Marmilla

{{Unreferenced|date=May 2019|bot=noref (GreenC bot)}} [[File:Las Plassas castle.jpg|thumb|250px|Castle of [[Las Plassas]], or of Marmilla, which gave its name to the region.]] '''Marmilla''' is a natural region of southern-central [[Sardinia]], [[Italy]].

==Etymology== The name ''Marmilla'' comes from the vast rounded hills, probably resembling udders (see Marmilla castle in [[Las Plassas]]). Another hypothesis is that according to which given the presence of many marshes in the area, the landscape could appear dotted with "a thousand seas".

==Geography== It is delimited from west and south by the [[Campidano]], from north-west by [[Monte Arci]], from north by the [[Giara di Gesturi]] and the [[Giara di Serri]], and from east by the [[Flumini Mannu]].

Geologically, most of Marmilla dates to the [[Miocene]] period, and is thus substantially younger than the rest of Sardinia. The landscape is mostly hilly, and human economical activities in the area include agriculture (prevalently cereals and [[fava bean]]s) and tourism.

==History== Marmilla was inhabited since prehistoric times, as testified by the presence of [[nuraghe]]. To the [[Carthage|Carthaginian]] domination date the fortress of [[Genoni]]. During the Middle Ages it was part of the [[Giudicato of Arborea]] and of the [[Giudicato of Cagliari]].

==Tourism== Tourism in the Marmilla can rely on various factors ranging from environmental assets, to the numerous [[Nuragic civilization|Nuragic]] centers in the area, to architectural works. In particular, we note:

===Environmental assets=== * [[Giara di Gesturi|Giara]] of [[Gesturi]] * [[Monte Arci]] Natural Park * Nuragic centers: ** Nuragic village of [[Su Nuraxi (Barumini)|Su Nuraxi]] in [[Barumini]] ** Nuraghe Cuccurada in [[Mogoro]] ** Archaeological Area Nuraghe Sa Fogaia in [[Siddi, Sardinia|Siddi]] ** [[Giants' grave|Tomb of the Giants]] "Sa Domu e s'Orcu" in Siddi ** [[Nuraghe Genna Maria|Genna Maria complex]] in [[Villanovaforru]] ** Su Mulinu Fortress in [[Villanovafranca]] ** Nuragic sanctuary of Santa Vittoria in [[Serri, Sardinia|Serri]]

===Architectural works=== * [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] churches of San Michele Arcangelo in Siddi, San Pietro in [[Villamar]] and San Giovanni Battista in Barumini * [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] parish churches of San Vito in [[Gergei]], Santa Barbara in [[Genoni]] and Beata Vergine Immacolata in Barumini * Judicial castle of Las Plassas * Sixteenth-century house Zapata di Barumini * Portals of the historic houses of [[Simala]] * Church with Romanesque features San Biagio (Santu Brai) in [[Furtei]]

===Museums=== * "Sa Corona Arrubuia" Museum in [[Lunamatrona]] * Ornithological Museum in Siddi * Obsidian Museum in [[Pau, Sardinia|Pau]] * Monte Arci Geomuseum in [[Masullas]] * Museum "The Knights of the Hills" in Masullas * "Turcus and Morus" Museum in [[Gonnostramatza]] * MudA Museum in Las Plassas

[[Category:Geography of Sardinia]] [[Category:Geographical, historical and cultural regions of Italy]]