Samatzai is a town located in the Metropolitan City of Cagliari on the fringe of the Campidano region in Sardinia, Italy. Situated approximately 33 km from the city of Cagliari, the town's name is believed to derive either from the Ancient Greek word "samax," meaning "rush mat," or from the Mesopotamian god Samas. Archaeological evidence suggests that the area has been inhabited since Nuragic times.
The town center features several notable religious and historical structures, most significantly the 15th-century Church of San Giovanni Battista, which was constructed in an Aragonese-influenced Gothic style. Other local landmarks include the 17th-century Santa Barbara church, the ruined San Marco, and the Monte Granitico. The latter is a former grain silo converted into a library, recognized for its unusual floor plan.
While Samatzai's economy is primarily focused on the primary sector, it is also home to one of Italy's most prominent cement works. Residents of the town are known as samatzesi, and their patron saint is John the Baptist.