The old churches of Ballao were dedicated to eastern saints, because many Byzantine monks came here; after the Schism the monks had to leave the island, and those churches were rebuilt in Romanesque form. Three explanations are given for the name: the Spanish balay, the basket, for the basin the village sits in; a palaeo-Sardinian root meaning «pasture»; and the Latin vallatum, the fortified village.
Outside the built-up area is Funtana Coberta, a nuragic sacred well built between the twelfth and the ninth century before Christ: inside it were found swords used for oaths and oxhide ingots of copper. On the second of November, instead, it is the children who play the dead: it is called is aimedasa, and they go from house to house asking for sweets and fruit.
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📅 Every year, on 22 July (usually 3 or 4 days)
On 22 July Ballao, a municipality of 877 inhabitants in Sud Sardegna (South Sardinia), celebrates its patroness Saint Mary Magdalene, a feast held for centuries and lasting 3 or 4 days.
Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
Outside Ballao, but an easy day trip away.
