Count Ugolino ordered the construction of the walls in Iglesias

The Count Ugolino Donoratico della Girardesca (he governed the at the time Villa di Chiesa and he is mentioned in the Hell of the Divine Comedy by Dante) ordered the construction of the walls the town. Wide portions of the walls of Iglesias, partially modified by the Aragoneses; are still visible: The castle of Salvaterra, which overhang the walls, is part complex defence system thought by the Spanish (together with with the citadels of Gioia Guardia and Acquafredda) who built many sighting towers along the coast of the together, constituted the.

The walls of the town of Iglesias were connected to twenty rectangular plant towers, provided with embrasures to drive back the possible assaults. The entrances of the town were four: Porta Castello, Porta Sant' Antonio, Porta Maestra and Porta di Monte Barlao. The castle was connected toVilla di Chiesa by a net of underground passages. Iglesias is one of the seven royal cities of Sardinia, together with Cagliari, Sassari, Oristano, Bosa, Alghero and Castelsardo.