| History.
Villasimius in ancient times.
Because of its geographical position, the area of Villasimius
was populated as far back as the pre-nuragic period and since
then has represented a strategic point for many peoples, as demonstrated
by the centuries of conflict to gain control of the region, first
with the Carthaginians, then the Phoenicians and finally the Romans.
The Riso beach “domus de janas”, an artificial hypogeic
grotto excavated in the rock, was used as a communal burial ground.
It formed part of a group of similar structures, traces of which
can be found in the nearby borough of Castiadas, and was built
in the prenuragic period (third millennium BC). In the following
nuragic period, 1500 to 240 BC, man settled in the internal regions,
while nuraghi were erected on the hills behind the sea, forming
a defensive line against enemies who arrived from the sea. Examples
of this to be found in the Cruccuris (Giadroni nuraghe), “Sa
Conca Arrubia” (Cixillianu), Bruncu Campulongu, S’Argalla
and S’Accu and Sa Pira localities. A diameter of up to 10
metres was achieved using huge granite blocks.
East of the present-day village centre, there is evidence of two
nuragic villages, “Accu ‘e Gattus” and “Manunza”
. Here the nuraghi, made up of several towers and surrounded by
huts, were intended to control the land between the coast and
the inland regions.
In the seventh century BC, the south coast of Sardinia, one of
the commercial routes of the Mediterranean, saw the arrival of
the Phoenicians, drawn to it, above all, by its copper and silver.
In this period, Nora was founded, the most ancient Phoenician
town on the island, as well as Tharros in the Gulf of Oristano
and Karalis (Cagliari).
For the merchants who traded with these cities, the sea around
Villasimius was a necessary port of call, as it offered shelter
from the strong winds, the mistral and the sirocco.
In this way, the first settlements were created: the most important
was undoubtedly Cuccureddus on Campus beach. This offered a safe
and protected landing place in the mouth of the River Foxi, at
the time much wider and navigable, allowing the fertile and flat
inner heartlands to be reached. At the top of the hill of the
same name, a sanctuary for secret prostitution was erected. Another
settlement was established at Notteri, evidently, at the time,
a large, sheltered natural port, now divided from the sea by a
stretch of white, sandy beach.
Around the Mediterranean, numerous peoples sought to occupy and
commercialise new territories. Around 520 BC, therefore, after
several battles, Carthage managed to conquer a great part of the
island. At the time, Sardinia (and therefore Villasimius) were
under the Punics (until 238 BC). The initial settlement was scattered
and decentralised, contrasting with the more stable and all-pervading
presence established by the Romans subsequently. Among the pieces
of evidence this period we note a small complex of baths near
the small church of Santa Maria, containing a marble statue (now
preserved in the parish church of Villasimius) and several coins,
along with various other discoveries kept in the village Archaeological
Museum. Here we find four themed rooms: the Sea Room, Sanctuary
Room, Territory Room and Wreckage Room.
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