Villanovaforru, in Genna 'e Maria a trilobed nuragh

The nuraghic complex of Genna ‘e Maria (the name derives from the Latin Janua Maris: Porta del Mare, that means outlet way towards the Gulf of Cagliari and Oristano) is one of the main reasons of interest in the relief near Villanovaforru, prolific center of ideas and one of the greatest magnet of Marmilla. Not far from the town it is possible to visit this trilobed nuragh, i.e. with three perimetric towers connected by walls: perhaps a fourth tower was planned but probably it was never raised. All around are visible the various typologies of ruins of the huts of a village and the forges where were melted the metals collected in the near mining sites: there lived not more than 80 people at the same time.
Scholars have identified the various rooms typologies: bed rooms, ceremonies halls and rooms for consuming common meals, where foodstuffs were deposited and worked, starting from the corns. However the digging works, begun in 1969, have not been completely finished yet and it is not excluded that new findings will be add to those discovered up to now.

The first part of the nuragh was constructed between the XVI and the XIV century B.C., but the structure was completed only between the XIII and the IX century B.C. The site was inexplicably abandoned around the VIII century B.C. (maybe owing to a fire which has not left any trace?) and used again about thousand years later as pagan cult place, such as  numerous findings (Punic and Roman) discovered during the diggings begun in 1969 and preserved in the archaeological Museum “Genna Maria”, in Villanovaforru testify. The sanctuary was progressively abandoned starting from the VI century A.D., when the Pope Gregorio Magno promoted the evangelization work of Sardinia.
A few kilometres far from Villanovafranca, we suggest visiting the nuraghic complex of Su Mulinu. It is a fortress constructed around the XV century B.C. with the use of limestone masses and sandstones, characterized by a trilobed bastion and a defence wall provided with towers. Great scientific and historical interest has the recovery of an altar in tuff, dated back to the period between the IX and the VIII century B.C.: it is placed inside the nuragh and it seems it has been used also by Punics and Romans. Ideally, this site closes the most important triangle from the historical and archaeological point of view, together with the complexes of Barumini and Villanovaforru.

The nuragh Bruncu ‘e Madili, in the Giara di Gesturi, has one peculiarity: it is maybe the most ancient uncovered up to now in Sardinia (the Carbon 14 survey dates it back to the 1800 B.C).

In the territory of Mogoro, at the entrance of the town (in the shelter of the Cantina Sociale, from which it takes the name) you will find the trilobed nuragh Cuccurada.

On the hill of San Giovanni (territory of Asuni), not far from the rests of the homonym nuragh, the archaeological diggings have brought back to light what remains of a punic fortress, constructed on a pre-existing nuraghic village. It is believed that the fortress had the function to control one of the lines of communication with Barbagia, along the Noedda river valley, in order to prevent the raids of the barbaricine populations.

In the territory of Villa Sant’Antonio there is a group of domus de janas dug in the tuff: placed on the hill of Cuccuru Tundu, in the local dialect they are called “forrus” (furnaces).

In the territory of Assolo we suggest visiting the nuragh of Santa Lucia, the most important of the zone.

In the territory of Siddi, in the municipal Park Sa Fogaia, it is possible to admire a beautiful example of corridor nuragh.