Nuraghe Santa Sabina, Bronze Age archaeological site in Silanus, Italy.
Nuraghe Santa Sabina is the central tower of a Nuragic complex beside the Byzantine church of Santa Sarbana in Silanus. Its base measures 12.60 m across and it still rises 8.60 m, though the upper parts are lost. A south-facing entrance leads into a corridor with a rectangular niche on the right and a still-walkable staircase on the left; the corridor opens into a circular chamber 4.15 m wide with three cross-shaped niches and an ogival vault 8.35 m high.
The nuraghe dates from between the second half of the 14th and the 10th century BC, spanning the Recent Bronze Age and the beginning of the Final Bronze Age. It stood at the centre of a monumental complex that also included a large village, two giants' tombs and the sacred well of Cherchizzu.
The site takes its name from the nearby Byzantine church of Santa Sabina, which stands beside the nuraghe. The complex also includes the sacred well of Cherchizzu, a Nuragic place of worship, and two tombs of giants, collective megalithic burials. The village that once surrounded the tower is now hard to trace on the ground.
The site is open year-round and visitors can explore the ruins from various angles and viewpoints across the grounds. Wear sturdy shoes since the terrain is uneven and parts of the site are overgrown with vegetation.
A medieval church was built at this location and its builders reused stones from the ancient nuraghe in their construction. This reuse of material creates a tangible link between two different periods of Sardinian history.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,377 contributors worldwide.