Macomer
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2025) |
Macomer
Macumere | |
|---|---|
| Comune di Macomer | |
 Panorama of Macomer | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Macomer Location of Macomer in Sardinia | |
| Coordinates: 40°16′N 08°47′E / 40.267°N 8.783°E | |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Sardinia |
| Province | Nuoro (NU) |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Riccardo Uda (since May 2023) |
| Area | |
• Total | 122.77 km2 (47.40 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 550 m (1,800 ft) |
| Population (2025)[2] | |
• Total | 9,073 |
| • Density | 73.90/km2 (191.4/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Macomeresi |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 08015 |
| Dialing code | 0785 |
| Patron saint | St. Pantaleone |
| Saint day | July 27th |
Macomer (Sardinian: Macumère) is a town and comune (municipality) in the province of Nuoro in the autonomous region of Sardinia in Italy. It is situated on the southern ascent to the central plateau (the Campeda) of this part of Sardinia, at the junction of narrow-gauge lines branching from the main railroad line running east to Nuoro and west to Bosa.[3] With a population of 9,073, it is the 31th-largest municipality in Sardinia.[2]
The district, especially the Campeda, is well suited for grazing and horse and cattle breeding, which is carried on to a considerable extent.[4]
History
[edit]Macomer, known to the Greek geographer Ptolemy as "Macopsissa," has been inhabited since antiquity. In 1478 was the scene of the historical battle between the Sardinians and the Aragonese, which ended the independence of Sardinia. In 1767, under the Kingdom of Sardinia, it became the capital of the Marquisate of Marghine. The Marquisate included the nearby villages of Birori, Bolotana, Borore, Bortigali, Dualchi, Lei, Mulargia, Noragugume and Silanus.
In 1949, a statue called The Venus of Macomer was discovered in a cave located in "Marras" area, in a gorge of the river S'Adde. The artifact depicts a Goddess Mother dating back to the Palaeolithic period. It is about 14 centimetres (5.5 in) high and was built with local basalt. It is currently kept in the National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari.
Nowadays, Macomer is a destination for tourists who want to admire the beautiful landscape around the city.
Climate
[edit]| Climate data for Macomer (1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 9.7 (49.5) |
10.5 (50.9) |
13.4 (56.1) |
16.3 (61.3) |
21.5 (70.7) |
26.4 (79.5) |
30.4 (86.7) |
30.0 (86.0) |
24.9 (76.8) |
20.3 (68.5) |
14.2 (57.6) |
10.6 (51.1) |
19.0 (66.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.7 (44.1) |
7.0 (44.6) |
9.3 (48.7) |
11.7 (53.1) |
16.2 (61.2) |
20.4 (68.7) |
23.9 (75.0) |
24.0 (75.2) |
19.7 (67.5) |
16.1 (61.0) |
10.9 (51.6) |
7.7 (45.9) |
14.5 (58.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 3.6 (38.5) |
3.5 (38.3) |
5.1 (41.2) |
7.0 (44.6) |
10.9 (51.6) |
14.3 (57.7) |
17.4 (63.3) |
17.9 (64.2) |
14.5 (58.1) |
11.8 (53.2) |
7.6 (45.7) |
4.7 (40.5) |
9.9 (49.7) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 80.6 (3.17) |
69.5 (2.74) |
62.9 (2.48) |
83.1 (3.27) |
56.5 (2.22) |
27.1 (1.07) |
6.7 (0.26) |
15.7 (0.62) |
47.1 (1.85) |
75.2 (2.96) |
117.1 (4.61) |
110.4 (4.35) |
751.9 (29.6) |
| Source: Sistema nazionale protezione ambiente[5] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
[edit]| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1861 | 2,366 | — |
| 1871 | 2,427 | +2.6% |
| 1881 | 2,671 | +10.1% |
| 1901 | 3,488 | +30.6% |
| 1911 | 3,983 | +14.2% |
| 1921 | 4,177 | +4.9% |
| 1931 | 4,743 | +13.6% |
| 1936 | 5,125 | +8.1% |
| 1951 | 6,674 | +30.2% |
| 1961 | 8,125 | +21.7% |
| 1971 | 9,531 | +17.3% |
| 1981 | 11,083 | +16.3% |
| 1991 | 11,424 | +3.1% |
| 2001 | 11,116 | −2.7% |
| 2011 | 10,511 | −5.4% |
| 2021 | 9,444 | −10.2% |
| Source: ISTAT[6][7] | ||
As of 2025, Macomer has a population of 9,073, of which 49.1% are male and 50.9% are female, compared to the nationwide average of 49.0% and 51.0% respectively. Minors make up 10.8% of the population, and seniors make up 30.2%, compared to the Italian average of 14.9% and 24.7% respectively.[2]
As of 2024, the foreign-born population is 386, making up 4.2% of the total population. The 5 largest foreign nationalities are Moroccans (66), Romanians (47), Germans (33), Swiss (30) and French (21).[8]
Main sights
[edit]The region is richer in the bronze-age towers known as nuraghi than any other part of Sardinia.
The old parish church of San Pantaleone has three Roman mile-stones in front of it, belonging to the Roman high-road from Carales to Turris Libisonis. A modern road now follows the ancient one. Recently an ethnographic museum called "Le Arti Antiche" (The ancient Arts) has been opened, where it is possible to see tools traditionally used for agriculture and livestock, folk costumes, and photographs. The Monte di Sant'Antonio (St. Anthony's Mountain) has a great historical and naturalistic importance; on 13 June of every year the anniversary of the Saint of Padua is celebrated there.
References
[edit]- ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011" (in Italian). ISTAT.
- ^ a b c "Resident population". ISTAT.
- ^ Vitale, Veronica. "The Macomer-Nuoro Railway". Terredamare. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
- ^ Rossetti, Ivo. "Altopiano di Campeda" [Campeda Plateau]. SardegnaNatura (in Italian). Retrieved 2 September 2025.
- ^ "Climatology of Sardinia for the thirty-year period 1981-2010". Sistema nazionale protezione ambiente. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
- ^ "Popolazione residente dei comuni. Censimenti dal 1861 al 1991" [Resident population of the municipalities. Censuses from 1861 to 1991] (PDF) (in Italian). ISTAT.
- ^ "Resident population - Time series". ISTAT.
- ^ "Resident population by sex, municipality and citizenship". ISTAT.
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