Arbus () is a comune (municipality) in the Province of South Sardinia in the Italian region of Sardinia.
Located in the southwest coast of the island, Arbus is known for several archeological and non-operational industrial sites, such as the mines of Montevecchio, as well as for its coastline, the Costa Verde, whose main beach, Piscinas, includes one of the biggest sand dune systems in Europe.
Arbus territory also includes several hamlets, among which Ingurtosu and Montevecchio are particularly important since they still show tangible signs of the intensive mineral extraction that took place during the 19th and the first half of the 20th century, in nowadays non-operational extraction sites that are now part of the parco geominerario storico ed ambientale della Sardegna (i.e. Sardinian Environmental and Historical Geomineral Park, also known as Geological, Mining Park of Sardinia). The town is well renowned also for its black sheep, that is bred virtually only there, whose milk, and other products derived from them, are listed among the Prodotti agroalimentari tradizionali (P.A.T.) (Traditional Agricultural Products), and for the Arburesa kind of knife, a typical knife handcrafted in town.
With an area of , Arbus is the third largest municipality in Sardinia.
Arbus, as of Jun 30th 2019, had a population of about 6,140 inhabitants, according to the latest figures provided by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (IT ISTAT). Nonetheless, according to the latest figures provided by the municipality register, Arbus had, as of June 21, 2021, a population of about 5,937 inhabitants.
Etymology
Although town name's origin is still quite controversial, its etymology has been discussed and the following are some possible origins for its name: A first hypothesis suggested that its name might come from the word albus (which means "white"), which might be referred to the important presence of white granitic rocks within the town's territory. With regard to that, Pietro Vidal, in his works, indeed gives the town the name Albus and calls its inhabitants "albesi"; A second thesis proposed that its name might instead come from the word arburis with reference to the high amount of trees that would be characteristic of the town's territory at the time; Finally, according to a last supposition, its name could come from the word arabus, which might refer to the Saracen horde which is thought to have invaded, in the past, the coast part of the town's territory.
History
Arbus has been inhabited by man since the ancient Neolithic. It includes a mountain district which separates Medio Campidano from the sea. There are numerous tombe dei giganti (Giant graves) in the district of Capo Pecora, and in other areas of territory.
Early settlement and establishment
The actual foundation date of the town is at the current time unknown. Nonetheless, in 2009 in the Saint Luxorious' square situated in the city centre, more specifically while it was being refurbished, a multilayered archeological site, made up of remains of thermal baths and a Roman necropolis, was found, as well as a churchyard and a Spanish church, that date back at least to the 17th century.
The new settlement lies on an artificial terracing build with Imperial Roman building materials, that was placed on already-existing graves.
These new chronological elements that have been provided by the archeological researches and investigations let Arbus' settlement be added to ancient Sardinian topography. Indeed, until those findings were made, Arbus was thought to have been founded during the Middle Ages, at least according to the documentation of the time. Indeed, the town was not included in the list of the pontifical tithe payments relating to 1341 arguably because, differently from now, the town was actually made up of different separate hamlets such as Santu Domini, Santa Sofia, Bidda Zei, Bidda Erdi, Villa Babari, Funtana Atza, Cilirus in Flumentorgiu, "Villa Jaca" and other minor locations but year after year, also because of the numerous incursions by land and sea carried out by Saracens and Aragonese people, these hamlets' inhabitants eventually ended up living in a single town, which would make for the future town of Arbus.