PATTADA

Seen on the map, the territory of Pattada has a rectangular shape with rather linear sides that more or less follow the features of the orography of the land. Due to the altitude of its reliefs, it dominates the region of Monte Acuto in which it is located. It is considered a predominantly mountainous territory due to its average elevation of around 800 meters above sea level, but substantial altimetric differences can be noted with a minimum altitude of around 230 meters near the river that flows into the lake of “Coghinas” in the north-western part of the territory, up to almost 1100 meters of the highest relief of the entire territory, Mount “Lerno”, located instead on the eastern side and part of the so-called chain of the “Monti di Alà”, although Pattada to the east does not directly border with Alà dei Sardi, but rather with Buddusò.

The south-eastern borders are with the territories of Osidda and Nule, while the southern portion borders almost entirely with Bultei and for a short stretch with Benetutti. The region of “Chercos Longos” and the river of the same name act as a natural border with the territory of Nughedu San Nicolò in the western part, while the western border is with Ozieri.

Finally, Pattada borders to the north with Oschiri, and for a certain stretch the natural border is the river called “Riu Mannu”, which crosses a large portion of the territory of Pattada connecting the two large lakes present in this region, the Coghinas and the Lerno. The latter is an artificial barrier that falls entirely within the territory of Pattada, located at the foot of the mountain of the same name, and built in the 70s of the last century by means of a barrier that allowed the water supply for the surrounding municipalities. In the area around the lake there are some important archaeological sites, the lake is home to various fish species and is suitable as a place for fishing but also for other sports, such as canoeing.

From the lake, if you look north, you can see how the mountains rise as far as the eye can see until they culminate in Mount Lerno with its peak called for obvious reasons “Su Campanile” (the bell tower), within a forest complex managed by regional authorities, where thick woods of oaks, holm oaks, cork oaks and downy oaks alternate with junipers, yews, maples, and numerous other species of Mediterranean scrub that form the undergrowth. These pristine forests are home to various animal species, some rare and protected such as the golden eagle, the Sardinian deer and the mouflon, others more common such as the wild boar, the fox and the hare.

For motor enthusiasts, not far from the peak of Lerno, there is the so-called Micky jump, one of the most exciting stages of the Italy Sardinia and World Rally Championship.

The town of Pattada develops longitudinally with a main road that crosses the entire town and with several parallel roads, intersected by steep and winding paved paths, in which the residential and structural evolution has followed the contour lines of the relief on which the town was built. There is some altitude variation with the houses further downstream at around 720 metres, in contrast to the houses built at the top that exceed 800 metres close to the San Gavino hill.

Today’s town originated from three different residential nuclei that then merged with each other with the demographic expansion. The oldest buildings date back to the 16th century, even if the best-preserved buildings are the noble ones from the 19th century, built mainly with granite blocks and embellished with ornaments, architraves or trachyte frames. The main and secondary streets often open onto small squares and gardens with churches, fountains and panoramic points. The artisan vocation is widespread, especially with the laboratories and shops of typical Pattada knives scattered throughout the various streets of the town.

The central square, also known as Italia square, has a belvedere, and on one side you can see an enormous two-story building with a large terrace, which is the international knife museum.

In the western part there is a pine forest, and a rest area that attracts many tourists, but also residents, who seek refreshment especially in summer.

In the medieval period, different forms of the name of the town were found, so we have Bossada, Posada, Patzada, Pathada, but also Paçada, of evident Spanish derivation.

The meaning in Roman times corresponds to that of plateau or panoramic point, and in fact its geographical location confirms this possible theory of attribution of the name.

But there is also an interesting second theory that says that according to tradition, the current town is formed by the union of many small villages scattered throughout the territory, and that, due to looting but also bad weather, lived in such precarious conditions that the wise men of these individual villages, all except “Lerron” and “Bantine”, which still remains today as a hamlet, decided to make a pact, putting themselves all on equal terms, and to unite in a single main village. According to this theory, therefore, the name derives from the Latin “pactiare”, with the meaning of “making the pact”, “being on equal terms”.

With a territorial extension of over 16,000 hectares, the economy of Pattada is much linked to the fruits of this territory, partly for its cultivation, but above all for the breeding of both sheep and cattle, mainly for milk. It is from the latter that the famous “Perette di Pattada” are obtained, a stretched curd cheese that has the shape of a pear with a narrowing at the point where it is hung to mature on strings, and which forms a small head at the top. The dairy production also includes “Pecorino Romano” and “Fiore Sardo”.
The agri-food sector also produces economy in the production of a type of bread called “Spianata” with a round shape and a few millimeters thick produced in various bakeries in the country.

There is also the production of sweets, honey and nougat.

As for craftsmanship, there are various artisanal realities for the working of iron and wood, including an art that still survives in very few places, that of the violin maker. The name Pattada cannot but be associated with the typical Sardinian knife. An iron deposit near the town has been exploited since centuries ago for the forging of these wonderful knives with wooden or animal horn handles, known and exported throughout the world.

The parish church in honor of Santa Sabina is located shortly after the western entrance to the town. The original structure dates back to the 16th century, but the sanctuary we see today has undergone numerous renovations between the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century, but also in the early 20th century. The bell tower has also undergone several renovations, the last of which was about a century ago, after lightning caused it to collapse. A small staircase leads to the church, with a very large but at the same time very simple façade, characterized by circular shapes starting from the curved upper cornice, the large, decorated rose window and the arch above the enormous bronze door. Elements that are also repeated in the bell tower, which is cylindrical in shape. The interior is divided into three naves, all with cross vaults. The high central nave is divided by arches into five bays, while in the side naves there are several altars and chapels dedicated to different saints.

In the southern part of the town stands the church of Nostra Signora del Carmelo, dating back to the 80s of the last century, but built on a previous church from the 18th century, it has a modern structure with a circular plan, a square door that opens inside towards a single room.

In the northern part of the town, a few steps from Italia square, stands the church of Nostra Signora del Rosario. Built in the 16th century in Aragonese Gothic style, it was originally called San Salvatore, but from the 18th century onwards it changed its name in favor of the current one, desired by the Dominican friars. The church has a very simple façade with a door surmounted by an arch and enclosed by a frame in exposed stone, in the upper part there is a small oculus with a cross inside, while on the right there is a square-shaped bell tower, built to replace the previous cylindrical bell tower that collapsed due to lightning. Internally there is a single central nave divided into four bays, and with several side chapels.

Not far from this sanctuary, there is the church of San Giovanni, facing a small square with flagstone paving. The small church dates back to the 14th century, has a facade with exposed stone and a simple wooden door that leads to the single internal nave divided into three bays and which ends with a large wooden altar dedicated to the Saint. A little further south of these two places of worship stands the church of the Holy Spirit, dating back to the 17th century, also of modest dimensions, with a stone facade and a single internal nave divided into three bays.

On the hill of the same name, which is also the highest point of the town, stands the church of San Gavino. The current sanctuary is from the last century and was built on the basis of a previous monastery that must have dated back to the medieval period, and which was the residence of the Camaldolese monks. The church is a small square-based building with a red brick facade, with edges and ornaments in white marble. The square iron door leads to a single internal nave.

Among the country churches in Pattada are those of San Nicola and San Michele, while of the church of Santa Caterina only the ruins remain. The three sanctuaries are located about 7 km from the town of Pattada in a south-westerly direction in what was the village of “Biduvè”, now disappeared. The church of San Nicola, built in the 17th century, is today in precarious conditions of conservation. The large façade has a high arched door that almost reaches the base of the gabled roof. Inside there is a single nave and a wooden altar dating back to the 18th century. The nearby church of San Michele dates back to the 13th century, was built in Romanesque style and has been restored several times, until it reached its current form, built in exposed stone with a gabled façade and a door surmounted by an architrave. Inside there is a single high nave.

The small hamlet of Bantine, about 3 km from Pattada, also has two churches, that of San Giacomo and that of San Pietro, both dating back to the medieval period, probably to the 13th century.

Among the archaeological sites of Pattada at least thirty nuraghes have been recorded, some of which are of particular interest, such as the one inside Lake Lerno, which, together with the tombs of the giants and the nearby Nuragic village, is submerged by water when the lake rises its level.

About 15 km north of the town, the remains of what was the castle of Olomene were found in the locality of the same name, built in the 12th century when the territory was part of the Giudicato of Torres.

There are several Nuragic villages of which traces have been found, such as those in the localities of “Badu Ludosu” and “Marghinesu”.