Sardinia / Sardegna

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on an isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. The former cathedral dominates the landscape.

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on an isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. Some foundations near the church were being excavated in 2014. Approaching the former cathedral from the west. The elaborate facade seems "french" - and uneven. Left and right sides differ clearly. The left one may be the result of a restoration.

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on an isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. Some foundations near the church were being excavated in 2014. The elaborate facade, completed in 1174, seems "french" - and is very uneven. Left and right sides differ clearly. The left side must have been severely damaged once. Behind the window in the center is the bishop´s private chapel, a feature typical for older, carolingian churches. The bell tower seem to have crumbled quite a bit.

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on an isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. Some foundations near the church were being excavated in 2014. The apse was completed before 1174. Walking around the church I was accompanied by a stray dog.

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on an isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. Some foundations near the church were being excavated in 2014. Here are details of the elaborate facade, completed in 1174. The carvings are very damaged and weathered, many sculptures are lost. My first guess was - "Elders of the Apocalypse", but it is wrong. There are angels, one of them holds a thurible. In the center is a very nice (and undamaged) portrait of a couple.

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on an isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. Some foundations near the church were being excavated in 2014. Some details of the elaborate facade, completed in 1174. Here are the archivolts over the central portal. The carvings are damaged and weathered, many sculptures are lost. Right to the cross in the center are "two birds drinking from a chalice". The outer archivolt may depicts a farmer and his ox, ploughing the land. Maybe a part of the "monthly Labors", but I am not sure about.

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on an isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. Some foundations near the church were being excavated in 2014. The nave of the basilica.

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on an isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. Some foundations near the church were being excavated in 2014. The capitals along the nave of the basilica differ clearly. At least two different workshops created them. When the more elegant ones were created, the rougher ones may have been already a century old.

Standing on the volcanic hill in which medieval masters erected the wonderful "Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio" I watched this person doing a land art relief with his tractor. He created very exact brown parallels. Just perfect. He had obviousy created that yellow circle as well.

"San Pietro del Crocifisso", isolated in the pastoral countryside near Bulzi, is known under three (!) names. the second is "San Pietro delle Immagini", the third "San Pietro di Simbranos" may be Sardinian. The suffix "del Crocifisso" (and probably as well "delle Immagini") refers to a large polychrome wooden group of the "Deposition from the Cross", that was once kept here. The building was constructed in two phases, at the end of the 11th and in the early 13th century. Some scholars claim, that it once was the center of a monastery of which most traces are lost. The church was under reconstruction and hidden behind a large scaffolding.

"San Pietro del Crocifisso", isolated in the pastoral countryside near Bulzi, is known under three (!) names. the second is "San Pietro delle Immagini", the third "San Pietro di Simbranos" may be Sardinian. The suffix "del Crocifisso" (and probably as well "delle Immagini") refers to a large polychrome wooden group of the "Deposition from the Cross", that was once kept here. The building was constructed in two phases, at the end of the 11th and in the early 13th century. Some scholars claim, that it once was the center of a monastery of which most traces are lost. The church was under reconstruction and hidden behind a large scaffolding.

"San Pietro del Crocifisso", isolated in the pastoral countryside near Bulzi, is known under three (!) names. the second is "San Pietro delle Immagini", the third "San Pietro di Simbranos" may be Sardinian. The suffix "del Crocifisso" (and probably as well "delle Immagini") refers to a large polychrome wooden group of the "Deposition from the Cross", that was once kept here. The building was constructed in two phases, at the end of the 11th and the early 13th century. Some scholars claim, that it once was the center of a monastery of which most traces are lost. As the church was under reconstruction, the nicely striped facade was hidden behind a scaffolding in June 2014.

"San Pietro del Crocifisso", isolated in the pastoral countryside near Bulzi, is known under three (!) names. the second is "San Pietro delle Immagini", the third "San Pietro di Simbranos" may be Sardinian. The suffix "del Crocifisso" (and probably as well "delle Immagini") refers to a large polychrome wooden group of the "Deposition from the Cross", that was once kept here. The building was constructed in two phases, at the end of the 11th and the early 13th century. Some scholars claim, that it once was the center of a monastery of which most traces are lost. The church was under reconstruction and partly hidden behind a scaffolding in June 2014. Over the door is a large, bearded person in adorante gesture. He wears a cap. A mitra? He is flanked by two small as well bearded men. An abbot and two monks?

"San Pietro del Crocifisso", isolated in the pastoral countryside near Bulzi, is known under three (!) names. the second is "San Pietro delle Immagini", the third "San Pietro di Simbranos" may be Sardinian. The suffix "del Crocifisso" (and probably as well "delle Immagini") refers to a large polychrome wooden group of the "Deposition from the Cross", that was once kept here. The building was constructed in two phases, at the end of the 11th and the early 13th century. Some scholars claim, that it once was the center of a monastery of which most traces are lost. The church was under reconstruction and partly hidden behind a scaffolding in June 2014. But the nice corbels under the roof of the nave could be seen. Here is one of them.

Cactus line the gravel roads.

The small church, dedicated to "Santa Maria Maddalena" is known since 1205, when it was donated to a Camaldolese abbey in Marche. It may have been parish church of a former hamlet named "Orrea Pithinna". Like most churches I had found so far on Sardinia, it is located very isolated surrounded by meadows.

The small church, dedicated to "Santa Maria Maddalena" is known since 1205, when it was donated to a Camaldolese abbey in Marche. It may have been parish church of a former hamlet named "Orrea Pithinna". Like most churches I had found so far on Sardinia, it is located very isolated surrounded by meadows.

The small church, dedicated to "Santa Maria Maddalena" is known since 1205, when it was donated to a Camaldolese abbey in Marche. It may have been parish church of a former hamlet named "Orrea Pithinna". When I tried to climb over the fence I noticed the two nosy guardians of the church, who immediately approached the fence to make clear that there was no way to enter the meadow.