La Sardegna cresce con l’Europa Nuorese Territory

Castle Giants’ tomb of Project jointly funded by the European Union of Fava S’Ena ’e Thomes Operational programme ERDF 2007 – 2013 Posada 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- Nuorese Anthropological Heritage for the provinces of , , Tempio and , for the kind cooperation. Territory

Castle of Fava | Posada

Giants’ tomb of S’Ena ’e Thomes | Dorgali

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

Castle of Fava Testaluna Srl: Text: Mrs. Maria Grazia Arru 3D Planning and Interactivity

Giants tomb Polonord Adeste Srl: of S’Ena ’e Thomes USB Pendrive Production Text: Mrs. Emanuela Atzeni Imago Multimedia Snc: Cultural heritage sites Texts, Graphics and Photographs of the sites Text: Mr. Giulio Concu inside the Digital and Paper Guide Mrs. Maria Grazia Porcu FSG Sas - Unicity Srl: Cultural heritage 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 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 Nuorese 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 promotion of the Sardinian cultural heritage. enhance the education of the different Besides, the project contributes to the segments of students, in view of a useful improvement of the scientific, didactic and socio-cultural repercussion on the territory. Betyls of Tamuli,

6 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology General map of Sardinia Nuorese territory

Castello Posada della Fava

Olbia

Porto Torres Sassari

Castello Posada della Fava S’Ena ’e Thomes Sassarese

S’Ena ’e Thomes Nuoro Nuoro Dorgali Dorgali Nuorese Nuorese Oristanese

Oristano Ogliastra

Medio Campidano Cagliaritano

Cagliari

Sulcis

Giants’ tomb Castle of S’Ena ’e Thomes of Fava (Dorgali) (Posada) Posada • Castle of Fava From its raised position you can easily control the surrounding plain, the mouth of the river Posada and a wide area of the Sardinian he castle of Fava stands on a high eastern coastline. It had a strategic role in limestone hill overlooking the village defending the territory just because you Tof Posada, in the could easily catch sight of the enemies and in northern-eastern area of Sardinia. coming from the sea or from the inner areas

↑ View of the Rock of Posada ↓Reconstruction of the rock and of the tower

Facade of the tower

10 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 11 of the island. Moreover, it was erected in the Arboreas, the castle and the village of Posada curtain walls that were built directly on the The external perimeter, of which poor proximity of the road a Portu Tibulas-Carales , passed definitively into the Spanish’ hands in rocky outcrop and were provided with remains are left, contained a wide area and built by the Romans to link the city of 1409, to be later given in fief to the Spanish ramparts and crenellated battlements, from presented some sea-oriented embrasures to to the area of the present Santa Teresa di family of Carroz in 1431 and elevated to the which the soldiers could monitor the catch sight of the enemy ships. Gallura, passing through the eastern peerage. Beyond the castle itself, the surrounding territory and defend the A door allowed to overcome the first coastline. It is unknown the precise date of its stronghold of “Fava” included also a fortified stronghold from the enemy attack. enclosure and to enter the area delimited by construction, but it was built in the second village. Originally the hamlet of Posada was half of the 13 th century as attested by some maybe on the west side of the castle, in the documents. It was erected by the noble Pisan area where today stands the quarter of family of Visconti – ruler of the Gallura Santa Caterina. Between the second half kingdom and who lived in the castle – along of the 15 th and the beginning of the 16 th the border between the Giudicato of Gallura century, as a consequence of the war and that of Arborea. The fortress, at the between the Arboreas and the Aragon kings centre of complicated historical events, was and later because of the Moorish incursions, controlled alternatively by the kings of the inhabitants moved to the slopes of the Gallura and by the kings of Arborea. hill to benefit from the protection of the In 1324 it passed into the hands of the fortress. From then on, the stronghold Catalan-Aragonese kings and after a short of Fava was integrated inside the new village time during which it was reconquered by the of Posada.The castle was surrounded by

↑ Reconstruction of the external walls of the castle ↓ Reconstruction of the battlements

Guelph merlons

12 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 13 a second curtain wall that leaned against the allowed to go beyond these walls and to walk innermost walls of the castle. This is the so- towards the castle on a path that suddenly called “antemurale”, which protected the turned right and that was closed between the fortress from the strikes of the war machines antemurale and the innermost walls. At the like battering rams or trebuchets. A passage end of the path there was the innermost

↑ Reconstruction of the second curtain walls ↓ The remains of the second curtain walls

↑ The remains of the second curtain walls and the tower ↓ Reconstruction of the inner walls

14 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 15 curtain wall, built on the top of the hill. A the centre of the parade ground stands the portal, preceded by a series of carved-into- tall squared tower: it is about 20 metres tall the-rock steps, allowed to enter the parade and its entry is raised above the parade ground, the wide open space delimited by the ground level. Today, you can enter the tower walls where soldiers practised marching and climbing an iron ladder, while in the past the where they stood in rows to be inspected. At soldiers had to climb a wooden or a rope

↑ Reconstruction of the tower and of the structures of the parade ground ↓ Reconstruction of the entrance of the tower

Entrance to the parade ground

Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 17 ladder that could be easily and rapidly moved inner space is divided in three floors, to control the surrounding territory. In the a prolonged siege. On the parade ground and to prevent the entry of those enemies that connected through steep staircases. parade ground there were three big leaning against the walls open some had already gone beyond all the curtain walls. On the walls, some small embrasures underground cisterns for collecting rainwater, structures, probably some warehouses and The top of the tower is crenelated, while the enlightened the rooms and allowed which guaranteed the water supply in case of stables, of which poor traces are left. •

↑ Reconstruction of the interior of the tower ↓ Reconstruction of the parade ground ↑Reconstruction of the parade ground buildings and of a cistern ↓Reconstruction of the structures of the parade ground

18 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 19 Reconstruction of the rock and of the tower Dorgali • Giants’ tomb noteworthy example of the Nuragic burial of S’Ena ’e Thomes architecture. Situated in the valley of the river Isalle, it was closely related to Orrule, a watching tower built along the roads he collective megalithic tomb of penetrating the inner areas of , and S’Ena ’e Thomes, a -type to another similar giants’ tomb, the one of Tstructure with framed stele, is a S’Iscra ’e Lottoni. Although few findings have

↑ The giants’ tomb of Thomes ↓ Aerial view of the funerary monument

The giants’ tomb of S’Ena ’eThomes

22 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 23 been attributed to S’Ena ’e Thomes, mainly B.C.). On the whole, the tomb is about 16.20 buried in the ground and tapering towards metres high and two metres large; it was ascribable to the typical ceramic shapes of m long and i ts entry is south oriented. The the entrance of the tomb. At the centre of rounded at the top and decorated with a the Bonnanaro Culture (pots, cups and semicircular exedra – which delimited the the exedra stands the imposing framed stele, frame in relief and a transverse listel. pans), its first structure could be dated to the ceremonial area where the rites took place – the most interesting element of the tomb; At the base of the stele there is a First Middle age (about 1600-1300 is marked by two wings made of upright slabs obtained from a single block, it is about three quadrangular opening with rounded edges

↑ A fragment of a Nuragic pan ↓ Outline of the exedra ↑ Reconstruction of the ceremonial area ↓ Moulded stele

24 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 25 that to the burial chamber. The rest a row of stones and the dolmen-like the tomb. The floor of the chamber, illegally end of the Seventies of last century. During chamber consists of a corridor with a covering made of big horizontal slabs. Three excavated, was probably made of small stone the diggings they brought to light few findings rectangular plan, built with the use of granite, of these slabs were found in the original slabs. It was then excavated and restored by that, in addition to the above mentioned upright, dug-into-the-ground slabs, on which position while the others were found next to the archaeologist Francesco Nicosia at the Nuragic phase of the Bonnanaro Culture,

↑ Back of the funerary corridor ↓ Side view of the monument showing a detail of the covering ↑ A detail of the covering big stone slabs ↓ The interior of the funerary chamber

26 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 27 attest the frequentation of the monument, the tomb they found a very interesting or at least of the area surrounding it, up to the fragment of an olpe , a pear-shaped jug with a Roman and the Middle Ages (3 rd century B.C. handle and with some traces of a Latin – 6 th -7 th century A.D.). Inside the exedra of inscription (3 rd -4 th century B.C.). •

↑ Reconstruction of the exedra ↓ Reconstruction of the mound

A fragment of a small achromatic jug with a Latin inscription

28 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 29 Reconstruction of the ceremonial area Nuorese territory | Cultural Heritage sites 03. • Natural 04. Belvì • 05. • Archaeological monument of of Nadalia area of Sas Bogadas - “Sa Crabarissa” - In the past, the village of Belvì Nuraghe Sorolo Church of the Assunta must have been an important The area in the territory of Immersed in an unspoiled town since the entire area Birori close to the Tossilo environment characterized by around it took its name. Its stream, keeps several spectacular granite spikes, the territory was populated since evidence of the pre-historical 01. • Church of Gothic style in 1917 by a local church of Sant’Antioco village of Austis was founded the age, as attested and Nuragic periods. San Michele - Castle family following the 19 th -20 th presents a stunning rose in the Roman age ( Forum by some hypogeic In the area of Sas Bogadas of Arangino century fashion for the noble’s window and a crenellated top. Augusti ) as a seat of military necropolises, among which there is an important pre- The most important houses. The entrance is made At the interior, the most units. The spike called “ Sa the most important is that of Nuragic dolmen called monument of the village of of a pointed arch closed by a important piece of art is the Crabarissa ” is the most “Sa Perda ’e s’Altare” Aritzo is the church of San wooden main altar in Spanish extraordinary natural (the stone of the altar), Michele , originally built in the style, now kept in the chapel monuments of the area: its still in good conditions, a 11 th century. The remains of of the Sacred Heart. The name comes from the fact giants’ tomb and some traces the first temple can be found Museum of Art “Antonio that it looks like a woman of a Nuragic bridge. in the rounded arch and in the Ortiz Echague” gathers the wearing the costume of the At about 500 m from Sas capitals of the nave. The works made by three 19 th - village of Cabras. Bogadas stands

Church of S. Antioco Domus de janas of Nadalia

Church of S. Michele countryside Sa Crabarissa Nuraghe Sorolo structure was modified in Late century Spanish painters – At the centre of Austis stands Nuraghe Sorolo , a single- Gothic style in the 14 th century Museum of art Antonio Ortiz Eduardo Chicharro, Antonio the church of the Assunta , Dolmen Sas Bogadas tower monument that was and some elements are still Ortiz Echagüe e Bernardo De built in 1567 on a previous 13 th - built with big basalt blocks. visible in the bell tower and on beautiful iron gate. At the Quirós – who, fascinated by century structure that was Nadalia: carved inside a big It stands 13 metres high and the facade. The restoration interior there are some refined the feminine costume of remodelled and altered schist outcrop, it is presents its ogive vault in works carried in 1914 changed pieces of furniture, paintings Atzara and by the colours several times. It is characterized by the presence perfect conditions. the church almost completely. and stuccoes. and lights of the countryside, characterized by the presence of two burial chambers. The All around the nuraghe At the interior they keep some settled in the village for of a squared bell tower divided entrance to the tombs is there are the remains important liturgical pieces of 02. Atzara • Church of some time. Some Sardinian in three orders. At the interior raised about one metre above of a village dated to the furniture and works of art. The Sant’Antioco - Museum of artists made the same, like there is an interesting wooden ground level and presents the Roman age with several nice Arangino castle stands in Art “Antonio Ortiz” Francesco Ciusa, Giuseppe choir made in 1829 and some so-called “false door”, the rectangular structures and the historical centre of the Built in Gothic-Aragonese Biasi, Filippo Figari and sculptures by the local artist typical decoration of the lots of gravestones with village; it was built in Neo- style in the 15 th century, the Stanis Dessy. Elio Sanna. Sardinian Neolithic tombs. inscriptions.

32 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 33 06. • Archaeological 07. • Church railways of Sardinia, built a 09. • Nuraghe first order of the facade there nuraghe, erected with the use complex of Romanzesu of San Bachisio - mansion between 1879 and Orolo is a portal in Romanesque of roughly-shaped basalt Erected on a granite plateau Badde Salighes 1883 and planted a garden Erected with the use of style, surmounted by a rose blocks. Its entrance, not far from the river Tirso’s One of the most important with exotic species. massive trachyte blocks, this window that is framed by a characterized by a massive sources, this Nuragic complex monuments in the Bolotana’s A botanical museum trilobed nuraghe is one of the cornice. On the right side lintel, leads to an inward- is one of the most important territory is the church of San has been set up at best-preserved stands the square bell tower, splayed corridor that has a of central Sardinia. It was a Bachisio : built in the 16 th Villa Piercy today. monuments of Sardinia. It built in 1753. The interior niche on the right and the sanctuary-village built century, it presents some includes a 14-metre-tall main presents a Latin-cross three- staircase on the left. The between the 15 th and the 7 th elements in mannerist style of 08. • Giants’ tomb tower and a bastion with two naved plan, with the aisles ground-floor chamber has an century B.C. and its religious Late-Gothic derivation. and country church of minor towers. The entrance of divided by rounded arcades. intact ogive vault. Another function is witnessed by a The gable of the portal rests Santu Bainzu the monument leads to a Above the chancel, the dome important site in the territory sacred well linked to an Located in an area rich vestibule at the centre of the of is the country amphitheatre, by a mysterious in Nuragic settlements, southern curtain wall; an sanctuary of Santu Pedru de spiral building and two the tomb of Santu Bainzu is ambulatory leads to the minor Addai , built in Byzantine megaron temples. The well is a dolmen-type giant’s tomb, towers. The entrance to the times, with sos muristenes (the at the centre of the sacred mostly built in central- main tower is characterised by pilgrims’ houses) leaning area, and three small betyls northern Sardinia. a very big architrave. The against the surrounding walls stand next to it. Just before The stout stele (3.25 m tall tower has a circular plan and a and facing the church, just like the well entrance begins a 42- and 2 m large) has a small marvellous ogive vault. On the the old monks’ cells. The first

Church of S. Bachisio Church of S. Antonio

Archaeological area of Romanzesu Giants’ tomb of S. Bainzu Nuraghe Orolo Giants’ tomb of Madau metre-long canal: it brought cleft at the basis. It has right of the entrance corridor, structure of the church was the spring water to an almost lost its engraved the spiral staircase leads to the built in the 15 th century in amphitheatre, which is a frame (moulding), but it first floor and then to the Aragonese style and it was circular basin with tiers of still shows a small peculiar remains of a second floor. All Nuraghe Ponte restored in vernacular style seats where probably the Badde Salighes carved hollow above around the monument there around the 17 th century. water ordeal rites were the small door, probably a are the traces of numerous rests on an octagonal drum. practiced. The spiral structure on two columns with bas- cupel for offerings. Originally huts and of an imposing The church kept some 12. • Archaeological has not equals in Sardinia: reliefs of fantastic animals, it had a 13-metre-long compound wall. precious works of art, as a 17 th areas of Madau and archaeologists suppose that warriors and an ithyphallic chamber and a very wide century carved polychrome Gremanu the spiral pattern helped the flute player. exedra. Despite the sackings 10. • Church wooden pulpit, and several The localities of Madau and worshippers to go through Badde Salighes is an area of the grave has kept its charm of Sant’Antonio liturgical pieces of furniture. Gremanu contain two very different stages of some great naturalistic and historic almost intact. The nearby Built in the 16 th century in interesting sites. At Madau purification rites. The village, interest in the mountain country church attests the Late-Gothic style, this church 11. Dualchi • Nuraghe Ponte there are four finely-shaped about a hundred circular huts, territory of Bolotana. Here, use of the area as a sacred has been closed to public - Sanctuary of San Pietro giants’ tombs, dated back to spreads out all around the the Welsh engineer Benjamin place in the course of years ago because its Nuraghe Ponte is a perfect the 12 th -11 th century B.C. and sacred buildings. Piercy, who planned the centuries. precarious conditions. In the example of a single-towered built with the row technique.

34 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 35 They were arranged like an Bronze age. The modern mine castle were included the ruins and characterized by five and that keeps a portion of a 18. • Giants’ tomb amphitheatre facing the was set up around the 19 th of a Roman fortress. The ciselled medallions. Some counter-bench along the wall. S’Ena Tunda Mountains. The century and it was closed in castle was given to the barons important works of art are Built during the Middle site of Gremanu is one of the 1983. Among dumps and of in 1149, it was then kept in the church, like a 17. Lei • Church of San Bronze on a granite outcrop at island’s most significant galleries stand the last- conquered by the baptismal font made in 1706, a Michele the centre of a wide valley not thanks to the presence of a century structures: the /Aragoneses in 1333 wooden Baroque pulpit and a Originally, this small temple far from , this Bronze-age water channeling director’s building, the and inhabited until the end of 18 th -century wooden choir. was outside the village and monument is amongst the system, the only known in workers’ houses, the washery the 15 th century. Today you can that is why it is not much most important in the territory Sardinia. The complex was a and the flotation cells. identify just some portions of 16. • Nuragic bigger than a country chapel. of Loculi. It is characterized by sanctuary dedicated to the the external walls and some sanctuary of Despite its size, it represents a long and apsidal chamber. water worship. It is made up of 14. Galtellì • Castle of other portions of an upper Janna ’e Pruna an important part of the The rectangular corridor has some fountains, wells and Pontes bastion; there are also some The monument was erected history of the village. It was an ogival section and is basins for ritual ablutions parts of a corner tower and on the top of Monte Senes, built in the 13 th century in delimited by two vertical slab where spring waters were some underground cisterns. overlooking the valley where walls and covered with flat gathered and canalized, and a the river Cedrino flows. It is a slabs. The entrance to the sacred area bounded by a big 15. • Church of sanctuary dedicated to the tomb is characterized by the rectangular compound. The San Gavino water worship. A fence presence of a monumental sacred area includes a single- Built in the 15 th century in contains a sacred area where stone stele, of which just the towered nuraghe and two Gothic-Aragonese style, it religious celebrations and lower section remains. At the megaron temples.

Castle of Pontes Finding from Janna ’e Pruna

Mine of Funtana Raminosa Church of S. Gavino Sanctuary of Janna ’e Pruna Archaeological area of Thorra

13. • Mine presents a three-naved plan. offerings were practiced. centre of the exedra there are of Funtana Raminosa The trachytic façade is Another trapezoidal fence the ruins of a stone base that Located in an area of great Castle of Pontes characterized by a portal in contains a small temple Church of S. Michele probably was used to gather environmental interest along Baroque style and by a preceded by a vestibule offerings for the dead. the banks of the river This castle was built in 1070 splendid 3-meter-wide leading to the main circular Romanesque style but was Saraxinus, this site is on a rocky hill at the foot of Gothic-Catalan rose window chamber. The overhanging restored many times. The 19. Lodè • Archaeological important for its history being by the kings made in red vulcanite stone. walls and the finding of flat façade presents a portal area of Thorra part of the Sardinian Historical of Gallura during the war On the right stands a square slabs suggest that the framed by a rounded arch, Among the most important and Environmental Geo- between the Pisans and the and massive bell tower, entrance was probably vaulted which was made alternating sites in the territory of Lodè, mining Park approved by Aragoneses and when the erected in the 15 th century and with a twin sloping wood roof, basalt and limestone ashlars, the Nuragic area of Thorra UNESCO. The mine is one of village of Galtellì was an characterized by small Gothic covered with stone elements. and a rectangular window. The includes a dolmen-type giants’ the oldest of Sardinia; the first important administrative arches. At the interior, the At the rear, the temple structure ends with a small tomb and a complex nuraghe. evidence of the extraction of centre and an episcopal seat. choir area is covered by a contains another room that round apse, surmounted by a The tomb is formed by a copper date back to the In the foundations of the starry vault with vulcanite ribs was probably ogive vaulted little belfry. corridor delimited by vertical

36 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 37 slabs and was probably the frequentation of the Some kilometres away from monuments. Nobody knowns 24. • Nuraghe first floor of the main tower. covered with flat slabs. The village up to the Roman Age. the mine stands the country where the monolith was set Nolza From the courtyard one could presence of some remains in sanctuary of San Francesco , originally, but archaeologists The primary Nolza site dates go down into the south- front of the tomb makes 21. Lula • Mine of Sos one of the most known in suppose it was part of a back to the Middle Bronze. eastern tower through suppose the presence of a Enattos - Sanctuary of Sardinia: tradition has it that nearby Neolithic sacred area. The well-preserved another narrow and steep stele or of a small door with a San Francesco the church was built by a quadrilobed nuraghe has a 13- staircase. perimetral moulding. Nuraghe The and zinc metal mine bandit in the 17 th century. 23. Macomer • metre-high main tower Thorra presents a complex of Sos Enattos is one of the The actual temple is the Archaeological complex erected with the use of local 25. • Church structure, with a sub-circular most important sites of Lula result of some restoration of Tamuli schist blocks during the 14 th of B.V. of Itria tower leaning against another. from a historical point of view, works carried out in Baroque The archaeological site of century B.C. It has a beautiful This small church was built on All around the nuraghe there immersed in a beautiful style in 1795. Tamuli is one of the most ogive vault lacking of the last a previous Gothic-Catalan are the traces of some huts. fascinating places in Sardinia. structure. The rectangular 22. • It was built in an area where a façade presents a portal 20. • Nuragic village of Boeli thick network of nuraghi forms framed by a rounded trachytic of Soroeni The monument, also called the bastion of an old cultural arch in Aragonese style. On The site stretches on a hill “Sa Perda Pintà” (decorated fortress. The site clearly shows the right there is a second

Mine of Sos Enattos Nuraghe Tamuli

Nuragic village of Soroeni Menhir of Boeli The betyls of Tamuli Church of the B.V. of Itria that slopes down towards the stone), is a massive granite the superimposition of portal, with the date of the valley of the river Taloro. It block of irregular shape, a cultures and of the different foundation of the church was populated since the singular statue-menhir that prehistoric cults. It has a (1623) on its lintel, and a little Neolithic, as documented by has not equal in Sardinia Neolithic sacred area where belfry. The interior presents a the presence of two domus de Sanctuary of San Francesco because of some engravings six betyls, three of which have Nuraghe Nolza single nave articulated by two janas and some shelters under on its front referring to some breasted features, are the pointed arcades and covered big granite rocks. The Nuragic landscape at a brief distance Neolithic cults: 23 small representation of the rows of stones. Around the by a twin sloping roof, and village is made up of about from Monte Albo. It was cupels and mysterious ancestral fertility rites. The 12 th century B.C. the with two chapels at each side. twenty huts with complex already exploited in the concentric circles (from two Nuragic people too used the monument was drastically In the presbytery is kept a big plans. Inside one of the huts Bronze Age and then to seven circles maximum) area as a burial place, building modified: the south-western retable and a statue of the archaeologists found a rare systematically by the Romans. crossed by a vertical three row-type giants’ tombs. towers and the bastions were Blessed Virgin of Itria. duck-shaped askos, decorated It was rediscovered at the engraving. It is believed that A complex nuraghe stands destroyed and rebuilt with the with geometrical drawings and middle of the 19 th century and these symbols had a magical westward, formed by a main use of porphyry blocks. A 26. Nuoro • The most dating back to 8 th -7 th century closed in 1996. Today is part of and sacred function, relating tower and a bilobed bastion. staircase leads to the south- important monuments of B.C. Some rectangular huts the Sardinian Historical and to fertility rites, and find In front of the nuraghe there western tower and climbs up the city and the find of hundreds of Environmental Geo-mining similarities in with are six huts, with an oval plan to an upper courtyard, where The city of Nuoro, chief town Late Empire coins document Park approved by UNESCO. some Celtic and Breton and intact flat-slab vaults. there is the entrance to the of the homonymous province,

38 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 39 stretches at the foot of Monte and intellectuals were born Nivola using granite blocks year since 29 th August 1901, the sacred area there are the remains of a sacred well and of Ortobene, in a territory rich in and worked here, among taken from Monte Ortobene. when the statue was raised on remains of a large built-up a Bronze-age village. Inside evidence of the Neolithic and which the painter Antonio In the quarter of Santa Maria the top of a granite outcrop area with about one hundred the park stands also a church Nuragic periods, among which Ballero, the sculptor stands the cathedral of S.M. overlooking the city. huts. dedicated to San Basilio, the site of Nurdole , a Francesco Ciusa, the poet della Neve , completed in 1853 which was part of a medieval sanctuary dedicated to the Sebastiano Satta and the in Neoclassical style. Not far 27. • Nuragic 28. • Archaeological monastery built by some cult of water and that includes writer Grazia Deledda , who from the church there is the complex of Sedda ’e Sos park of San Basilio Basilian monks in 1472. a quadrilobed nuraghe and a besides won the Nobel prize National Archaeological Carros The origins of the village of sacred well. Along the state for literature in 1926. Corso Museum , which keeps an This Nuragic complex was Ollolai can be traced in the 29. • The Old Mill - road S.S.389 towards the Garibaldi is the main street of archaeological and a built around the 12 th century mountain locality of San Church of Santa Barbara village of , the the city, linking the quarter of speleological collection. On B.C. and is really unique Basilio, where there are some The economy of the village of archaeological area of the hill of Sant’Onofrio you thanks to its peculiar Olzai was based on a Noddule includes a trilobed can visit the Museum of structures and its location in flourishing system linked to nuraghe, a sacred well and a Sardinian Popular Traditions , the majestic valley the production and “Meeting Hut”, one of the Sardinia’s most important of Lanaitto. It includes a manufacturing of wheat and widest in Sardinia. Tradition ethnographic museum. The sacred area, characterized by a barley. In the upper quarter has it that on the hill of Grazia Deledda Museum central courtyard with some of the village there is still a Sant’Onofrio, at the centre of collects evidence of the rooms that were used as 18 th -century water mill called the city, stood a Punic temple writer’s life and works, while foundries. One of these rooms “Su Mulinu Vezzu ”, a jewel

Church of Grazie Archaeological park of S. Basilio

Noddule sacred well Grazia Deledda museum Sedda ’e sos Carros Church of S. Barbara dedicated to the mother her remains are in the small contains a beautiful and of the pre-industrial goddess Astarte. To flee the church of N.S. della unique circular sacred architecture. In the same Roman conquerors, local Solitudine, at the foot of fountain that was built with quarter stands the church of people sought refuge on Monte Ortobene. Monte the use of basalt ashlars set Santa Barbara . Built in Monte Ortobene along the Ortobene is a natural oasis: out in rows. One of these rows Romanesque style between stream Ribu ’e Seuna; later, Sebastiano Satta square from its top you can have a was made with limestone The Old Mill the 14 th and the 15 th century, it they went down and settled in wonderful view from the ashlars and has some ram is now used as the Oratory of the valley founding the first Seuna to that of Santu Predu. Mountains to the protomes from which the rock shelters. Close to one of the Holy Cross. The facade core of the village, still called Close to Corso Garibaldi there eastern coastline. There is also water poured, gathering at the these rock shelters, known as presents a portal framed by a Seuna, where then they built is the Museum of Modern Art a park and some touristic centre of a wide circular basin. “Sa ’onca fravhià” (the shaped rounded trachytic arch. On the church of Madonna delle (MAN), one of the island’s infrastructures, the church of In the upper sector of the stone), archaeologists dug up the left stands a little belfry. At Grazie (1670), the oldest of most lively art space. The N.S. del Monte Nero (17 th sacred area, archaeologists seven different layers that the interior, on the main altar the city. In the last century, monumental square century) and the imposing brought to light a small attest the use of the shelter is kept the well-known Nuoro was called “The dedicated to Sebastiano statue of the Redeemer, amphitheatre in basalt stones, from the Middle Neolithic to “Retable of the Plague”, made Sardinian Athens”, because Satta was made by the protagonist of the Redeemer’s probably a basin for the Early . Not far by the Master of Olzai in the some of the Sardinian artists famous sculptor Costantino festival that takes place once a purification rites. All around from the shelters there are the 15 th century.

40 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 41 30. Onanì • Church of Its single-nave plan comes engravings represent sketchy and enlarged; it was set up 35. Orosei • Church of scenes of Christ, of saints and San Pietro from the medieval vernacular upside-down human beings, a with the aim to gather most of Sant’Antonio - Pisan Tower of Saint Anthony’s lives and an This small church is one of the style. On the north side typical Sardinian Neolithic Nivola’s works. Nivola was The church of Sant’Antonio old statue of the Abbot. In most fascinating country stands a little belfry. allegory of life that continues born in Orani and he was one was probably built in the Pisan times a squared tower religious edifices of central At the interior, the nave is in an another dimension. of the most important 20 th - Middle Ages, although it was was built to protect the Sardinia, thanks to the fact covered by a wooden vault Most of the funerary rooms century Sardinian artists. rebuilt almost completely complex from the pirates’ that it is harmonically inserted and is articulated by three have cupels where between the 14 th and the 15 th raids. in the landscape. It was rounded arcades. worshippers laid down 34. • Nuraghe century and restored many erected in Romanesque style Next to the altar, they found offerings to the dead, and the Dovilineò - Nuraghe Mereu times in accordance to the 36. • Church of in the 12 th century with the use some pictures in vernacular so-called “false doors”, Among the various Orgosolo’s vernacular style, usually San Giovanni of local granite ashlars of style. symbols of the access to the sites, Nuraghe Dovilineò is characterized by a one-nave Built in Pisan Romanesque medium size. It presents a other world, with finely- one of the most important. style in 1116 with the use of one-nave plan with a south- sculpted quadrangular frames. It is a mixed structure, made trachytic ashlars, this church eastern-oriented apse. A high up of a central tower and was part of a Benedictine little belfry rises just on the 33. Orani • Sanctuary of B.V. three lateral ones. monastery. The original gable roof, an element that of Gonare - Nivola Museum The linteled entrance leads to structure had a crux commissa assimilates this church to West of the village of Orani a a splayed corridor with a plan with an apse at the rear; some religious buildings of road leads to Monte Gonare, tunnel that ends in a well. the nave was covered with and Elba. The roof an area rich in oak woods and All around the complex there wooden trusses and the arms

Domus de janas Sas Concas Church of S. Antonio

Church of S. Pietro Nivola Museum Nuraghe Mereu Church of S. Giovanni was magnificently made with on the top of which the king of are the remains of lots of huts, of the transept were cross the use of schist sheets. Torres, Gonario II, built a some of which are very wide. vaulted. In the 14 th century, a The interior, simple and sanctuary dedicated to the Another interesting little belfry was added, austere, does not present Blessed Virgin, probably on a monument is Nuraghe decorated with low-relieves any kind of decoration. Petroglyphs of Sas Concas previous Byzantine temple. Mereu , erected on the Pisan Tower representing lambs, snakes The church is entirely built in limestone Supramonte and a Roman soldier holding a 31. • Church of 32. • Domus granite ashlars, with bare walls plateau and on the top of a hill plan covered with wooden palm leaf. The aisles were San Giorgio de janas Sas Concas and without any kind of overlooking the famous Gorge trusses (presently the nave is added in the Sixties of the last Built on a hill overlooking Cut on a trachyte outcrop decoration. Its actual forms of Gorropu and the millenarian barrel vaulted), an external century. At the interior, simple the plain of the river Cedrino during the 3 rd millennium B.C., date back to a 17 th century forest of Sas Baddes. It is a porch resting on pillars that but fascinating, a wooden 15 th at the end of 14 th century, this necropolis includes 19 restoration. In the southern complex nuraghe, with a main was used to receive the -century statue of San until 1750 this church served hypogeal pluricellular tombs, area of the village of Orani tower linked to two smaller pilgrims, and the so-called Giovanni is kept. Close to the as the parish of the village two of which have some rare there is the important ones by a very well preserved “cumbessias”, the pilgrims’ church there is a rounded- and obviously it keeps decorations carved on the Costantino Nivola Museum , bulwark. All around the houses. At the interior there arch portal that delimited the a great historical importance walls, which are the real built on a previous wash nuraghe there are the ruins of are some important 14 th - old graveyard and led to the for the local community. attraction of the site. The house and recently restored a small built-up area. century frescoes representing monastery.

42 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 43 37. Orune • Sacred well environment, the village of the area there are the remains style in 1160 with the use of amphitheatre at the foot of oriented, it presents a of Tempiesu keeps some evidence of a necropolis with basalt and trachyte ashlars, the Gennargentu massif and rectangular burial chamber Dated back to the 2 nd of pre-historic times, even if sarcophaguses, portions of probably on a previous close to the river Taloro. delimited by massive slabs. millennium B.C., this the most important remains columns and friezes. religious building and a The tombs were carved The entrance is characterized monument has not equal in date back to the Roman age. A Byzantine monastery, until the inside a granite outcrop and by a moulded stele composed Sardinia. It shows a twin Roman settlement was in the 39. • Archaeological 16 th century this church was present a very well-worked of two parts. The exedra is sloping roof with steep plain of Pranu ’e Laccos, as areas of Usanis, S’Iscobalzu the seat of the diocese of entrance that leads to a marked by ten vertical slabs. inclined sides and a attested by the rests of some and Seris . The façade and the rectangular chamber. Another rectangular vestibule sarcophaguses with the pagan Populated since the Neolithic south view are the only false door leads to a further 43. Silanus • Sanctuary of overlooked by two monolithic initials DM carved on it, a and Nuragic periods, the remaining portions of the sub-rectangular burial Santa Sabina arches. Its façade rises to 3.5 dedication to “Dei Mani” (the territory of Osidda keeps original structure. chamber. The church dedicated to m and is formed by a some interesting sites. At the On the façade, the portal is “Santa Sarbana” stands on triangular tympanum, that entrance of the actual village surmounted by a two-colour an area that keeps lots of culminated with a truncated coming from Bitti, stand the stilted arch. In the second traces of the human presence. pyramid stone block where ruins of Nuraghe Usanis , a order there is a beautiful Next to the church stands a worshippers inserted votive complex structure made up of double-arched window. nuraghe and at a brief bronze swords. From the two towers linked by a bastion. The interior presents a high distance there are the remains vestibule, a small four-step At a brief distance stands single nave covered with of two giants’ tombs. staircase leads to a small ogive Nuraghe S’Iscobalzu , a wooden beams. In the north The religious building was

Su Tempiesu Nuraghe S. Sabina

Sacred well of Su Tempiesu Nuraghe Usanis Church of S. Nicola Sanctuary of S. Sabina vaulted room formed by single-towered structure. The arm there is a 14 th -century erected in the Late Antiquity perfectly-shaped trachytic locality of Sa Contra ’e Seris is polyptych known as “Pala di or Byzantine age on the ashlars. Water flows out and really important since it is Ottana”. remains of a Bronze-age pours into an external smaller characterized by some granitic village or a sacred area, and it well provided with an offering Su Tempiesu caves, where archaeologists 41. • Domus de Nuraghe S. Sabina was modified in Romanesque counter. During the found a wide village dated to janas S’Abba Bogada forms in the 11 th century by excavations of the smaller souls of the dead). The most the Bronze age but inhabited Located at the foot of Monte 42. • Giants’ tomb some Iberian workforces. well, archaeologists found significant evidence of the up to the Middle Ages. All the Orohole, the village of of S’Altare de Logula The lower section of the several votive now Roman presence in the sites are accessible and are Ovodda rose up in an area This dolmen-type tomb, church was built with the use kept at the National territory is in the locality of linked by a cycle path that that was populated from the dated back to the Late Bronze of basalt blocks taken from Archaeological Museum of Pedra Litterada, where starts from the centre of Neolithic to the Roman ages. age, was part of a burial the nearby nuraghe, a fact that Nuoro. archaeologists found a stone Osidda. Among the Middle Neolithic complex that included four influenced the peculiar plan of with another epigraph sites, one of the best megalithic tombs inside a the structure. A central 38. Ortueri • Roman area dedicated to “Dei Mani”; its 40. Ottana • Church preserved includes the wide area that keeps lots of rotunda, covered with a dome of Pedra Litterada style seems to indicate a time of San Nicola domus de janas of S’Abba evidence of the Nuragic and with an apse at the rear, is Immersed in an unspoiled around 280 A.D. All around Built in Pisan Romanesque Bogada, in a natural civilisation. South-East sided by two rectangular

44 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 45 rooms with ridge roofs and 45. • Tower of 46. • of 47. Teti • Nuragic villages of the most important in the dead. The tomb was apses. At the interior, the Santa Lucia Biru ’e Concas - Church of of Abini and S’Urbale Sardinia for the production of reused in Roman times, as rotunda leads to the side This tower was erected by the San Mauro In the territory of Teti there orbace , a Sardinian rough attested by the finding of barrel-vaulted rooms through Barons of Posada on the The site of Biru ’e Concas are two of the most important woollen cloth. Along the Tino some Imperial Roman pottery. two rounded arches. coastal bastion of the village contains one of the Sardinian Bronze-age urban stream, dozens of fulling mills of Santa Lucia in the 17 th Mediterranean most centres, where archaeologists where cloths were fulled 50. Torpè • Nuraghe San 44. Sindia • Church of B.V. century to protect the harbour extraordinary groups of brought to light essential represented the main Pietro - Usinavà Oasis of Corte and the tuna trap from the menhirs, about 200, dating study materials. In the village economical resource of the Nuraghe San Pietro is one of In 1149, Gonario de Lacon- pirates’ raids. Built with the back to the Copper Age. The of Abini they found an village. Zedda’s mill, built at the biggest nuraghi in the Gunale, the ruler of Torres use of bricks and schist monoliths are set out either in inestimable treasure of votive the end of the 19 th century, Baronia region, built with the kingdom, financed the ashlars, it presents a conical isolated position, in pairs, bronze statuettes dated back closed down in the Sixties of use of massive shaped construction of a big shape with a dome vault; it is triads, rows and circles. Most to the 9 th -8 th century B.C. The last century, and it is unique in trachytic blocks, in a fertile Cistercian abbey in the plane of the menhirs are proto- so-called “Recinto delle the island. It is a simple stone area along the river Posada of Cabu Abbas. This was anthropomorphic; the Riunioni” (meeting fence) is a building, covered with a and Lake Cuccuru Ozzastros the first and the most antropomorphic ones are very very remarkable structure; it wooden roof; it keeps its big banks. It has a quadrilobed important church built by finely shaped and some has a counter-bench and plan, with a central tower the Cistercians in Sardinia. others, called statue-menhirs, contains the ruins of a sacred surrounded by a bastion and But at the beginning of the have a sculpted face forming a well. The village of S’Urbale , linked to three minor towers 15 th century the monastery T pattern or a double dagger dated back to the Middle by corridors. Probably it was Bronze, has some rare building

Tower of S. Lucia

Zedda’s fulling mill

fulling hammer that was activated by the force of the stream.

Church of B.V. of Corte Church of S. Mauro Abini: bronze statuettes 49. • Domus de Nuraghe S. Pietro Janas Is Forreddos was already falling in ruin and engraving. The site was peculiarities: its 50 circular This small complex of tombs abandoned during the Late it was slowly dismantled to undoubtedly linked to some huts have still traces of their is dated back to the 3 rd Bronze because of a build some other churches similar sacred areas, as those cork and clay lining used as millennium B.C. and to the devastating fire. It was and houses in the village of in the nearby territory of insulating materials; they had Culture of Ozieri. It includes restored at the end of the 1 st Sindia. The abbey complex Laconi. From Sorgono going to stone foundations and they three communicating burial century A.D., when one of its included a big church with a the village of Ortueri you can are floored with stone slabs; at rooms and presents two minor towers was reused as a crux commissa three-nave Menhirs of Biru ’e Concas visit the country sanctuary of the centre of every hut there is entrances; the main door is granary. The area around the plan. The remains of the San Mauro . Built on the ruins a circular fireplace and preceded by a brief corridor lake is perfect for horse-riding church – the apse and the 13 m high and is still in good of a Benedictine monastery in pantries that are made with into which they carved a 50- and bike excursions. The lake right arm of the transept – conditions. It takes its name the 16 th century, it is a good dug-into-the-ground slabs. cm-diameter and is dominated by the mountain are among the rare evidence from the nearby church of example of the combination 4.5-cm-deep hollow, where Punta Tepilòra, which includes of the Burgundian medieval origin but that was of the vernacular style with 48. Tiana • Zedda’s archaeologists found a splinter the Forest Reserve of Sos Romanesque architecture completely rebuilt in the 19 th some Gothic-Aragonese fulling mill of obsidian and that was Littos-Sas Tumbas e and the in Europe. century. elements. The village of Tiana was one probably used to lay offers for Forest of Usinavà . •

46 Sardegna Virtual Archaeology Sardegna Virtual Archaeology 47 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 of Sant’Eulalia | Cagliari The harbour and the coastal towers of | 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 | Dorgali

MEDIO CAMPIDANO TERRITORY SASSARESE Nuragic village TERRITORY of | Barumini Necropolis of Castle of Monreale | Sant’Andrea Priu | Bonorva Church and monastery of San Nicola di Trullas | Semestene ORISTANESE TERRITORY Archaeological area GALLURA of | 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