Sardinia / Sardegna

The Roman colony of "Turris Libisonis" existed already in the first century, where now is the town of Porto Torres. This even was a bishopric seat from 489 until 1441, when the see was moved to nearby Sassari. Two older basilicas, dating to the 5th – 7th centuries, built over the tomb of Saint Gabinus, a local martyr, existed - and got replaced by this large building in the 11th century. The church was built by Pisan masters and got consecrated in 1080. The church has two apses, one on each shorter side of the rectangular plan. One apse is seen from here.

The Roman colony of "Turris Libisonis" existed already in the first century, where now is the town of Porto Torres. This even was a bishopric seat from 489 until 1441, when the see was moved to Sassari. Two older basilicas, dating to the 5th – 7th centuries, built over the tomb of Saint Gabinus, a local martyr, existed - and got replaced by this large building in the 11th century. The church was built by Pisan masters and got consecrated in 1080. The main portal is Gothic and was created in the 15th century. Some scholars see spanish influence. This is would be no surprise. The Aragonese had conquered the area in 1323 and stayed here for about 150 years. For the town this was a time of decline, most inhabitants moved inland to Sassari.

The Roman colony of "Turris Libisonis" existed already in the first century, where now is the town of Porto Torres. This even was a bishopric seat from 489 until 1441, when the see was moved to Sassari. Two older basilicas, dating to the 5th – 7th centuries, built over the tomb of Saint Gabinus, a local martyr, existed - and got replaced by this large building in the 11th century. The church was built by Pisan masters and got consecrated in 1080. The interior is pretty sober. The columns, that line the nave, were taken from ancient buildings. Below the nave is a (Renaissance style) crypt. where the relics of San Gavino and his martyred comrades are kept in Roman sarcophagi.

The Roman colony of "Turris Libisonis" existed already in the first century, where now is the town of Porto Torres. This even was a bishopric seat from 489 until 1441, when the see was moved to Sassari. Two older basilicas, dating to the 5th – 7th centuries, built over the tomb of Saint Gabinus, a local martyr, existed - and got replaced by this large building in the 11th century. The church was built by Pisan masters and got consecrated in 1080. With a lengths of 55 metres this is the largest Romanesque church on the island. The interior is sober. The columns, that line the nave, were taken from ancient buildings. Some of the capitals may be Roman, this one is Christian. The "Birds drinking from a chalice"- icon.

The Roman colony of "Turris Libisonis" existed already in the first century, where now is the town of Porto Torres. This even was a bishopric seat from 489 until 1441, when the see was moved to Sassari. Two older basilicas, dating to the 5th – 7th centuries, built over the tomb of Saint Gabinus, a local martyr, existed - and got replaced by this large building in the 11th century. The church was built by Pisan masters and got consecrated in 1080. With a lengths of 55 metres this is the largest Romanesque church on the island. The church has two apses, one on each shorter side of the rectangular plan. This is the western apse.

The Roman colony of "Turris Libisonis" existed already in the first century, where now is the town of Porto Torres. This even was a bishopric seat from 489 until 1441, when the see was moved to Sassari. Two older basilicas, dating to the 5th – 7th centuries, built over the tomb of Saint Gabinus, a local martyr, existed - and got replaced by this large building in the 11th century. The church was built by Pisan masters and got consecrated in 1080. With a lengths of 55 metres this is the largest Romanesque church on the island. The church has two apses, one on each shorter side of the rectangular plan. This is the western apse. There are some pillars with capitals near the apse, that may have been excavated here, there is no information about. Here in the shadow, left to the tower in the sun, lures a mermaid.

The Roman colony of "Turris Libisonis" existed already in the first century, where now is the town of Porto Torres. This even was a bishopric seat from 489 until 1441, when the see was moved to Sassari. Two older basilicas, dating to the 5th – 7th centuries, built over the tomb of Saint Gabinus, a local martyr, existed - and got replaced by this large building in the 11th century. The church was built by Pisan masters and got consecrated in 1080. With a lengths of 55 metres this is the largest Romanesque church on the island. The church has two apses, one in the east, one on the west. While the southern portal is in Gothic style, created within the 15th century, the northern portal is Romanesque. The white (marble) tympanum has a relief depicting two fighting knights on horses.

The Roman colony of "Turris Libisonis" existed already in the first century, where now is the town of Porto Torres. This even was a bishopric seat from 489 until 1441, when the see was moved to Sassari. Two older basilicas, dating to the 5th – 7th centuries, built over the tomb of Saint Gabinus, a local martyr, existed - and got replaced by this large building in the 11th century. The church was built by Pisan masters and got consecrated in 1080. With a lengths of 55 metres this is the largest Romanesque church on the island. The church has two apses, one in the east, one on the west.

The islands in the mediterranean sea still hold many unsolved prehistoric enigmas. Monte d'Accoddi near Sassari is one of them. The small hill was used as a base for an antiaircraft gun in WWII. At that time it came clear, that this was not just a hill in the meadow. Excavations done in the 1950s found the ruins of a ziggurat. A terraced step pyramid, known from Mesopotamia, but not from mediterranean islands. The oldest parts of the ziggurat are dated to around 4.000 BC. The structure had a base of 36m by 27m and probably reached a height of 5.5 m. A ramp, flanked by menhires, lead up to a kind of house (temple?) on the highest platform. It has been partially reconstructed during the 1980s.

The islands in the mediterranean sea still hold many unsolved prehistoric enigmas. Monte d'Accoddi near Sassari is one of them. The small hill was used as a base for an antiaircraft gun in WWII. At that time it came clear, that this was not just a hill in the meadow. Excavations done in the 1950s found the ruins of a ziggurat. A terraced step pyramid, known from Mesopotamia, but not from mediterranean islands. The oldest parts of the ziggurat are dated to around 4.000 BC. The structure had a base of 36m by 27m and probably reached a height of 5.5 m. A ramp, flanked by menhires, lead up to a kind of house (temple?) on the highest platform. It has been partially reconstructed during the 1980s.

The islands in the mediterranean sea still hold many unsolved prehistoric enigmas. Monte d'Accoddi near Sassari is one of them. The small hill was used as a base for an antiaircraft gun in WWII. At that time it came clear, that this was not just a hill in the meadow. Excavations done in the 1950s found the ruins of a ziggurat. A terraced step pyramid, known from Mesopotamia, but not from mediterranean islands. The oldest parts of the ziggurat are dated to around 4.000 BC. The structure had a base of 36m by 27m and probably reached a height of 5.5 m. A ramp, flanked by menhires, lead up to a kind of house (temple?) on the highest platform. It has been partially reconstructed during the 1980s.

Early morning just outside the village of Cargeghe. The small single nave church "Santa Maria di Contra", surrounded by olive groves and orchards, dates back to the 12th century, but later got a large porch.

Upto the end of the 18th century a large village existed here, named Salvenero. This village had four churches in medieval times, I could still find two of them. Today the area around belongs to different villages and is covered by industrial zones and a large intersection. A church existed in here 1138, when "beati Michaelis de Salvenero" was dependent on the Abbey of Vallombrosa (Tuscany). The Romanesque building of today was probably built within the 12th and 13th century. It got obviously altered and enlarged later. Unfortunately the church was locked but it is for sure a popular church for weddings, seeing all the confetti around the portal.

Upto the end of the 18th century a large village existed here, named Salvenero. This village had four churches in medieval times, I could still find two of them. Today the area around belongs to different villages and is covered by industrial zones and a large intersection. A church existed in here 1138, when "beati Michaelis de Salvenero" was dependent on the Abbey of Vallombrosa (Tuscany). The Romanesque building of today was probably built within the 12th and 13th century. It got obviously altered and enlarged later. Originally the church was erected on a "Tau Cross" floor plan - and has three apses.

Upto the end of the 18th century a large village existed here, named Salvenero. This village had four churches in medieval times, I could still find two of them. Today the area around belongs to different villages and is covered by industrial zones and a large intersection. A church existed in here 1138, when "beati Michaelis de Salvenero" was dependent on the Abbey of Vallombrosa (Tuscany). The Romanesque building of today was probably built within the 12th and 13th century. It got altered and enlarged later. The outer walls of the three apses are covered with names. Most of them were obviously carved in to the sandstone in the early 20th century. Maybe this was done, when the neighbouring roads got constructed.

Upto the end of the 18th century a large village existed here, named Salvenero. This village had four churches in medieval times, I could still find two of them. Today the area around belongs to different villages and is covered by industrial zones and a large intersection. I had found San Michele di Salvenero easily, as it is located next to the road, Sant'Antonio di Salvenero is only a stonethrow away, but somehow hidden. To reach it, I climbed over a fence and could even see from here the ruins of a third church on the other side of the valley. Not much is known about Sant'Antonio di Salvenero. The church was probably erected within the 13th century. The two buildings flanking the church date to the 17th century.

Upto the end of the 18th century a large village existed here, named Salvenero. This village had four churches in medieval times, I could still find two of them. Today the area around belongs to different villages and is covered by industrial zones and a large intersection. I had found San Michele di Salvenero easily, as it is located next to the road, Sant'Antonio di Salvenero is only a stonethrow away, but somehow hidden. To reach it, I climbed over a fence and could even see from here the ruins of a third church on the other side of the valley. Not much is known about Sant'Antonio di Salvenero. The church was probably erected within the 13th century. The two buildings flanking the church date to the 17th century.

Upto the end of the 18th century a large village existed here, named Salvenero. This village had four churches in medieval times, I could still find two of them. Today the area around belongs to different villages and is covered by industrial zones and a large intersection. I had found San Michele di Salvenero easily, as it is located next to the road, Sant'Antonio di Salvenero is only a stonethrow away, but somehow hidden. To reach it, I climbed over a fence and could even see from here the ruins of a third church on the other side of the valley. Not much is known about Sant'Antonio di Salvenero. The church was probably erected within the 13th century. The two adjoining buildings date to the 17th century. Of course, the church was locked.