Massama - Oratorio delle Anime

Massama is a small, rural suburb, about 4km north of Oristano. Seen here are two church. The parish church "Santa Maria Assunta" (17th century) in the background - and next to it (in front) the "Oratorio delle Anime" a small, complex and very enigmatic church.

The oratorium is mentioned the first time within the 14th century, but was obviously erected within the 8th century or even earlier.

There are still a couple of pre-Romanesque "byzantine" church on the island, but though the "Oratorio delle Anime" was for sure erected during the byzantine reign (534-832), the style and architecture here differs. The layout of the oratorium is that of a ankh ("crux ansata"), known from Egypt. The facade is clearly Romanesque, but some scholars found Visigoth influences, so that builders from Spain may have worked here.

Unfortunately the Oratorio delle Anime was locked.