Nuragic Sanctuaries & Sacred Wells in Sardinia
Archaeologists believe, based on archaeological evidence and the remarks of a few classical writers, that Nuragic religion centred on water. Water was not only a basic requirement for the continuation of life, it was also heavily imbued with symbolic meaning. Much of Nuragic religious architecture appears to have been focussed on springs and wells. Sanctuaries, in many cases quite substantial spiritual complexes, were constructed around sacred wells. Although each is noticeably different in character, there are many architectural features at these sites that are the same throughout the island.Â
The Nuragic Sanctuary of Santa Vittoria
Located on a plateau with expansive views of the surrounding area. It is the largest Nuragic village/sanctuary complex in Sardinia, where what remains of the structures, even thousands of years later, manages to express the power and importance of the site. The area that can be visited is large, consisting of several parts. The oldest of which is a proto-nuraghe dating between the 17th and 14th centuries BC. During a pleasant walk, visitors can explore the remains of the village, in which the huge dimensions of the meeting hut, the sacred well, and the large festival enclosure that once housed pilgrims during festivals in honour of the deity stand out.
