The beauty of Siliqua also enchanted the poet Salvatore Quasimodo, who described it in his lyrics with these verses: “Siliqua from the ashlars of raw earth, in the bones of stone in truncated cones. Ephemeral desert: in heart plays the volume of the hills of ‘young grass.” The village, which existed in Roman times and throughout the early Middle Ages, belonged to the giudicato of Cagliari and was included in the curatoria of Cixerri. After 1257 the settlement came into the possession of the Donoratico della Gherardesca family and, starting in 1282, became the property of the well-known Count Ugolino. Having fallen out of favor with Count Ugolino, Siliqua and the fortified castle came under the direct control of Pisa. Between 1324 and 1326 the castle and all the surrounding territories were occupied by the Aragonese, and in 1410 it was given as a fief by King Ferdinand I of Aragon to Pietro Otger. In 1458 it was sold to James Aragall, then passed to John Bellit whose heirs were still in possession in 1603. During the 1600s the Barony of Monastir, which also included Siliqua, was incorporated into the marquisate of Villacidro, of which the Bou Crespi of Valdaura were feudal lords. From these the large fief was redeemed by the King of Sardinia, Victor Amadeus, in 1785. We point out that numerous other villas have stood in the present territory of the municipality of Siliqua since the Middle Ages.
Outside the town there are an important number of country churches such as the church of St. Margaret of Antioch, which is located a short distance from Acquafredda Castle and according to some sources was built in 1758. A short distance from the church of St. Margaret is the church of St. James probably built in the 11th century and belonging to an ancient center of medieval origin. Continuing the route of the churches and arriving inside the town of Siliqua close to the main square, near the war memorial, is the church of San Sebastiano where in the facade is an iron plaque indicating the altitude, 66 meters above sea level. In the highest part of the village is the church of Sant’Anna, which is of particular interest as a testimony to the architecture of the early Aragonese period in Sardinia. Neither the date of its founding nor the date of its consecration is known, but it is certain that it existed before 1481, because a document from that year attests to its rebuilding work being the pre-existing church completely in ruins. Also dating from the period of Aragonese rule is the parish of St. Anthony similar in its battlements and in the bell tower to the church of St. Anne. St. Joseph’s Church from a 1761 inventory was reported to be half a mile away from the village. It dates back to 1754, and from then to the present, the St. Joseph ward has arisen that is particularly devoted to the saint. The parish of St. George the Martyr is dedicated to the patron saint of Siliqua also located in the highest part of the town, in Romanesque style with a peculiar rose window on the facade where it is possible to see on some of the squared stones engravings representing the castle of Acquafredda. In addition to the churches there is an ancient aqueduct that arose from the growing demand of the Siliqua community to solve the problem of drinking water. It was then a decision of the city council in 1882 that initiated the petition for the government to fund the work for one-third of its cost. These and many other attractions can be visited in Siliqua, which will welcome you to its municipal park surrounded by greenery, a place of tourist reception and entertainment for the youngest but also for the oldest.
Outside the town there are an important number of country churches such as the church of St. Margaret of Antioch, which is located a short distance from Acquafredda Castle and according to some sources was built in 1758. A short distance from the church of St. Margaret is the church of St. James probably built in the 11th century and belonging to an ancient center of medieval origin. Continuing the route of the churches and arriving inside the town of Siliqua close to the main square, near the war memorial, is the church of San Sebastiano where in the facade is an iron plaque indicating the altitude, 66 meters above sea level. In the highest part of the village is the church of Sant’Anna, which is of particular interest as a testimony to the architecture of the early Aragonese period in Sardinia. Neither the date of its founding nor the date of its consecration is known, but it is certain that it existed before 1481, because a document from that year attests to its rebuilding work being the pre-existing church completely in ruins. Also dating from the period of Aragonese rule is the parish of St. Anthony similar in its battlements and in the bell tower to the church of St. Anne. St. Joseph’s Church from a 1761 inventory was reported to be half a mile away from the village. It dates back to 1754, and from then to the present, the St. Joseph ward has arisen that is particularly devoted to the saint. The parish of St. George the Martyr is dedicated to the patron saint of Siliqua also located in the highest part of the town, in Romanesque style with a peculiar rose window on the facade where it is possible to see on some of the squared stones engravings representing the castle of Acquafredda. In addition to the churches there is an ancient aqueduct that arose from the growing demand of the Siliqua community to solve the problem of drinking water. It was then a decision of the city council in 1882 that initiated the petition for the government to fund the work for one-third of its cost. These and many other attractions can be visited in Siliqua, which will welcome you to its municipal park surrounded by greenery, a place of tourist reception and entertainment for the youngest but also for the oldest.
