasts dedicated to St Sebastian and to St Isidore, with traditional bonfires, food tasting sessions and parades of decked-out tractors, are held every year in late January and in mid-May, respectively.
Not far from the old centre, in a valley of poplars, oleasters and mastic trees, stands the country church of Santa Maria Angiargia, built in the 12th century. Some remains of ancient buildings, including a Roman bath known as "Su Angiu", are still visible all around the shrine.
The festival in honour of Santa Maria Angiargia, celebrated in early September, is the most important event in Collinas, embodying the very essence of this ancient and magical land.
