Capoterra old centre
its name stems from Latin Caput terrae, the name of the first residential complex which was set, according to some findings, in the area Tanca Sa Canna, between Santa Vittoria and Mannu su Pezzu.
However, during the Roman period this name was used to identify the whole promontory that extends as far as Capo Pula. The first settlements have very remote origins, witnessed by findings dating back to a period before the Nuraghi (in Cuccuru de Ibba and in Pranedda de Punta sa Loriga) but also to the Nuraghic (Carruba Durci) and Punic period (Su Loi).
However, if its name has Latin origins, its residential area dates back to the 18th century when baron Torella founded the village called Villa St. Efisio. People who survived the plague came here from all over the island.
The municipality's territory covers a surface of 6.800 Kmq, from the mountains, over the plain, and down to the marshes, with around 23.000 inhabitants. The town itself is surrounded, from the mountain slopes to the sea, by new residential areas, chosen by both natives and people from Cagliari who wanted to breathe the purer air of the open country and enjoy a larger living-space than they would able to in an urban context.
During the last years population increase has been among the highest of all the island which was led to the creation and development of new facilities all over this territory. A lot of the new residential areas that surround the old town centre are provided with an effective health service and many chemist's shops, as well as schools and shopping centres.
In Capoterra there are nursery, primary and secondary schools and two excellent high schools which actively take part to historical researches about the island and its culture.