La Sardegna cresce con l’Europa Medio Territory

Nuragic village Castle of Project jointly funded by the European Union of Monreale Operational programme ERDF 2007 – 2013 EUROPEAN UNION ERDF - European Regional Development Fund - Axis I, Activity line 1.2.3.a.

REPUBBLICA ITALIANA

P.O.R. ERDF 2007-2013, Line 1 “Information Society”, Specific Goal 1.2. “Promoting and developing the information society with a particular attention to those key aspects that will sustain the development of the territory and the quality of life, as health, education and the promotion of culture”, Operational Goal 1.2.3. “Increasing the production of the digital contents”, Action Line of 1.2.3.a. “Actions for the production, publication and sharing on the web and on new media (DTV, mobile T, etc.) of digital contents concerning Sardinia’s culture, literature, music, territory and images for a social fruition”.

Cultural heritage

We thank the Superintendence for the Architectural, Landscape, Historical, Artistic and Ethno- Medio Campidano Anthropological Heritage for the metropolitan city of and for the provinces of , Medio Campidano, Carbonia-Iglesias and Ogliastra, for the kind cooperation. Territory

Nuragic village

of Su Nuraxi | Barumini

Castle

of Monreale | Sardara

Cultural heritage Unicity Srl: Sardinia Virtual Archaeology Coordination and Production 3D and 3D Render Reconstruction Medio Campidano and Production Virtual Guided Territory Visits and Virtual Views Production Communication and Multimedia

Nuragic village Testaluna Srl: of Su Nuraxi 3D Planning and Interactivity Text: Mrs. Emanuela Atzeni Polonord Adeste Srl: Castle USB Pendrive Production of Monreale Text: Mrs. Maria Grazia Arru Imago Multimedia Snc: Texts, Graphics and Photographs of the sites Cultural Heritage sites inside the Digital and Paper Guide Text: Mrs. Emanuela Atzeni FSG Sas - Unicity Srl: Cultural heritage Mr. Giulio Concu Interactive multimedial stations and technical support The project “Cultural heritage Sardegna Virtual Archaeology”

he archaeological and architectonic aspects can be easily found and they are heritage of Sardinia offers a lot of fundamental elements of the nowadays Tunusual traits compared to the other Sardinian identity heritage. The essential Mediterranean territories. Its peculiarities are aspects of the Sardinian archaeology and concentrated in particular between the late architecture are well known, even if in a pre-history and the proto-history and have partial way, thanks to those excellent their apex in the . examples of the Nuragic complex of Barumini However, some other distinctive historical- or the Romanesque church of Saccargia, time features of Sardinia come from the which are already part of a common heritage ; significant presence of the Phoenician, Punic, but in a world where gathering information is Roman and Byzantine civilizations. A new relatively simple, the public administration and specific culture arose from the has the duty of presenting the culture of interaction of the local culture with those Sardinia in an objective and complete way, so outer civilizations: its material and immaterial that it could be available for any kind of experts and or any people without innovative educational products connected experience. That is why the R.A.S. ( Regional to the Sardinian places of culture, creating an Medio Campidano Administration of Sardinia) has chosen to integrated system of sites and monuments stimulate the spectacular aspects of some of that will be rebuilt with the use of the most the main archaeological and architectonic recent 3D technologies. So, the Sardinian remains, which were already built in dramatic heritage will be available for any kind of user landscapes that could fascinate even the through high quality products characterized least interested visitor. But the real challenge by fascinating graphics and rich interactive lies in contextualizing the archaeological sites information. With these purposes, seventeen in their cultural environment. The idea comes sites among the most significant of the from the concept that the remains of ancient Sardinian history and culture, deployed in cultures can “tell a story” when they are eight areas of interests , have been virtually “examined” all together, as if they were the reconstructed with three-dimensional and pages of a book that otherwise would be realistic features , as a result of an accurate incomprehensible at the end. Basically, the research on the bibliographic and project aims to illustrate a monument or a cartographic material. The digital site showing the reasons why it is interesting reconstructions meet those reconstructive not just for itself but also and above all for its hypotheses that have been validated by the importance in the surrounding cultural and scientific and academic community and that natural environment. This aspect is essential originate from the excavations, the field and useful for the interpretation of the today researches, the historical-archaeological and world: it helps us to understand why we artistic studies. Therefore, the 3D should preserve our archaeological and reconstructions offer the highest degree of architectonical heritage , beyond its fidelity to the original building or site, monumentality and although pertinent to reproducing the surrounding natural cultures, as for instance the Roman one, that landscape and the archaeological are usually considered extraneous to the environment with the external structures, the identitarian inheritance. The ways through inner spaces and real-life settings. The which this kind of knowledge should be ultimate digital product will be available at spread, are set depending on the media to some of the most important cultural places of which they are addressed for its fruition. Still, Sardinia, as for instance museums and the available products will go beyond the universities, and at the so-called “access mere didactic presentation of the site to points”, that are specific public spaces where come to a wider and complete description the interactive multimedia posts will be from all cultural points of view. installed and accessible to all visitors. Moreover, the product will be available on Content and purpose of the project digital support to be distributed during conventions, fairs, forum and tourism The project “Sardinian Virtual Archaeology exhibitions. In fact, the specific purpose of Cultural Heritage” was set up with the aim to the RAS’ “Linea di Attività 1.2.3.a” aims to enhance the so-called “Homogeneous increase the production, divulgation and System of Visual Identity” that the R.A.S. has sharing of digital contents referring to already started with the main purpose to Sardinian cultural assets, so to improve the create an instrument of safeguard and knowledge of the diverse users and to enhance promotion of the Sardinian cultural heritage. the education of the different segments of Besides, the project contributes to the students, in view of a useful socio-cultural improvement of the scientific, didactic and repercussion on the territory. • Nuragic village of Su Nuraxi, Barumini

6 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology General map of Sardinia Medio Campidano territory

Olbia

Porto Torres Sassari Su Nuraxi

Barumini Sassarese

Nuoro Sa nlu ri

Nuorese Castello di Monreale Sardara Oristano Ogliastra Oristanese Medio

Su Nuraxi Campidano Barumini Castello di Monreale Sardara Medio Campidano Cagliaritano

Cagliari Iglesiente

Sulcis

Nuragic village Castle of of Su Nuraxi Monreale (Barumini) (Sardara) Barumini • Nuragic zens of huts, lies in the central-southern Sar - village of Su Nuraxi dinia, in the fertile region of Marmilla, at the foot of the Giara plateau and on a marl hill overlooking the fertile valley of Pardu ’e S’Eda, he archaeological site of Su Nuraxi of where once wheat was grown. In 1907, the ar - Barumini, with its imposing chaeologist Antonio Taramelli wrote: “ There Tsurrounded by a wide village with do - are few remains of the other Nuragic buildings, or

↑ Archaeological area of Su Nuraxi, eastern view ↓ Archaeological area of Su Nuraxi, south-eastern view

↑ Reconstruction of the Nuragic complex and the village

↓ Nuraghe Su Nuraxi, northern view

10 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 11 they keep just the name at the foot of the Giara logy and the planimetry of the nuraghe. The sy - Nuraxi have allowed to rebuild the history of (the fortified tower), which originally was at plateau, like Bruncu Su Nuraxi, close to the road stematic excavations of the village, directed by the settlement and for the first time they attest least 18 metres tall and was built with the use from to Barumini ”. The oldest pictures of the same Giovanni Lilliu from 1951 to 1956, al - different moments of life to which correspond of big basalt blocks. It was made of three supe - Su Nuraxi – the nuraghe par excellence – in a lowed to identify different phases of life, wit - different building phases, products of the ma - rimposed chambers. The ground-floor cham - bad state and with the appearance of a low hill, nessing the presence of a settlement from the terial culture and some traces of the social or - ber was not in line with the vertical axis of the date back to 1937. The first description of the middle of the 2 nd millennium b.C. (about 1600 ganisation. The first phase (16 th -14 th century tower, being preceded by a long vestibule. monument dates back to 1938, by the archaeo - b.C.) to the Punic and Roman times (3 rd cen - b.C.) was focused on the construction of the There was a stairway that linked the floors and logist Giovanni Lilliu, who identified the typo - tury A.D.). The information available from Su central tower, known today as the “mastio” the chambers. Today, the central tower keeps

↑ Reconstruction of the Nuragic village ↓ Reconstruction of the bastion ↑ Reconstruction of the interior of the central tower ↓ Reconstruction of the inner courtyard

12 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 13 two superimposed floors, standing out for wall: a corridor with two opposite niches led to characterised by the use of two different te - the top of the tower. The collapsed corbels are about 14 metres and with a 10-metre diameter an open area that was the courtyard inside the chniques in building the inner and the external today gathered along the fencing of the archa - at the base. Between the end of the 15 th and the quadrilobed structure, provided with a water walls: the first is called “polygonal”, being cha - eological area. Outside the nuraghe’s structure 13 th century b.C., they wrapped the oldest well and from where you could enter the to - racterised by big roughly-shaped basalt blocks, they built a compound wall – of which three structure of the nuraghe with a quadrilobed wers. The lateral towers, originally made of two sometimes associated to marl ashlars; the se - towers remain today – to protect the entire structure – which included four corner towers superimposed chambers, today keep the cond is called “isodomic”, characterised by monument. According to Giovanni Lilliu, the linked by rectilinear curtains and an upper wal - round-floor chamber and some rows of the se - rows of well-squared marl ashlars, which origi - oldest evidence of the Nuragic village date kway. The entrance was in the south-eastern cond floor. The first-phase of the complex was nally alternated with the big jutting corbels at back to the 13 th -12 th century b.C. (Early Bronze

Nuraghe Su Nuraxi, view of the courtyard wall and of the “mastio” Nuraghe Su Nuraxi, view of the courtyard

14 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 15 Age), as attested by some ceramic fragments inside some other huts and inside the silos of terised by a seat along the inner wall and five sions to the structures and partial collapses. of Aegean origin, that were found inside some two of the nuraghe’s towers. During the Late niches where the archaeologists brought to The monument was then entirely wrapped up huts which were built around a “central cour - they built most of the round huts light some finds that have been ascribed to the with a massive wall made of big basalt blocks. tyard”, and attributed to the IIIC Mycenaean of the village, made of one room and covered sacred area and that make suppose that the Following this intervention, the towers’ embra - phase (1210-1110 b.C.). Giovanni Lilliu attribu - with a conical wooden roof. One of the most hut was used to hold the community assem - sures and the original south-eastern entry were tes the findings that were brought to light in significant structures of the Nuragic village has blies. Between the 12 th and the 10 th century b.C., closed. The entry was then placed in the north- the votive depository under Hut 135 to this first been dated back to this age: it is the so-called the nuraghe was seriously damaged, probably eastern curtain, at some metres above the settlement phase, being similar to those found “Meeting hut”, a wide circular edifice charac - by a geological settling that caused serious le - ground level. Furthermore, they inserted four

↑ Reconstruction of the village and of the bastion ↓ Reconstruction of the Nuragic complex ↑ Reconstruction of the bastion ↓ Reconstruction of the village and of the bastion

16 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 17 new towers in the compound wall, for a total pound wall and close to the nuraghe. The new important room is the so-called “Rotonda”, a the archaeologists found some evidence of the of seven towers to cover the entire perimeter residential structures, named “huts with a cen - small chamber that was originally roofed with human activity: millstones to grind the wheat, of the nuraghe. At the beginning of the last Iron tral courtyard” or “sector huts”, presented a a false dome ceiling and provided with a low fireplaces to cook food, leftovers, pots for fo - Age (9 th -6 th century b.C.), Su Nuraxi was al - round shape and were characterised by several seat along the wall and a central basin where odstuffs and for water, cookware, night lamps, most completely destroyed and during the first quadrangular rooms; probably they were pro - they poured the water that was probably used tools for spinning and utensils for working decades of the 7 th century b.C. they built a new vided with a wooden roof and they converged for sacred purposes, to celebrate some rites wood and stone. The nuraghe and the village settlement on the remains, close to the com - at a circular and paved courtyard. The most linked to the cult of water. Inside these rooms were populated up to the Punic and Roman

↓ Archaeological area of ↑Archaeological area of ↓ Archaeological area of Su Nuraxi, ↑ Reconstruction of the village ↓ Su Nuraxi, view on the village ↓ Su Nuraxi, view on the village ↓ hut 172 with a millstone inside

18 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 19 ages, as attested by some ceramic materials During this last phase, the nuraghe was already quented during the Imperial Age until the 3 rd cultures in the different ages, the gathering of and coins found inside the silos of the towers in ruin. The Roman used it also as a graveyard. century A.D. Some other bronze finds refer to the natural sediments along the centuries, C and D, which were used as votive deposito - The top parts continued to fall down, the cour - the early-medieval age; they were brought to brought to the abandon of the structure and to ries. From the towers of the quadrilobed ba - tyard was full of debris and the village of huts light inside the tower D and are attributed to the transformation of one of the most impor - stion, from the compound towers and from the was abandoned and almost completely buried. the 6 th -7 th century A.D. The collapse of the top tant sites of the Nuragic Age in a modest and courtyard inside the nuraghe, come the finds The remains of the walls were used as bases to sectors of the nuraghe inside and outside the isolated artificial hill. Su Nuraxi has been de - dated back to the 2 nd and the 1 st century b.C. build new huts. The area was sporadically fre - courtyard, the superimposition of the different clared UNESCO world heritage in 1997. •

Reconstruction of the Nuragic complex of Su Nuraxi

20 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 21 Sardara • Castle of Monreale the territory of the village of Sardara (southern Sardinia). Such position allowed to easily control the surrounding Campidano he castle of Monreale was built during plain but also the so-called “ bia turresa ”, a the second half of the 13 th century on road that in the linked the south Tthe top of a 387-metre-high hill, in of the island to the north, in particular the

↑ Reconstruction of the walls of the dungeon ↓ Reconstruction of the door of the dungeon

Castle of Monreale

22 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 23 city of Cagliari to Turris Libisonis , the present surrounding fortification: long more than one the settlement, the perimeter walls were highest hill, in correspondence to the . Like many Sardinian medieval kilometre and with two-metre-thick walls, it reinforced, at regular intervals, by eight or southern corner of the pentagon. You could fortresses, the complex of Monreale included surrounded the hamlet, which was built in nine towers, some with a semicircular plan enter the fortified settlement at least the fortified tower and the hamlet. At present, a small valley between two hills, and had an and some others with a quadrangular plan. through two doors, one on the north, towards you can recognise the remains of the irregular pentagonal plan. To better protect The main tower stands on the top of the the village of Sardara and the thermal baths

↑ Reconstruction of the door ↓ Reconstruction of the door ↑ Reconstruction of the hamlet ↓ Semicircular tower of the enclosure walls of the hamlet of the hamlet named “of San Gavino” of San Gavino seen from the interior

24 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 25 of Santa Maria is Aquas , and one on the west. were joined by a road, still visible until the walls of the ground-floor rooms that have shape; the southern and the northern sides Outside the northern door there are the middle of the 19 th century, called sa ruga been brought to light by the archaeologists are parallel while the western side is oblique. remains of a small church dedicated to manna (the main road), built along a during the last twenty years. The main tower Its western side, that looked out on the bia San Michele that was connected with a depression of the hill. The remains of the contains an inner area of about 720 square turresa , presents a solid wall, while a graveyard. The two entrances to the hamlet castle are the sturdy external walls and the metres and it has an oblong trapezoidal quadrangular room with an oblong corner

↓ Reconstruction of the interior of ↑ Reconstruction of one of the buildings of the hamlet ↑ The wall of the dungeon from north-east ↓ The entrance of the dungeon one of the buildings of the hamlet

26 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 27 leans against the eastern side. The entry was doors are still visible. This entry allowed to opened in the corner between the southern reach a corridor, provided with some and the western walls. The vertical grooving steps, that leads to a first courtyard paved that allowed the shutter to scroll down and with stone slabs and where there are still the up and the rings on which turned the wooden water valve of a cistern and an L-shape stone

↑↓ Reconstruction of the courtyard of the dungeon ↑ Decorative element inserted in the wall of the dungeon ↓ The staircase that linked the courtyards

28 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 29 pallet leaning against the western and the rooms. The diverse levels of the courtyard of the main tower: they supported the beams and the wooden floors. For reasons of northern walls. From here you could enter were linked through some steps, built with ramparts, paved with cocciopesto, that keep safety, there were not opening on the a central courtyard that was arranged in small stones and mortar. The remaining 10- some traces of the original battlements. external walls, so that the rooms were three levels to adapt it to the hill morphology metre-high walls, referable to two-floor The numerous square holes on the enlightened only by some windows that and around which looked out all the inner buildings, leaned against the outside walls perimetral walls supported the big wooden looked onto the inner courtyard.

↑ The inner courtyard of the dungeon ↓ Reconstruction of the inner courtyard of the dungeon with the well

Reconstruction of the courtyard of the dungeon

30 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 31 The archaeological studies allowed to theta and delta ; on the southern side there rainwater from the roof and poured it into underground silos or storing buildings. reconstruct the inner partition of the main were two rooms, one was on the south- two cisterns placed in the courtyard, The entire fortification system was built tower: on the northern side, the ground eastern side ( epsilon ), while a north-eastern provided with control systems and linked with an irregular masonry made of local floor was divided in five rooms that room is interpreted as a tower ( gamma ). to each other. The food supply, mainly schist, trachyte, granite and limestone the archaeologists called alfa , kappa , iota , Some terracotta drainpipes collected the represented by cereals, were kept in stones bound with mortar. •

Reconstruction of the interior of the hamlet with the door of San Gavino and the cistern called “su zubu”

32 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 33 Medio Campidano territory | Cultural Heritage sites 02. • Megalithic a stone crate (cyst) made of liturgical furnishings and for tombs of Sa Sedda four basalt ashlars. the altarpiece representing a ’e Sa Caudeba Christ’s Crucifixion, made by This Middle, Late and Final 03. • Church Antioco Mainas in the 16 th Bronze Age funerary area, of Santa Barbara century. Other furnishings of built on a modest marl hill at The most important great interest are a wooden the foot of the basalt plateau monument in the territory of statue of Santa Barbara and 01. Arbus • Mine the old mining concession of , with spectacular of Su Pranu Mannu, is of Furtei is the church of Santa one 1530’s bell that comes of Ingurtosu Ingurtosu and Gennamari views towards Monte particular interest: it includes Barbara , whose original from the old church of San The site of Ingurtosu is includes a vast territory. The Arcuentu. The human activity two Nuragic megalithic structure dates back to the 13 th Biagio (12 th century), the included in the “ Sardinian most interesting sector starts has visibly changed the tombs that were built in two century. It was built with a parish of the medieval village Historical and Environmental environment and it is like different phases and using of Nuraxi . On a hill in the Geo-mining Park ” approved travelling back in time. One of different building techniques. outskirts of the village stands by UNESCO. The site was the best spots is the Harold’s The A tomb , the older, was the 13 th -century Romanesque created in 1855 – they dug for site, which has its core in the built as an allée couverte church of San Narciso . lead and zinc metal – but the Gal Well , built in 1924; from with a dolmen-like technique: mining structures and the here the dug material was its funerary chamber keeps 04. • Nuraghe workers’ village were carried by lorry to the most of its floor, which was San Marco

Director’s Building Church of S. Barbara

Mine of Ingurtosu Carriages at the beach of Piscinas Sa Sedda ’e sa Caudeba Nuraghe S. Marco abandoned during the Sixties Pireddu’s and Brassey’s made with schyst ashlars, Located in the outskirts of the of the last century. The village washeries. It still keeps its while just one row of the village of Genuri and at the was built on a steep slope of a winding engine house, the aside walls is still in place. foot of the important natural hill and includes the workers’ forge rooms, the workshops The B tomb , the wider and area of Giara of , the and the employees’ houses, and the concrete hopper. Just the most recent, was damaged Nuragic complex of San the church of Santa Barbara, before the seacoast, at during some road works: Marco has been recently the hospital, and the Palazzo della Direzione Naracauli, you can stop at the it is a row-type grave that was Retable of the Crucifixion excavated. The archaeologists Director’s Building. Also ruins of the Pirredu’s and made overlapping the rows of brought to light the remains of known as “The Castle”, the from the western border, Brassey’s washery , built with stones and with tapering- cruciform three-nave ground an extended and important Director’s Building was built enters the wide valley of Is concrete blocks, schist stones towards-the-top walls; it still plan. At the interior, the naves nuraghe that was built with around 1870 in Neogothic Animas and goes down along and terracotta bricks in 1926 keeps its original basalt and are separated by pointed the use of massive basalt style using granite blocks by the curvy road that penetrates as a well-advanced plant for pebble floor. Next to the arcades. The church is well- boulders during the Early and German workers. The area of the hills to reach the beach of processing the minerals. second tomb there is known for the beauty of its Final Bronze Age. The

34 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 35 excavations document the that were built with irregular entire complex (Middle is at the centre of the exedra, Bronze age, as attested by the 4th -century B.C. enclosure and reuse of the complex in Punic, blocks of local basalt in a Bronze Age, 17 th -14 th century whose wide wings consisted in presence of the foundations some fossa tombs. The finding Roman and Late Antique cyclopean technique. It B.C.). At about 100 m west of horizontal rows of granite of a complex nuraghe. The of a deposit with small votive periods. The complex includes presents an irregular ground the nuraghe stands a village of blocks. The presence of a city was frequented by the statues attests the presence of a central tower, which was the plan and its residual walls are circular huts that keep the nuraghe and another giants’ Phoenicians or more probably a Punic sanctuary dedicated first nucleus of the nuraghe, 4.50 m high. The entry opens paved floors and where the tomb attests the importance by a group of Philistines since to a water god or goddess. The around which three other on the North side, with a archaeologists found some of the site. the 8 th century B.C.: this is city was occupied by the towers spread laterally. The stairway characterized by a ceramic materials dated to the attested by a fragment of a Romans since 238 B.C.: they towers are linked through a wide recess. The stairway, Late Bronze Age (13 th -10 th 07. • Phoenician- sarcophagus found in a spot built roads and streets, the straight bastion, while another originally covered with century B.C.). Punic city of Neapolis that probably hosted the acqueduct and the thermal surrounding wall includes the The territory of Guspini offers baths. The bath structures remains of three additional 06. • many tourist attractions, were reused in the Middle towers, they too linked Giants’ tomb of San Cosimo centred on some abandoned Ages to build the Christian through a massive bastion Also known as “The grotto of mine villages, surrounded by a church of Santa Maria of wall. The entrance to the Santu Giuanni”, this megalithic luxuriant environment. The Nabui . The city was bastion opens on the southern tomb is one of the biggest and village was founded in the abandoned between the 7 th side and leads to a wide most interesting of Sardinia’s Middle Ages as the main and the 8 th century A.D. courtyard from which you can Bronze Age. It was erected centre for the silver mine probably because of the enter the main tower and the between the 16 th and the 13 th activity in the area. Inside the Moorish incursions.

Nuraghe Bruncu ’e Madugui Columnar basalts

Nuraghe S. Marco Giants’ tomb of S. Cosimo Phoenician-Punic city of Neapolis Castle of Marmilla corridors that lead to the century b.C on a granitic village there are the 08. • Castle lateral towers. Inside the outcrop and using rough- interesting columnar basalts , of Marmilla courtyard, on the left of the hewn blocks. It presents the a rare geological formation The so-called Castrum entry passage, they have classicl ground plan of the dated to the Pliocene, and the Marmillae was built in the 12 th found a water supply well. The Nuragic row-type tombs. The church of San Nicola di Mira , century A.D. by the king of Nuragic complex takes its burial chamber presents an in Gothic-Aragonese style. Arborea on the remains of a name from the nearby Nuraghe Bruncu ’e Madugui ogival section and was built Noteworthy are the remains Church of S. Nicola di Mira nuraghe and on the top of a Christian church. with jutting walls and covered of the interesting city of conic, panoramic hill that tapering stone rows, leads to a with flat slabs.The burial Neapolis , founded by the necropolis. The settlement overlooks the Campidano 05. Gesturi • Nuraghe corridor and then to two chamber (about 26 m long) is Punics at the end of the 6 th was occupied by the Punics plane. The structure was built Bruncu ’e Madugui rooms with a curvilinear plan. surrounded by a sort stone century B.C. and located along since the end of the 6 th following the morphology of The archaeological area of On the left of the corridor base that probably was built to the banks of the Marceddì century B.C. Because of the the hill with the use of squared Bruncu Madugui or Madili , there are the remains of a strengthen the structure and pond, in the southern area of superimposition of the Roman sandstone ashlars and situated on the Giara of stairway that led to the to waterproof the burial the Oristano gulf. The area structures, poor remains were presents an irregular exagonal Gesturi plateau, includes a platform. Recent studies chamber. The entrance of the was frequented from the Late left of the Punic Neapolis, plan. In 1192 it was given to the protonuraghe and a village propose a new dating for the monument faces south and it Neolithic to the Late and Final among which the ruins of the Republic of Genoa and during

36 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 37 the war between the Arborea garrisons. The history of the southern area of Sardinia. It the Roman age, when it was dominates the main roads “Monte Granatico” building, and the Aragonese castle and the economy of the was probably the called “Pavilio”; some remains entering the two plateaux collects lots of objects of the monarchies it represented an region of Marmilla between communitarian tomb for the of this ancient settlement are called “giare”, the one of local territory’s material important strategic fortress the 14 th and the 15 th century communities of the nearby still evident next to the Gesturi in the north and the culture and tells stories or real along the southern border of A.D. are illustrated at the sites of Trobas or Pitzu country church of San one of Siddi in the west. The or mythic women. the Arborea’s kingdom, with Multimedial Museum of the Cummu . The site was already Lussorio. But the entire area nuraghe is made of one the role to protect one of the Arborea’s Kingdom in the used as a burial area during was frequented since the central and two lateral towers, 12. • Church island’s most fertile regions. village of Las Plassas, hosted the Late Eneolithic (2400- Neolithic and Nuragic times. linked through a bastion and of San Gemiliano The archeological researches inside a typical 19 th -century 2100 B.C.), as attested by the The most important site of the supported by an earthen This noteworthy church was attest a partial reuse of the campidanese-style house. presence of a small stone cist, territory is Nuraxi Fenu , in embankment. It was built in Romanesque style castle in feudal times (15 th -16 th enclosed by slabs, which can close proximity to the village. around the middle of the 13 th century A.D), when it be attributed to the Sardinian The excavations brought to century with the use of local belonged to the Barons of Las culture of Monte Claro. Later light the structures of a big trachyte ashlars taken from Plassas, and that some rooms on, they added a dolmen-type nuraghe, dated back to the the nearby mine of . It were used as a prison in the burial chamber, about 10 m Middle-Late Bronze age, was installed on a Byzantine 19 th century. The remains of long, that was built with walls composed of a pentalobed cemetery and some elements the castle – some sections of of vertical marl slabs and a bastion protecting a central of the medieval structures the main tower and of the platband covering. At the tower, an inner courtyard and were reused to build the perimeter walls – reveal the centre of the wide exedra – an enclosure including a wide monument. It presents a one-

Castle of Marmilla Museum of Women

Castle of Marmilla Giants’ tomb of Quaddu ’e Nixias Nuraxi Fenu Church of S. Gemiliano building tecniques and the made of vertical slabs – stood village of huts. The site nave ground plan. The facade various restoration works that a monumental sandstone continued to be frequented by is divided in two orders by a were carried out in the course stele that presented a the Punics and the Romans. row of hanging arches; it is of time. Moreover, you can moulding all along its characterized by a linteled discern the partition of the Giants’ tomb of Quaddu ’e Nixias perimetrre. The findings in 11. • Nuraghe Church of S. Vincenzo portal with foliated capitals, inner rooms, the warehouses, the site, dated back to the Bruncu Mannu framed by a moulded relieving the parade ground and two big 09. • Giants’ Middle Bronze, are now kept In the territory of Pauli Arbarei frequented between the 3 rd arch resting on stylised heads buried cisterns. During some tomb of Quaddu ’e Nixias at the Archaeological stands the important Nuraghe millennium B.C. and the Late of humans. The façade reinforcing works of the This funerary monument in Museum of Genna Maria in Bruncu Mannu . This complex Middle Ages. At the centre of culminates with a little belfry monument and the the territory of Lunamatrona . nuraghe was probably built in the village of Pauli Arbarei under which there was a archaeological excavations is very interesting since it the Middle-Late Bronze Age stand the churches of San double-arched window. On they brought to light lots of represents a rare exemple of a 10. • Nuraxi Fenu (13 th -12 th century B.C.) on the Vincenzo and of the front and on the side findings that attest the giants’ tomb with a framed The village of Pabillonis top of a hill overlooking most Sant’Agostino. The Museum views, the building is everyday life of the military stone stele built in the central- probably was founded during of the Campidano plain and it of Women , hosted in the characterized by skirting

38 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 39 cantons, dividing pilasters and floors, with 12-metre high and defensive power of the Italian campaigns in Africa perfectly-squared ashlars; Early Irone Age (8 th century semicircular arches resting on 25-metre long walls and one structure, and after the battle and to the Fascism period. some of these ashlars, with B.C.) and then up to the Punic moulded corbels or crenellated small tower at of Sanluri in 1409, which Another section gathers some nipples and bull protomes in and Roman periods. In the geometrical decorations. On each corner. Inside the allowed the Aragonese to waxworks, about four hundred relief, were inserted in the southern-eastern side of the both side views there are courtyard there is a stone conquer the whole island, the portraits and scultures of any façade of the church enclosure there is a wide some rounded-arch windows. stairway that leads to the first fortress lost its military role. It kind made with wax between dedicated to Sant’Anastasia. circular room, probably the The small apse presents three floor of the so-called “palace”. acquired a residential function the 16 th and the 19 th centuries. Inside the Christian church, “Meeting Hut”, provided with single-lancet windows and The core of the castle was and it was a Spanish noble archaeologists found another a bench and two big hanging arches. The one-nave built between 1188 and 1195 by families’ home for many 14. Sardara • Archaeological water well, originally included rectangular niches. Here the interior is simple and austere, Pietro I, king of Arborea, as a centuries. In 1920 it was area of Sant’Anastasia within one of the huts of the archaeologists found some and is covered with a wooden first line of defence along the bought by the counts of The important archaeological village. In this well they found objects of great importance, roof. Noteworthy is the Villasanta, who restored it and area of Sant’Anastasia of among which there is a Emanuele Castelvì’s set up a museum in some of Sardara is a protohistoric sandstone altar shaped in the mausoleum , master of the rooms. In 1943, the castle sanctuary included at the form of a nuragic tower and a Samassi and Serrenti, erected became the headquarter of interior of a both civil and jar containing lots of bronze by the sculptor Scipione the air force commander, religious settlement and that relics. Close to the jar they Aprile in Reinassance style in General Urbani, and later of had its core in an undergroung found also three extraordinary

The door of the bourg of Sanluri Archaeological area of S. Anastasia

Church of S. Gemiliano Risorgimentale Museum Church of Sant’Anastasia Bronze statuette

1586, with a sarcophagus General Ronco. Today it hosts sacred temple . Called “Sa bronze washbasins. Moreover, surmounted by a statue of the the Risorgimentale Museum funtana de is dolus” (the a big clay bowl containing knelt dead resting on two dedicated to the Duke of fountain of grieves), the some oxhide lingots was lions, the entire monument Aosta, in memory of all temple was built with basalt found inside another high hut. being framed by a rounded Sardinian people who died for and limestone ashlars in the Some other findings attest arch resting on pillars. Castle of Eleonora d’Arborea the unification of . There Late Bronze Age. It is made of Sacred well of S. Anastasia that the site was used as a are weapons, war gears and a paved vestibule, with a religious place until the 13. Sanluri • Eleonora border between his kingdom flags – among which the bench all along its perimeter, a lot of Iron-age vases. All Byzantine age, when they built d’Arborea’s Castle and the king of Cagliari’s. Italian flag that waved in the which leads to a stone around the site, the the church dedicated to The castle of Sanluri, also Indeed, from its platform you just freed Trieste in 1918 – stairway covered by a slab archaeological excavations Sant’Anastasia, later rebuilt in known as “Eleonora can control almost the entire donated by the Duke of Aosta, vault. The steps go down to a brought to light the remains of the 15 th century. The findings d’Arborea’s Castle”, it is one of Campidano plain and Emanuele Filiberto of Savoia, wide, circular, ogive-vaulted a wide curvilinear enclosure, in the Sant’Anastasia site are the most important medieval southward you can even see in 1927. The museum presents room where water sprung that includes the remains of a gathered at the “Villa Abbas” buildings of Sardinia and the the castle of San Michele in also a section dedicated to from a linteled breach at the wide civil and religious built- Museum of Sardara and at the only intact castle. It presents a Cagliari. In 1355, Peter IV, king some relics and documents of basis of the well chamber. A up area that was frequented National Archaeological squared plan divided in three of Aragon, increased the the two world wars, to the second well was made with from the Late Bronze to the Museum of Cagliari .

40 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 41 15. • Archaeological The façade, the side walls and century with the construction in the countryside in Pedra , carved into limestone present village, the complex of Sant’Antonio the apse, decorated with of the octagonal bell tower, Romanesque style with local outcrops, attest this archaeologists found a Roman The Nuragic complex of Romanesque hanging arches, combining different trachitic ashlars probably frequentation. Various tomb. Sant’Antonio, erected close to are the only remaining parts of architectonic styles. The around the end of the 13 th Nuragic sites – Furconi Pardu, Segariu using limestone and the original church. The upper -cross one-nave interior century. It presented a small Maghia Sattania, Narazzaxiu, 19. Siddi • Giants’ tomb marl blocks, presents a section of the facade is is articulated by point-arched nave maybe with an apse at Pau, and Suraxiu – keep Sa Domu ’e s’Orcu quadrilobed ground plan, with decorated with hanging arches arcades and culminates with a the rear and covered with the remains of single-towered It is one of the most well- a central tall tower and four resting on corbels and a little rectangular apse. The nave is wooden trusses. It was nuraghi, some of which are preserved Nuragic lateral ones, apparently belfry. The church has a one- covered with a wooden vault. renovated many times and in surrounded by villages that monuments in the area cardinal-point oriented. The nave ground plan. The sacristy The oldest chapel is the the 19 th century it was were frequented until the named “Marmilla”, erected towers were linked through an and the aside porch, where second on the left, dedicated completely rebuilt: the Punic and Roman Ages. The with the use of medium size imposing rectilinear bastion. A to the “ Blessed Virgin ”, richly liturgical axis was rotated and finely-carved basalt blocks. It large corridor led to the decorated with fine marbles. the previous main entrance is a perfect exemple of the central tower, characterized Most of the precious became a lateral portal, even if Nuragic tomb type with its by a big niche on the left and furnishing is gathered in the keeps some interesting structure formed by rows of by an oblong inside-the-wall Oratory of Anime , not far decorations in Romanesque squared blocks. The recess on the right. Even if the from the church. The style. The interior presents a monument is SE-NW remains of this complex are exhibition includes also some quadrangular single-nave plan, oriented; it is 15.20 m long and not in good conditions, they silver liturgical furnishing and covered with a wooden roof has an apsis at the rear. At the

Church of S. Antonio Sa Domu ’e s’Orcu

Nuragic complex of S. Antonio Church of S. Leonardo Church of S. Vitalia Sa Domu ’e s’Orcu attest the great importance of some wooden statues coming resting on rounded arcades centre of the exedra there is this nuraghe in the area. In the from some other churches of and keeps lots of ex-votos . the linteled entrance to the eastern sector just before the . The feast of Saint Vitalia, on 1 st sepulchral chamber. The nuraghe and in some of its October, is well known all burial chamber has a inner rooms, archaeologists 17. Serrenti • Church around Sardinia. rectangular plan and an ogival found proofs of a Late Punic Church of S. Leonardo of Santa Vitalia Shepherd’s house section and was made with settlement. A sacred well of The original structure of this 18. Setzu • Archaeological regular rows of jutting blocks. probable Nuragic origin was pilgrims were hosted, were church dedicated to Saint sites of the territory most interesting Nuragic The apse wall is made of a found inside the nearby added in the 14 th century. Vitalia ( Santa Vida in The territory of Setzu keeps complex is that of Corte single vertical slab. Above the church of Saint Anthony . ) – a young lots of pre-historical Murus , situated on the upper section of the wall, on Erected in the 12 th century in 16. Serramanna • Church Sardinian girl that, following interesting remains that southern Giara’s edge. It the left of the entrance, there Late-Romanesque style with of San Leonardo the historical accounts, was demonstrate the includes a single-tower is a small recess. Excavations the use of sandstone ashlars, Built in Aragonese Gothic martyrised in 120 A.D. and superimposition of cultures in nuraghe with an ogive-vaulted brought to light some funerary this small church was part of a style in the 15 th century, the whose relics were found in the southern Sardinia. The chamber and it is surrounded objects, mostly pottery dating Benedictine monastery, of parish church of Serramanna Basilica of San Saturnino in Neolithic tombs of Sa Domu by the remains of Roman-Age back to the Medium Bronze which no traces are left today. was completed in the 16 th Cagliari in 1614 – was erected ’e s’Orcu and of Grutta Sa huts. In 1996, inside the Age (1600-1330 B.C.). The

42 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 43 grave was used up to the third chapel on the left is the Gothic style at the beginning from a medieval demolished rebuilt and in that occasion polychrome marble furniture Punic and Roman Ages, as only remaining part of the of the 16 th century. The façade, church – this quadrilobed they built also the new parish in the side chapels and it attested by some findings. original Gothic structure: it simple and smooth, was built nuraghe was built with the use church of Santa Barbara in keeps a 17 th century silver keeps a pointed arch with with the use of squared of massive sandstone blocks. Gothic-Aragonese style, reliquary and a 1754’s barrel 20. Tuili • Church decorated capitals and a starry trachitic ashlars: it presents a It includes a central and four probably on a Byizantine organ. At a brief distance from of San Pietro vault with hanging keystones. portal surmounted by a lateral towers linked through oratory. The bell tower and the parish stands the Consecrated in 1489, this rectangular window and it is an imposing bastion. The the so-called “Capilla Mayor” Bishops’s building , where the church was restored many 21. Turri • Church topped by a belfry. It has a central tower is the best with its rib vault are the only viceroy of Sardinia and the times in the course of the of San Sebastiano one-nave ground plan preserved part of the entire remaining parts of the Gothic- king Vittorio Emanuele I were centuries. It has a one-nave articulated by pointed arcades complex and it stands seven hosted many times. In the ground plan culminating with and it is covered with a metres high; the entry leads to lower quarter of the village an apse. Its main interest lies wooden vault. At the interior a splayed corridor with an there is the noteworthy Public on some precious works of art. they keep the main altar, ogival section, almost collapsed wash house , one of the rare The façade presents a portal made in 1783 in neoclassical nowadays; on the left of the Liberty works left in Sardinia. surmounted by a lintel made style using polychrome entrance there are some steps of different ashlars. Above the marbles, and numerous of the stairway that led to the 24. • portal there is one arched wooden statues made upper floors. The circular Nuraghe Su Mulinu

Retable of S. Pietro Church of S. Barbara

Church of S. Pietro Old portal Nuraghe S. Pietro Nuraghe Su Mulinu window flanked by two between the 17 th and the 18 th room presents two recessed The village of Villanovafranca rectangular windows. The century. wall niches. The excavations spread around the church of rectangular bell tower, on the outside the nuraghe have San Sebastiano , erected in left of the façade, is divided in 22. • Nuraghe brought to light some the 16 th century, while in the some orders by trachyte San Pietro rectangular rooms that were north quarter stands the cornices. The barrel vaulted The territory of Ussaramanna, probaly built in Roman times. church of San Lorenzo , which nave presents three chapels at situated between the plateaux keeps some noteworthy works each side. In the first chapel Church of S. Sebastiano of the Giara of Gesturi, Setzu, 23. • Church Public lavatory of art. The most important on the right there is the well- Tuili and that of Siddi and of Santa Barbara monument is Nuraghe Su known “ Retable of Saint The small town of Turri, at the inside a fertile valley, keeps The village of Villacidro, Aragonese church. It presents Mulinu . Erected with the use Peter ”, made by the Master of heart of the Marmilla region, several important remains of founded during the Roman a one-nave plan with three of finely-carved limestone and in the 16 th century, presents some interesting pre-historic times, among times, was destroyed at the chapels at each side. The sandstone blocks, it includes a while in the first chapel on the monuments from a historical which the most known is beginning of the 15 th century chapels are roofed with small trilobed nuraghe with a main left is kept the “ Retable of the point of view. The parish Nuraghe San Pietro . Built on during the war between the domes erected in 1695 to tower surrounded by an outer Pentecost ”, an anonymous church is dedicated to Saint the top of a hill in the outskirts Arborea’s kings and the replace the original Gothic rib circuit of towers and a curtain painting made in 1534. The Sebastian, erected in Late of the village – its name comes Aragonese crown. It was later vaults. The church is rich in of slitted walls. Its features are

44 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 45 those of a fortress, but it was span little belfry. Every you can enjoy a wonderful frequented until the Iron Age side view and the apse walls view of the Campidano plain. when it had a religious are decorated with groined Excavations revealed the function, as documented by a hanging arches resting on structures of a wide Nuragic monumental sandstone altar lengthened corbels and settlement built in discovered inside the east with lots of floral consecutive phases, formed tower, provided with a decorations and stylised by a trilobed nuraghe, a sandstone basin. The complex heads of humans. hexagonal walled compound and the wide surrounding and a large village. The village were probably imposing main tower is the frequented from the half of primary structure, dating back the second millennium B.C. to the Middle Bronze; it was until the Late Midle Ages. later streghtened by an outer circuit of towers and curtain 25. • Church walls. The Iron Age village of San Pietro (9 th -8 th century B.C.) is mostly

Archaeological area of Genna Maria

Church of S. Pietro Archaeological area of Genna Maria

Built in two phases probably made of circular huts facing a by Arabian workers in the 13 th shared courtyard. The century with the use of archaeologists brought to light sandstone and trachyte numerous intact everyday-life ashlars, this small but objects when the residents noteworthy church is at the left during the 8 th century B.C. centre of the so-called The village was later reused “Majorcan district” of until the Roman Imperial Age Villamar. It has a two-nave Archaeological area of Genna Maria as a religious place dedicated ground plan, each of the to Demeter and Core, as naves ending with an apse. 26. Villano vaforru • documented by the abundant The cantons and the Archaeological area votive material found inside pilasters that divide the of Genna Maria the central tower. The findings facades rise from a high The complex of Genna Maria can be seen at the skirting. The main façade is was erected at the foot of Archaeological Museum of characterized by a high two- the Giara plateau, from which Villanovaforru . • Archaeological area of Genna Maria , Villanovaforru

46 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology THE PROJECT “CULTURAL HERITAGE SARDEGNA VIRTUAL ARCHAEOLOGY ”

LIST OF GUIDES

CAGLIARITANO OGLIASTRA TERRITORY TERRITORY Basilica Nuragic complex of of San Saturnino | Cagliari S’Arcu ’e Is Forros Archaeological area Villagrande Strisaili of Sant’Eulalia | Cagliari The harbour and the coastal towers of Arbatax | Tortolì

SULCIS0IGLESIENTE TERRITORY NUORESE Necropolis of TERRITORY Is Pirixeddus | S. Antioco Castle Archaeological area of Fava | Posada of Monte Sirai | Carbonia Giants’ tomb of S’Ena ’e Thomes |

MEDIO CAMPIDANO TERRITORY SASSARESE Nuragic village TERRITORY of Su Nuraxi | Barumini Necropolis of Castle of Monreale | Sardara Sant’Andrea Priu | Bonorva Church and monastery of San Nicola di Trullas | Semestene ORISTANESE TERRITORY Archaeological area GALLURA of Tharros | Cabras TERRITORY Roman baths Megalithic Circles of Forum Traiani | Fordongianus of Li Muri | The area of the basilicas Baldu’s of Cornus-Columbaris | Cuglieri Palace | Luogosanto Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 49