Thousand of Domus de Janas all around the Island
The Domus de Janas (House of the Fairies) can be visited in different places all around Sardinia, as hundreds sites have been discovered nearly everywhere, even inside the most habited cities as Cagliari. It is impossible to talk about all of them, however we will indicate the known.
Arborea
Serra Araus (in the territory of San Vero Milis) and Sa Rocca Tunda are the localities in which there is an huge number of Domus de Janas.
Barbagie
In the countryside of Lodane you will find the Domus de Janas of Iscrìtzola.
Barigadu
In Nughedu Santa Vittoria, there is the site of Arzolas de Goi, where are located about ten Domus de Janas with multi-cellular rooms containing bull images depicted in the walls. On the floor, you will be able to see the “coppelle”, small holes for the offerings to the divinities.
In Sorridile countryside (next to Santa Maria rustic church) there are about thirty Domus de Janas, even if only dozen of them are part of the Communal territory. These Domus de Janas go back to the IV millennium B.C.; the access to one of them is only through the top entrance.
The Cottejana site, in the historic centre of Buschi, presents more than twenty Domus de Janas: one of which is known with the name of Grugos and is characterised by a bull reproduction carved next to the entrance, showing longer horns than the normal and a great precision in the shape style.
In the territory of Sedilo, in Iloi locality, you will find some Domus de Janas next to the Serra Linta nuragic village.
In the Neoneli countryside are situated numerous Domus de Janas: Pranu Sasa, Puleu and Su Angiu are the best preserved.
Baronìe
In the countryside of Irgoli you will find one of the most famous Domus de Janas, known with the name of “Sa conca ‘e mortu” (the head of the death) because of its shape similar to a human skull. This site dug into the granite is one of the most visited and suggestive in Baronie
In the territory of Lula , it is worth visiting the Domu de Janas of “ Sa Conchetta ‘e Su priteru” , which is dug into the calcareous rock.
Numerous Domus de Janas are also located in the territory of Posada: the biggest one is in the locality of Gasile Orgolesu, but those in Caradiana and Rujas are also interesting.
Gallura
Pèrfugas is a locality rich in archaeological sites. In the locality of Concas there is the Ariete Domus de Janas, with a three rooms irregular floor plan. The name came from a low relief representing a stylized head of a ram. This is a rare case, as the bull head is normally depicted.
Logudoro-Meilogu
Next to Bonorva you better stop to the hypogean site of Sant’Andrea Priu (one of the most important in Sardinia, going back to the period between the III and the II millennium B.C.), made with cells of different dimensions and characteristics, some of them are finely decorated (even with graffiti). The Chief Tomb (Tomba del Capo) consists of 18 rooms. This site was also used in the early Christian age.
In Mores, on the slopes of the Mount Lachesos, you will find the Domus de Janas Sas Fadas.
On the southern side of the Monte Santo (Siligo), it is possible to admire the Domus de Janas of Crastu de sa Femmina and of Sassu Sant’Eliseo, which were also used again in the early Christian age probably as shelter for the local shepherds.
In the territory of Chiesi, it is worth visiting the Domus de Janas of Mandra Antine: one of this tomb shows in the vault and in the wall bright colours decoration with the symbols of the divinities adored in the Neolithic period.
Mandrolisai
In the territory of Sorgono there are also numerous Domus de Janas, but some of them can not be easily visited because are located in private properties, such as the one with three rooms, showed in the photo.
Marghine-Planargia
Not far from Macomer, in the area of the Ruju nuragh, there are the Domus de Janas of Filigosa , where numerous archaeological findings were discovered. The shelf in which the death bodies were laid down can be admired from the main room, where there is the access to six smaller cells.
Marmilla
The Domus de Janas of Budragas (Asuni) can be divided in two groups: one comprises the largest Domus with numerous rooms communicating also with a central room; the other instead consists of Domus de Janas with a single cell. This kind of interment was used from the IV the millennium until the beginning of the II millennium B.C. In the proximity of Budragas, an archaeological site well preserved, it is possible to admire a sacred rock in the shape of a phallus, symbol of the male fertility.
Monte Acuto-Goceano
In the territory of Benetutti it is possible to visit the Domus de Janas of Molimentos and of Luzzanas (where you can admire a graffito).
At 10 kilometres from Nughedu San Nicolò you will find the Domus de Janas of Sos Furrighesos (III millennium B.C.). There are about fifteen graves dug into the cliff with graffiti and paintings on the walls. The characteristic drawings of the bull head are present also here.
Montiferru
Numerous Domus de Janas going back to the third millennium B.C are scattered In the territory of Cuglieri, especially in the localities of Pittudi, Serruggiu and Fanne Massa. Funerary equipments and several objects have been found at their interior and are displayed at the Antiquarium of Cuglieri.
Nuorese
Near to Nùoro, the Domus de Janas of Birghines can be easily reached.
In Orùne countryside you will find the Domus de Janas of Fenosu.
Nurra
On the road connecting Alghero to Uri, it is possible to visit the Domus de Janas of Santu Pedru, among the biggest in Sardegna.
Ogliastra
Numerous Domus de Janas still in good conditions can be visited in the territory of Villagrande Strisàili, such as Su Strumpu, Coile Bruxiau, S’Orciada and Corte ‘e Marceddu.
In the territory of Gairo, you will find the famous Domus de Janas of Scalarrana, going back to the III millennio B.C.
At few kilometres from Loceri, it is possible to visit the Domus de Janas of Sa Mardona.
If you pass by Ussassai, we suggest you to visit the Domus de Janas of Aurraci and Perdobia.
Sarcidano
In Escalaplano, we find the seven Domus de Janas of San Giovanni and of Fossada (dug in different levels).
In Isili, at Is Tanas de Mrexanis, it is possible to visit two Domus de Janas dug into a calcareous wall. You can find more of them in the localities of Concali de tzoppus.
Sarrabus
In the proximity of Sinnai there is a Domus de Janas in the locality of Santu Basili.
Interesting archaeological sites are also present in the territory of Castiadas, famous for the agrarian reclamation works of the last century. Here you will be able to see a Megalithic structure with numerous Menhirs, going back to 5000 B.C., but also Domus de Janas and Tomb of the Giants.
In the village of San Priamo, in San Vito territory, it is possible to admire Domus de Janas too. Three Domus instead are located in Pranu Narbonis area.
The famous archaeological site of Goni has developed around a group of Domus de Janas. In the successive ages, the local populations abandoned this typology of inhumation passing to circular tombs. Here, in the middle of stone circles there is also a superficial Domus de Janas. This is basically a tomb presenting an intermediate solution between the two typologies, very interesting.
Sassarese-Romangia
Not far from the prehistoric sanctuary of Monte d’Accoddi, in the territory between Porto Torres and Sassari, we find the Domus de Janas denominated Su Crocifissu Mannu: about twenty intercommunicating cells dug into the limestone.
In the countryside between Ossi and Muros, it is worth visiting the hypogean site of Noeddale, where you will find about ten Domus de Janas, dug into the calcareous rock around the III millennium B.C. and embellished with precious decorations.
Sulcis-Iglesiente
In Santadi, you could visit the archaeological area of Pani Loriga, where we find the Domus de Janas. It is well worth reaching the town to take a look at the archaeological museum and at “Sa Domu Antiga” (“the antique house”) ethnographic museum.
Numerous Domus de Janas are also located in the territory of Villaperuccio.
