There are over 7000 nuraghi in Sardegna. Once you see one, you will start noticing them everywhere. These truncated cones were built thousands of years ago (1800-500 B.C.) and there is little known about their builders.Nuraghi are stone towers built with huge stones and no mortar. Some are simple structures with only one tower, others are more complex structures that feature side towers and connecting ramparts. These structures were used to live in and also to provide defence. There hasn’t been any traces of a written language among the nuraghi, but bronze figures have been found. You can find these bronze figures in many of the archaeological museums located around Sardegna.
The simplest form of the nuraghe is a single tower. Inside are circular tiers of stone and can be more than one storey. The more complex structures will have the main tower but it will have side towers and ramparts. Some of the more complex structures can be amazingly huge.
Tiscali is one example of a large settlement. In the late 1800s, some woodcutters stumbed across a settlement in a deep chasm in Monte Tiscali. The site is partially deteriorated, but it is one of the most unique nuraghi you will find because it is deep inside a mountain. You also have quite a walk to get there. It is located on the eastern coast of Sardinia, but deep in the mountains. Once you go as far as you can by car, you still have about an hour of walking to do before you get to it. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to go here, but it seems to be one of the best nuraghi to see.
My husband and I didn’t have time to make a trek to some of the larger, more popular sites (which can cost money to enter), so we decided to pursue a site that was smaller and less popular. We actually just happened upon the nuraghe that we explored. We were driving near the city of Macomer in the western central part of the island when we saw a sign for one off to the side of the road (these are the usual brown tourist signs) for nuraghe Santa Barbara. There was a small parking area and a trail that led you up a path past fields of goats, horses and cows. It took about 15-20 minutes to walk up to it. It was mostly intact with only minor deterioration. (I can’t say definitely that this is true because I read that when the nuraghe is very large, it usually means that it was part of a larger structure and that there were probably smaller towers around it.) There were three rooms inside–two smaller ones and then the large room, which was very tall. There was also a staircase that brought you up to the upper levels. We were too scared to go up to the second level without a flashlight or something to light the way. We didn’t know if the floor was deteriorated and felt safer to just forgo the curiosity. Recommendation: Bring a small flashlight if you want to explore!
“The name of these typical Sardinian Nuraghi derives from the word ‘nurra’, which means ‘heap’ or ‘mound’, but also ‘cavity’. It is perhaps for this double meaning that the word has been applied to the original shape of the Nuraghi, built by laying big stones one on top of the other to create a ‘hollow’ which is then covered by a stone dome to form a room.”–Taken from Charm in Sardinia, where you will find loads of pictures and information about nuraghi.
Opportunities abound to see a nuraghe structure. This is an important part of history in Sardegna. Make time to stop and see one – you will be glad you did. Remember that some of these structures are way off the beaten path, and plan enough time to see them sufficiently. Make sure you read some information about these structures before you go see them so you understand what you are seeing. I find it so amazing that these huge rocks were stacked up without mortar and so many of them are still standing after thousands of years.
Any good guidebook should have information about nuraghe structures. You can also ask at tourist offices or even at your hotel for recommendations.
