Santuario di Nostra Signora di Bonacattu, Byzantine sanctuary in Bonarcado, Italy
Santuario di Nostra Signora di Bonacattu is a Romanesque structure built with a cross-shaped plan where four arms extend in different lengths. The eastern and western arms frame the interior space, while the southern arm houses the presbytery behind a wrought iron gate and a dome caps the central crossing.
The sanctuary was built during the Byzantine period in the 6th to 7th century, constructed over a late Roman settlement that itself sat on a Nuragic worship site. The Romanesque western facade was added later, constructed between 1242 and 1268, marking a significant architectural transformation of the building.
The name Bonacattu derives from Sardinian and refers to the devotion to the Virgin Mary that draws pilgrims to this place. The western facade displays carefully layered basalt and trachyte blocks that give the sanctuary a solid and reverent character.
The interior is organized by four vaulted arms of different lengths that help visitors navigate the distinct areas of the sanctuary. The presbytery in the southern arm is clearly marked by a wrought iron gate, creating a clear separation between the worship space and the main gathering area.
The eastern arm preserves a basin from the original Roman settlement, likely part of thermal baths that served the earlier community. This artifact connects visitors to the deeper layers of the site's past and demonstrates how sacred places often endure across different civilizations.
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