“A unique land where life seems to have stopped”
3 Day South Sardinia Culinary Vacation Among Nature, Traditional Food and Small Villages
Villamassargia, Sardinia, Italy
Culinary Vacation in Sardinia
In this amazing three-day trip, you will be able to experience the authentic Sardinian life and traditions, immersing yourself into its unique and special culture and traditional food. You'll visit the valley of the Cixerri River and the village of Villamassargia, surrounded by the hills of the Iglesiente region. Located in the southwestern part of Sardinia, featuring artisan and agri-food traditions, churches, and a medieval castle, as well as a park of centuries-old olive trees. Villamassargia participated also in the mining epic of Sulcis.
Highlights
- Fresh pasta workshop
- Visit a local market selling 0-km food
- Winery visit and tasting of local wines and typical products
- Discover the typical architecture of the region and its houses in "terra cruda"
- Hugging trees in a park of centuries-old olive trees with sunset aperitif
- Typical lunch with shepherds
- 2 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Beginner
Styles
3 days with instruction
Group size: 2-6 participants
Airport transfer available:
Cagliari Elmas Airport (US$88 per person)
Cagliari Elmas Airport (US$88 per person)
Accommodation
Check-in Time:
18:00
Check-out Time:
18:00
Facilities
- Kitchen
The small house with three rooms and a romantic courtyard is the result of the contemporary recovery of a traditional earthen courtyard house in the historic center of Villamassargia. A unique setting that offers wellness and comfort accommodation to eco-friendly travelers.
Sardinia hosts the largest earthen architectural heritage of Europe. This heritage has been preserved and recovered for reuse. The restoration was carried out by saving the construction components of the 1930s, such as cement tiles floors, doors, windows, and wall panels.
They have been matched with contemporary materials with low environmental impact: FSC certified woods, insulation of roofs with Sardinian sheep’s wool, plaster of mud and straw, and lime-based paints with clay pigments.
The house promotes the meeting between creative talents and artisans, according to the “artist’s residence” model, in order to create items for the house, encouraging the use of natural materials and recovery. They offer accommodations to artists and artistic projects also in collaboration with local artists and craftsmen.
In Villamassargia specifically, there are craftsmen in the sectors: textiles, metals, and wood. The residence is offered in exchange for the work to be left in the house.
Program
Day 1
Check-in in the accommodation and depart to visit S'Ortu Mannu, the most important historical olive grove in the Mediterranean with about 700 monumental olive trees. The most majestic "Sa Reina" has a trunk of 10 meters. Walk among the monumental olive trees, choose an olive tree to embrace, and finish with an aperitif at sunset with a tasting of products from the valley.
Later on, return to your accommodation in Villamassargia and discover the secrets of the future architecture. You'll see a video and chat with the owner of the house.
The house is a creative residence that offers hospitality in an ancient clay house. The project stems from the contemporary recovery of a typical courtyard house in raw earth located in the historic center of the town.
The restoration was carried out while preserving the construction elements of the 1930s, these were combined with contemporary materials with low environmental impact: FSC certified woods, roof insulation with Sardinian sheep's wool, clay and straw plasters, paints lime based with clay pigments.
Dinner at leisure (not included). Overnight in the house.
Day 2
Breakfast with local products of the valley. Then, drive to the local market designed in 1934 by the architect Ettore Sottsass. In the market you will find fish, meats, fruit, and vegetables, baked goods, and cheeses from the Valley. Shopping at the local market with your guide and choice of products for dinner.
Later on, drive to Iglesias and visit a famous prize-winning winery located in the Cixerri Valley. It produces wines such as Vermentino, Carignano, and Cannonau.
In addition to visiting the vineyards, it will be possible to visit the ethnographic museum dedicated to peasant culture. Final wine tasting paired with cold cuts and cheeses from the valley.
Return to your accommodation in Villamassargia and start the cooking class on fresh pasta. Valeria, a professional cook, will teach you how to make a fresh pasta typical of Sardinia, then you prepare dinner together. Dinner will be served on the old courtyard of the house in a romantic and friendly atmosphere.
Day 3
Breakfast with local products of the valley. Today, you will visit a local farmhouse located in the hills of Funtana Irgus 600 meters above sea level.
The farm grows organically reared goats and Sardinian sheep, milk production, and excellent meats and well suited to the rough grassland and local forests. In addition to goats and Sardinian sheep, the farm also breeds bees, pigs, and farmyard animals.
Lunch on the farm with products produced on the farm. After lunch, you will return to the historical olive grove S'Ortu Mannu, to say good-bye to the centuries-old olive trees that accompanied you on this wonderful journey to the Sardinian land.
Included excursions
- Walking in the centuries-old olive grove and hugging trees
- Visit the local market
- Visit a winery
- Wine tasting
- Visit a farmhouse
Location
Villamassargia is a village with fewer than four thousand inhabitants, in which ancient textile traditions are still intact: numerous artisan workshops produce rugs, tapestries, and household articles. The creation of objects made of wrought iron and wood is also remarkable.
The agri-food products are of excellent quality: from cheeses to olives and olive oil, bread, and pastries. In the old town center, there are typical agricultural-pastoral houses next to two religious buildings.
Villamassargia participated in the mining epic of Sulcis. The greatest legacy of industrial archaeology is the mine of Orbai, nestled in a forest and already used in the Roman era and abandoned in the 1960s. Lead and zinc were extracted there.
The territory is also dotted with archaeological sites, from the Ancient Neolithic period, as is confirmed by materials found inside the grotto of Corongiu Acca. The numerous Nuraghi date back to a later period (2nd millennium BC) among which Santu Pauli and Monte Exi, Tombs of Giants of Mount Ollastu, and several sacred wells. An aqueduct and foundries date back to the Roman period.
Food
Included in the package are daily breakfasts, one dinner served in the old country yard of the house, and one lunch with shepherds served on a farm.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
- Boat tour
- Visiting a mine
- Hiking
- Visiting an archaeological site
What's included
- 2 nights accommodation in Villamassargia
- 2 breakfasts
- 1 lunch
- 1 dinner
- Local guide and transportations
- Workshop on the earthen house and "terra cruda" architecture
- Walking in the centuries-old olive grove and hugging trees
- Aperitif at sunset in the olive grove
- Visit the local market
- Workshop on fresh pasta
- Visit a winery
- Wine tasting
- Visit a farmhouse
What's not included
- Airport transfer
- Meals except where indicated
- Personal insurance
- Tips
- Flight tickets
How to get there
Recommended Airports
CAG
Cagliari Elmas Airport
35 km
Transfer available for additional US$88 per person
Driving directions from Cagliari Airport
- From Cagiari airport, SS 391, take SS 130, Strada statale 130 Iglesiente.
- Follow the signs until Domusnovas.
- Exit to Villamassargia / Carbonia, drive to the direction of Villamassargia about 37 minutes.
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Cagliari Elmas Airport (CAG). Transfer is available for a cost of 75 EUR.
Airport: Cagliari Elmas Airport
Airport transfer available:
Cagliari Elmas Airport (US$88 per person)
Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 30% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookCulinaryVacations.com. All major credit cards supported.
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