San Paolo, Medieval Catholic church in historic center of Olbia, Italy.
San Paolo is a medieval church with a rectangular hall and three side chapels located in Olbia's historic center. A granite bell tower topped with a polychrome dome crowns the structure and rises above the surrounding buildings.
The church occupies the site of a former Punic and Roman acropolis, where excavations uncovered remains of a temple structure from the 4th century BC. The medieval church was later built on this sacred location, layering different periods of worship in a single spot.
The interior contains wooden choir stalls and a pulpit made by Venetian craftsmen, showing the skilled workmanship and trade influence that shaped the church over time.
The church sits at the highest point of the historic center and is easily reached on foot from surrounding streets. It remains open during the day for visitors but maintains regular service hours, so checking when services occur helps plan a visit.
Beneath the church lie two crypts holding remains of eighteen different families from various historical periods. These underground chambers reveal how deep the spiritual history of this location runs.
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