Padria

Padria is one of the oldest villages in the province of Sassari in Sardinia, with 634 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2019). It is located in a fertile area of the Lougo d'Oro in a large valley surrounded by the Temo and its tributaries, near Mount Minerva.

The continuous settlement of the city from the Punic period to the present day, identified as the Roman Gurulius Vetus, and cited by the Greek geographer Ptolemy as Gouroulis Palaia, attests to its great age.

The roads between the west coast (Bosa) and the hinterland passed through the area. The remains of the Roman bridges, Ponte Ettòri, Ponte Ulumu and Ponte Enas (the latter in the area of Bosa) serve as evidence.

Ponte Ettòri is on the river Temo, 6 kilometres west of the village on the old road to Montresta. It can be reached by taking a small turnoff on a side road that leads to the monument. Of the original bridge, 38 metres long, 2 of the 5 arches are still preserved, as well as the soffit and part of the inner soffit of another arch on the opposite bank.

The present village has 763 inhabitants (as of 31 March 2006), and is 176 km from Cagliari and 58 km from Sassari. The immediate neighbouring municipalities are: Mara and Pozzomaggiore. A little further away are Bosa (OR), Cossoine, Monteleone Rocca Doria, Romana, Macomer and Villanova Monteleone.

The village, probably also its Roman nucleus, lies to the south-east of three small hills of basalt rock called St. Paolo, St. Pietro and St. Giuseppe. South of the village lie the domus de Janas of Chirisconis.

• The Parish Church of Santa Giulia

is the real sight in Padria. The church in Catalan Gothic style was consecrated in 1520. The simple façade is divided into two zones by a decorative frieze. In the lower one there is the portal decorated with lilies and in the upper one an oculus with hexagonal tracery. In the nave, through a glass floor, the exposed remains of previous buildings from late Roman, Byzantine and medieval times can be seen. The capitals of the side pilasters are decorated with depictions of angels, animals and musicians.