Setzu
Setzu, a little village at the foot of the imposing Giara plateau, is a place teeming with nature, history and tradition. With a population of just 150, it is the remotest gem in southern Sardinia, guarding ancient secrets inside its walls. Its economy is based on farming and breeding, with such delicacies as meats, cheeses, wines, mushrooms and snails. In August, the Festival of Fregola and de su Pani Indorau is the peak of culinary pleasure.
A ‘tiny’ concentrate of nature, archaeology and traditions
The name "Setzu" is a nod to the antiqueness of the village, which dates back to the Middle Ages in the Judicate of Arborea. The village covers 120 hectares, including the south-western part of the Giara plateau, where the famous breed of horses known as cavallini della Giara, the only ones in Europe, live. This place is perfect for fans of horse-riding and bike-riding.
In the old centre of the village, stone houses in the traditional Campidanese style of southern Sardinia surround the imposing parish church of St Leonard, with its Romanesque bell tower. The Fondazione Altopiano della Giara organises cultural experiences in the heart of the village.
The historical heritage of Setzu is preserved in the old Monte Granatico (a sort of charitable pawnshop that, unlike a Monte di Pietà, lent wheat to farmers instead of money) and in the multimedia museum "Filo di Memoria," that takes you into a journey through the local history, from Prehistoric archaeology to the distant past. In the surroundings, the remains of Nuragic towers and ancient dwellings speak of human settlements in the Bronze Age and at the time of the Roman Empire.
Setzu is a place steeped in tradition, with the Feast of Sant'Ignazio da Laconi in late August bringing the community together in a festive and solemn atmosphere.
