Abbasanta

Abbasanta (Italian: [abbaˈsanta; -ˈzan-], Sardinian: [ˌabaˈzanta], literally "holy water"; Latin: Ad Medias) is a town and comune (municipality) in the province of Oristano of the autonomous island region of Sardinia in Italy. It has a population of 2,574.^[2]

Abbasanta
Comune
Comune di Abbasanta
Church of Santa Caterina in Abbasanta
Abbasanta Location of Abbasanta in Sardinia
Coordinates: 40°7′N 8°49′E
Country	Italy
Region	Sardinia
Province	Oristano (OR)
Government
• Mayor	Stefano Sanna
Area [1]
• Total	39.85 km2 (15.39 sq mi)
Elevation	313 m (1,027 ft)
Population  (2025)[2]
• Total	2,574
• Density	64.59/km2 (167.3/sq mi)
Demonyms	Abbasantesi Abbasantesos
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	09071
Dialing code	0785
Patron saint	Saint Catherine of Siena
Saint day	25 November
Website	Official website

It is on the main road between Macomer and Oristano.^[3]

History

In Roman times, the town, called Ad Medias, was in the territory of the Æchilenenses or Cornenses.

The village was built all around the two churches of Santa Amada and Santa Caterina (dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria). There was a clear separation between social classes.

Until the 1950s the use of Italian and Sardinian language had distinct and complementary functions. Italian was the official language, used by the public administration, while Sardinian was the language spoken at home and among friends. The characteristic expressions of the dialect are usually inspired by the peasant and pastoral world. Many proverbs refer to the values of honesty, friendship, fidelity (of the woman), loyalty, parsimony and obedience to the divine will.

Geography

Abbasanta sits on a lava plateau rich in cork oaks, olive trees and lentischi (mastic trees). The plateau arose from the lava flow of the Montiferru volcano. The landscape of the lava plateau is characterised by pastures that are enclosed by stone walls that surround the tancas built in the 18th century.

In the surrounding countryside, there are still some typical shelters (pinnete) made of stones and boughs by the shepherds.

Demographics

As of 2025, Abbasanta has a population of 2,574, of whom 49.4% are male and 50.6% are female, compared to the nationwide average of 49.0% and 51.0% respectively. Minors make up 13.3% of the population, and seniors make up 28.2%, compared to the Italian average of 14.9% and 24.7% respectively.^[2]

Historical population
Year Pop. ±% 1861 1,330 —     1871 1,437 +8.0% 1881 1,596 +11.1% 1901 1,425 −10.7% 1911 1,491 +4.6% 1921 1,465 −1.7% 1931 1,633 +11.5% 1936 1,678 +2.8%	Year Pop. ±% 1951 2,208 +31.6% 1961 2,323 +5.2% 1971 2,059 −11.4% 1981 2,353 +14.3% 1991 2,640 +12.2% 2001 2,815 +6.6% 2011 2,828 +0.5% 2021 2,594 −8.3%
Source: ISTAT[4][5]

Immigration

As of 2024, the foreign-born population is 111, equal to 4.3% of the population. The 5 largest foreign nationalities are Moroccans (39), Romanians (13), Germans (9), French (7) and Poles (6).^[6]

Foreign population by country of birth (2024)^[6]

Country of birth	Population
Morocco	39
Romania	13
Germany	9
France	7
Poland	6
Switzerland	5
Argentina	4
Netherlands	4
Australia	3
Belgium	3
China	3
Algeria	2
United Kingdom	2
Afghanistan	1
Austria	1

Architecture

In the village the stone houses are characteristic. They are low and with few floors, without sheds, but usually with a back courtyard where some space is reserved for the domestic animals. This is a quite common architectural dwelling in an area traditionally involved in sheep farming rather than agriculture.

The front room of the house is often a courtyard for chickens, in the centre of which there is the hearth (Sardinian: su foghile), used for hanging and drying cured pork meat. Later, fireplaces replaced the hearths.

Main sights

The whole of the Abbasanta plateau is rich in archaeological sites. Very close to the village is the nuraghe Losa.

A country church is set on the site of Sant'Agostino (dedicated to Augustine of Hippo). Around the rural church, there are some characteristic small houses (in Sardinian language muristenes or cumbessias) that host the pilgrims during the religious feasts.