Poggio dei Pini
The area known today as Poggio dei Pini had since the second half of the 20th century been a place where Cagliari's richer families had their country residences. When this sort of country residence went out of fashion many were abandoned, in favour of seaside homes. Then, at the beginning of the 1960s the first building cooperative began to lay (quite literally) the foundations for present-day Poggio dei Pini.
It was the first act which led to an exodus from Cagliari, which is still continuing.
Apart from the jolly artificial lake, with is myriad birds and fish, the village centre is enhanced as sheltered by pinetrees, bushes and flower-beds. It is also served by a shopping complex, nursery and secondary schools, a rich library and well-equipped sport facilities (e.g. swimming pools). Since 1978, the area known as "località Punta sa Menta", has housed the Cagliari Astronomic Observatory (OAC) one of twelve Italian observatories run by the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica (National Institute of Astrophysics). This astronomic station, with five others located on the same geographical parallel (39°08'N), forms the Latitudes International Service whose aim is to study the earth's motion of rotation through systematic measuring astronomical latitude variations. Nowadays its staff of 33 work in the research laboratories and the centre's other offices.
the main areas of research are high energy astrophysics, interstellar equipment, space geodesy, the history and teaching methods of astronomy. Furthermore, OAC actively takes part in geodynamic international programs and in the calculation of physical time.
The observatory is open to the public on Saturday. School trips to be booked.
Recently, a new church has been inaugurated: the magnificent church consecrated to the Madonna of Lourdes.