In Montiferru many churches constructed in the XIII century
The medieval village of Zuri (territory of Ghilarza) was abandoned in the first half of the last century, when the Omodeo dum was realized . The population had to move in a zone more upstream and, in order to save the beautiful church of San Pietro, it was decided to dismantle it and to rebuilt it piece after piece. The parochial, as it explains the epigraph placed inside of it, dates back to 1291, i.e. it was constructed during the Giudicale age exploiting the red trachyte extracted from the mines of Bidonì. To the impulse of Mariano II d’Arborea is owed one of the most beautiful examples of Romanesque church of the region, even if some structural yieldings forced to subsequent participations: so is explained the Gothic-Catalan style of some parts, among which the apse.
In the first years of the XIII century, between 1200 and 1225, was constructed in Ghilarza the church dedicated to San Palmerio martyr: the choice of using two colors stones is typical of the Giudicati Age. Inside the church, that rises near the Aragonese Tower, is guarded the grave of the Saint. In Ghilarza it is also possible to visit the church of San Serafino, that dates back to the beginning of the XIV century.
The beautiful basilica of Santa Maria della Neve, in Cuglieri, is worth a visit. The medieval architectonic print make it to resemble, mostly in the prospect of the facade, more to a castle than to a church. The original building was constructed around the XV century but, because of a structural yielding, it was completely reconstructed in 1600's. Subsequently works have made to advance the facade until the entrance colonnade. Only in 1779 the basilica took the name of Santa Maria della Neve: previously it was dedicated to Nostra Signora delle Rose (look at Festivals).
Among the churches of Santu Lussurgiu is worth a visit the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, constructed in the XV century under instruction of San Bernardino from Feltre. Of artistic interest some paintings of the 1600's and a wooden sculpture of the 1500's.
In the medieval village of San Leonardo, few kilometers away from Santu Lussurgiu, there is the homonym Romanesque-Gothic church of the XII century. One of the original portals is walled up, and a part of the structure (initially constructed in Romanesque-Pisan style) has been remade in successive ages, exploiting the dark trachyt in which the territory is rich. Beside the entrance is exposed the cross of the Knights of San Giovanni di Gerusalemme, order to which belonged the church of San Leonardo. Beside the church rose a hospital, entirely destroyed, and famous for having accommodated Guelfo della Gherardesca, the count Ugolino' son (died in 1295). The village was evacuated because of a serious epidemic of plague: the population moved some kilometers more downhill, founding the village that became the current town of Santu Lussurgiu.
In Norbello there is a small but meaningful example of Romanesque style of the XII century, the small country church dedicated to Santa Maria della Mercede. It was constructed in an area reserved to the interments, both in the Roman, Medieval and Byzantine Age.
