The sanctuary of San Mauro in Sorgono: the centre of the Cult in Mandrolisai

The sanctuary of San Mauro (Sorgono) was constructed by the Benedictines monks around 1120, on the ruins of a pre-existing church (of which has been recently put in prominence a part, in a external side of the building) on the top of an hill that dominates the surrounding territory. At the end of the 1400's they started new works of widening, that lasted until to the end of the 1500's: so is explained the styles mix, that goes from the late Gothic to the Renaissance, without ignoring the baroque. Very important is the rose window (two meters of radius). Nearby the little church you may look at the “muristènes”, that in the past accommodated groups of pilgrims, while nowadays it is a basic point for turists and pilgrims who visit the sanctuary (not only on occasion of the festival dedicated to the Saint – look at Festivals). In 1695, in accordance with some rumours still to ascertain, the “muristènes” (small rooms that in origin were occupied from the friars) were converted in Lazar houses in order to accommodate the infected with the plague of the zone. There is, instead, who assumes that the magnificence of the complex surrounding the church of San Mauro is to attribute to a kind of pledge paid by the inhabitants of the zone, for a serious lack towards the Church. In the back of the sanctuary there are some “lolle”, that hosted the street traders on occasion of some festivals.

The church of Sant’Antioco, in Atzara, dates back to the XV century and has been constructed in Gothic-Aragonese style. In the middle stands out a rose window in trachyte . The parochial guards two baroque wooden altars and a statue of the Madonna going back to the XVI century.