Basilica di Saccargia, Romanesque basilica in Codrongianos, Italy.
Basilica di Saccargia is a 12th-century church near Codrongianos, in northern Sardinia. The building is made of alternating layers of black basalt and white limestone, with a slender bell tower and three apses in the transept.
The building was erected in 1116 on the orders of Constantine I of Torres, who handed over the surrounding land to the Camaldolese order. The church was built over an older monastery and became a religious center in the region.
The church facade shows narrow horizontal stripes of dark and pale stone, a technique brought to Sardinia by Pisan craftsmen. Inside, you can see Byzantine frescoes in the main apse, while the capitals on columns and arches show animals and vines.
The church sits right beside highway SS 131 between Sassari and Olbia and is easy to reach by car. Entry costs three euros and the building is open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM.
The name Saccargia comes from the Sardinian expression vaca arza, meaning white cow, because a local story tells of a cow that came regularly to the monks. The legend also explains why animals often grazed in the churchyard and why the building was placed in this remote spot.
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