Ussana, consisting of 4,272 inhabitants and 32.80 sq. km. wide, stands on a wide plain bordered by several hills, including Mount Zara and Mount Agutzu, not far from Cagliari. The place name has no clear origin and possibly derives from Paleo-Sardinian, but it is recorded from the 14th century. However, the center originated in Roman times; not far from it passed the military road that connected Caralis with Olbìa through Barbaria. During the Middle Ages it was part of the Kingdom of Calari and after 1358 of the Kingdom of Arborea. Beginning in 1300 it became part of the overseas possessions of the City of Pisa. The characteristic housing type is the so-called campidanese house with sa lolla, the loggia in front of the inner courtyard. These dwellings are still built of ladiri, mud and straw unfired bricks, but beautiful squared sandstone ashlars are used for the entrance portals and in the wainscoting of the curtain walls. (from the institutional website)
