Santa Maria de is Acquas (Saint Mary of the Waters) is a title given to the Virgin Mary, who is venerated in the thermal resort locality of Sardara. She is the principal patron saint of the Diocese of Ales-Terralba.
The Romans already exploited the thermal baths of Sardara with dedicated structures, ensuring that the springs were well-known and famous even in ancient times. The King of the Judicate of Arborea, Ugone II, was a regular guest here to treat his gout. Around the year 1200, a Gothic church was built in the thermal locality (constructed over pre-existing architecture probably dating back to the early centuries of the Christian era), becoming the heart of the devotion to the Virgin Mary.
To escape the Barbary pirate raids, the inhabitants of Villa Abbas fled to Sardara, but first, they hid the statue of the Madonna within the ruins of the ancient Roman baths. When the raids ended, the simulacrum of the Virgin was rediscovered near a thermal spring. For this reason, the Madonna was named ‘Santa Maria ad Aquas’, whereas she was previously called the Madonna of Remedy, of Graces, or of Sweet Milk, due to certain features of the image. The Madonna was brought back to the thermal area, but was later permanently moved to Sardara to prevent potential thefts. Nevertheless, the statue is still brought back to the thermal springs once a year for the annual festival.