Wandering round the villages, a lot of things to visit in the old sardinian town centres

Visiting some of the 377 Sardinian towns and villages, you are going to be very surprised discovering a lot of interesting monumental and architectural beauties. In Castelsardo's town center (Anglona) are worthy to be visited: the municipal administration seat (which was anciently the customs house and storage) and the Nicolò Doria's palace, which is nowadays a private habitation. It is about one of the most imposing building of the town with its a particular sundial in its façade facing the "piazzetta del Popolo". The bell was built between the XIII and the XIV century a.C as a lighthouse, representing a point of reference for ships: it is made of trachyte and was covered in polychromatic majolica in the XVII century a.C.

"Barbagie", as for "many Barbagias"

The old town centre of Meana Sardo, like many other centres of Barbagia, has been able to conserve almost intact its fashination, where old buildings and houses are still evidence of the ancient life's style and of the XIX century furnishings. Some habitations were even built during the Aragonese rule's period, which traces are deeply clear in many churches as well.

Barigadu

In the centre of Fordongianus is set a beautiful exemple of Aragonese architecture, spread throughout the area after the Gold period of the so called "Giudicato di Arborea" government. It is a noble building built at the end of the XVI century and made of red trachyte, of which this area is rich in. Decorative elements are an interesting exemple of gothic-aragonese art. It has been a private habitation till the 1978 when the owener Sanna family who was living in it decided to give the property to the local administration of Ghilarza, which renoveted it carefully.

 

Walking in the old town centre of Orosei (Baronìe) the most interesting building to visit are the Pisan tower, the medieval prisons and some houses which were properties of wealthy families of the XIX century

The old town centre of Posada is still full of ancient houses built centuries ago. The village is set on a rocky promontory and become livelier in occasion of local feast and festivals, as for exemple the "Madonna del Soccorso" one.

Gallura

Mostly centres of Gallura, above all Tempio Pausania, are characterized by a large use of granite for building all urban fittings: private properties, pavings and public buildings as well, according to the wealth of this kind of rock in this region.

The "Corso Umberto I" is to be considered the "drawing room" of Olbia: it leads to the XIXth century side of the village, where are set many prestigious palaces.

The "palazzo municipale" (town hall) overlooks the XIXth century "Piazza Gallura" (Gallura square), the heart of Tempio Pausania.

Gerrei

In Armungia the most interesting architectural local exemples are the old houses built in schist rocks.

Logudoro-Meilogu

In Ozieri is worthy to be visited the so called spring of Grixoni, built in the 1882 according to the will of a local noble who wanted to let it to the townsman.

Mandrolisai

In the old town centre of Atzara, like in many other centres of the Mandrolisai area, old buildings and houses still suggest the ancient life's style of the XIX century . Some were even built during the Aragonese rule's period, which traces are deeply clear in many churches as well

Marghine-Planargia

The old Bosa town centre is rich in old houses, as for exemple "Casa Delitala-Scarpa". It is a property built in the XVII century and recently renoveted which overlooks a XIXth century old spring. Very interesting is also "Casa Deriu", turned into a museum.

Marmilla

Ales boasts a square dedicated to its more illustrious son: the writer and thinker Antonio Gramsci. The square was realized in 1977 in occasion of its fortieth death's anniversary by the architect Pomodoro and some localstone-cutters exploiting different kind of stone: basalt,limestone and white stone of Trani. A large number of symbols stand for time and space and for the local agropastoral culture as well.

In Barumini agricultural centre is to admire the Zapata family's palace. In the first part of the XVI century, the feudatory Pietro di Rocalberti (according to the spanish king Carlos V) sold the barony which comprised the villas of Barumini, Las Plassas and Villanovafranca. In the building stand out many particular decorations of the windows. Close to the palace is set the nuragic complex named "Barumini" archeological area Su Nuraxi ‘e Cresia ("the nuraghe nearby the Church"), so named becouse  the "Beata Vergine Immacolata"'s church is set nearby: the "nuraghe" was brought to light during some excavations. Other buildings to go visited are San Francesco's church and  the Capuchin's friary, which building were financed by the Zapata's family.

In Siddi you should visit the so called "Casa Steri" , set in the heart of the village. It is a tipycal Campidanese house with separeted places: interior house rooms, work area rooms (for working on agropastoral products or to give shelter to the cattle) and “lolle” (open space verandas). In the property is set the Museum of the sardinian agro traditions

The recently renoveted old town centre of Baradili is full of very interesting old buildings. Among those are you are going to admire Casa Lavra and Casa Usai.

The old town centre of Villanovafranca is mostly composed by stone houses with wood doorway.

Montiferru

Following the lately important restoration works conducted on the urban area, the Santu Lussurgiu's old town centre enjoyies of many still good conserved old houses which represents an important memory of the last XIX century and the beginning of the XX one. Many handicraftsman laboratory are still working and some old buildings have been just turned into turistic accomodation facilities helping so in the preservation of historical memories.

Nuoro

The central square of Nuoro was named after the writer Sebastiano Satta and is embellished with some scultures realized by the sardinian sculptor Costantino Nivola. Thanks to many white palaces facing the square it results very bright.

Ogliastra

According to the will of Maria Lai, one of the most famous sardinian artist, the old wash tubs of Ulassai has been turned into a sort of monument for women that meet there to wash their clothes and to chat as in ancient times.

The old town centre of Talana still conserved many houses in local granitic stones.

Sarcidano

In Laconi the most interesting property to go visit is the neoclassic palace of the noble Aymerich's family built in 1846. The Aymerich owned mostly Laconi's land properties.

Sulcis-Iglesiente

Villacidro (Sulcis-Iglesiente) is quite famous becouse it's the hometown of the writer Giuseppe Dessì, (“Paese d’ombre” Premio Strega in 1972). Also here are to be visited the public wash tub, where woman met just until half-a-score years ago to wash and above all to talk about daily topics.

In the neighbourhood of Sarroch is set the beautiful "Villa d’Orri". It was built in the XVI century and is very luxuriously furnished. It is still owened by the noble marquis Villahermosa'family and in ancient time gave hospitality to many prestigious names, as for exemple the Savoia king. 

Trexenta

Casa Ruda is a very interesting exemple of ancient noble habitation which is nowadays used as meeting place for events. It is still very good conserved and lyies in Suelli.

The medieval spring of Acquabona park in Mandas is one of the main refreshment-room dipped in the green and set in the centre of the village. Worthly to be visited are also the San Francesco's friary, built in 1610 according to the will of the Duke of Mandas and Sanjust,Santa Cruz and Gessa noble families's villas.