Usellus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Usellus
Usèddus
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| Comune di Usellus | ||
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| Country | Italy | |
| Region | Sardinia | |
| Province | Oristano (OR) | |
| Frazioni | Escovedu | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 35.10 km2 (13.55 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 289 m (948 ft) | |
| Population
(31 December 2016)
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| • Total | 773 | |
| • Density | 22.023/km2 (57.04/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Usellesi Useddesus |
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| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | |
| Postal code |
09090
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| Dialing code | 0783 | |
Usellus (called Usèddus in Sardinian and Uselis or Usellis in Latin) is a small town in the Italian region of Sardinia. It is also a comune, which is like a municipality or a local government area. In the past, it was even the center of a bishopric, which is an area managed by a bishop.
Usellus is located in the Province of Oristano. It shares its borders with several other comuni: Albagiara, Ales, Gonnosnò, Mogorella, Villa Verde, and Villaurbana.
Contents
A Look into Usellus's Past
Usellus is found in the middle of Sardinia. It's about 25 kilometres (16 mi) away from the Gulf of Oristano on the west coast. It's also the same distance south of an ancient Roman town called Forum Trajani, which is now modern Fordongianus.
Usellus in Ancient Times
Even though Usellus isn't mentioned in all old travel guides, the ancient writer Ptolemy did write about it. He called it Οὔσελλις. He made a small mistake by placing it on the west coast, but the old ruins and the fact that the name has stayed the same prove its real location. It's about 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of the modern town of Ales.
A Roman Colony
Ptolemy described Usellus as a colonia. This means it was a Roman settlement with special rights, often founded by Roman citizens. We know this is true because of an old bronze tablet from the year 158 AD. This tablet, called a tabula patronatus, states that a person named M. Aristius Balbinus agreed to be a patron (a protector or supporter) of the town and his family after him.
The tablet also calls the place Colonia Julia Augusta Uselis. This suggests that the colony might have been started during the time of Augustus, who was the first Roman emperor. Even though another ancient writer, Pliny, said that only one other town in Sardinia was a colony during his time, it's likely that Usellus gained its special Roman citizen rights from Augustus.
What to See in Usellus Today
One of the main historical sites in Usellus are the ruins of the church of Santa Reparata. These ruins are important because they show where the ancient Roman town used to be. Many old objects and signs of the past have been found there, helping us learn more about Usellus's long history.
