Abbasanta (Sardinia)

Abbasanta is a town and comune in the province of Oristano, Sardinia. It is located on the main road between Macomer and Oristano. 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. 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.