Iglesiente

The Iglesiente is a traditional and geographical subdivision of Sardinia, Italy. It encompasses the northern province of Carbonia-Iglesias and the south-western one of the province of Medio Campidano, and its main center is Iglesias.

Languages spoken include Italian and Sardinian (Campidanesu).

History

Historically, it was inhabited since pre-Nuragic times. Later, it became an important metallurgic district for the Romans, who had here a town known as Metalla^[1]

In the Middle Ages, the Pisans founded here Villa di Chiesa (modern Iglesias), which soon became on the largest in the island. Later it was conquered by the Aragonese, who held it until 1720, when the house of Savoy acquired the whole Sardinia and founded here the town of Gonnesa.

Recently, the decline of the mining sector has caused a crisis of the local economy.

References