Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PREHISTORIC WONDERS
To the untrained eye, the strange stone circles that litter Sardinia's interior are mysterious and incom-
prehensible. But to archaeologists they provide one of the few windows into the dark world of the
Bronze Age
nuraghe
people. There are said to be up to 7000
nuraghi
(stone towers) across the island,
most built between 1800 and 500 BC. No one is absolutely certain what they were used for, although
most experts think they were defensive watchtowers.
Even before they started building
nuraghi,
the Sardinians were busy digging tombs into the rock,
known as
domus de janas
(fairy houses). More elaborate were the common graves fronted by stele
called
tombe dei giganti
(giants' tombs).
Evidence of pagan religious practices is provided by
pozzi sacri
(well temples). Built from around
1000 BC, these were often constructed to capture light at the yearly equinoxes, hinting at a naturalistic
religion as well as sophisticated building techniques. The well temple at Santa Cristina is a prime ex-
ample.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Sinis Peninsula
West of Oristano, the Sinis Peninsula feels like a world apart with its glassy lagoons, low-
lying countryside and snow-white beaches. The main sight is the ancient town of Tharros.
