Castles of Sardinia
Appearance
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/Castello_di_Burgos%2C_Burgos%2C_Sassari%2C_Sardinia%2C_Italy_-_panoramio.jpg/220px-Castello_di_Burgos%2C_Burgos%2C_Sassari%2C_Sardinia%2C_Italy_-_panoramio.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8d/Sardara_-_Castello_di_Monreale_%2829%29.jpg/220px-Sardara_-_Castello_di_Monreale_%2829%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Castello_di_San_Michele_Cagliari.jpg/220px-Castello_di_San_Michele_Cagliari.jpg)
Between extant and gone, there are 82 castles in Sardinia, all built during the Middle Ages. Some date back to the Byzantine period, but most of them were built during the Judicate period and della Gherardesca, Malaspina and Doria rule, especially from the second half of the 13th century onwards.
Built mainly for strategic military purposes, they had the function of guarding the judicial borders and the most important communication routes. With the unification of Sardinia under the Aragonese their importance faded away and over time almost all of them fell into ruin.
List
[edit]No. | name | comune | province | judicate | curatoria | date/period | condition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Castle of Acquafredda | Siliqua | Sud Sardegna | Cagliari | Sigerro | 13th century | in ruins |
2 | Castle of Arcuentu | Arbus | Sud Sardegna | Arborea | Monreale | 11th century | in ruins |
3 | Castle of Ardara | Ardara | Sassari | Torres | Oppia | 11th century | ruins of one tower |
4 | Castle of Balariana | Luogosanto | Sassari | Gallura | Gallura | 11th century | some ruins |
5 | Castle of Baratuli | Monastir | Sud Sardegna | Cagliari | Dolia | after 1258 | in ruins |
6 | Castle of Barumele | Ales | Oristano | Arborea | Usellus | Byzantine period | in ruins |
7 | Castle of Bonvehì (or Bonuighinu) | Mara | Sassari | Torres | Cabudabbas | probably 12th century | ruins of one tower |
8 | Castle of Bulzi | Bulzi | Sassari | Torres | Anglona | 12th century | some ruins |
9 | Castle of Capu Abbas (o Civita) | Olbia | Sassari | Gallura | Fundimonte | 13th century | in ruin |
10 | Castle of Capula | Siligo | Sassari | Torres | Meilogu | 13th century | few ruins |
11 | Castle of Casa di Regno (Mar'e Pontis) | Cabras | Oristano | Arborea | Campidano Maggiore | late Byzantine | few traces |
12 | Castle ofi Casteddu Etzu | Fordongianus | Oristano | Arborea | Barigadu | Byzantine | few ruins |
13 | Castle of Castel Pisano | unknown | Sassari | Torres | Nurra | unknown | completely gone |
14 | Castle of Castel Rosso | Perfugas | Sassari | Torres | Anglona | 12th century | completely gone |
15 | Castle of Casteldoria | Santa Maria Coghinas | Sassari | Torres | Anglona | 12th century | ruins of the walls and a tower |
16 | Castle of Castro | Oschiri | Sassari | Torres | Montacuto | Byzantine | ruins |
17 | Castle of Castrum Sulcitanum | Sant'Antioco | Sud Sardegna | Cagliari | Sulcis | Byzantine | completely gone |
18 | Castle of Cheremule | Cheremule | Sassari | Torres | Cabudabbas | Judicate | ruins |
19 | Castle of Chiaramonti | Chiaramonti | Sassari | Torres | Anglona | 13th century | ruins |
20 | Castle Corallo | Gavoi | Nuoro | Arborea | Barbagia di Ollolai | Judicate | some ruins |
21 | Castle of Crasta | Monti | Sassari | Torres | Montacuto | Judicate | few ruins |
22 | Castle of Cugato | Oschiri | Sassari | Torres | Monteacuto | unknown | completely gone |
23 | Castle of Erguri | Buddusò | Sassari | Torres | Montacuto | Judicate | completely gone |
24 | Castle of Essola | unknown | Sassari | Torres | Nurra | probably Judicate | completely gone |
25 | Castle of Fava | Posada | Nuoro | Gallura | Posada | Judicate | good |
26 | Castle of Figulinas | Florinas | Sassari | Torres | Figulinas | very ancient | completely gone |
27 | Castle of Funtana Menta | Senis | Oristano | Arborea | Parte Valenza | Judicate | one tower in good condition |
28 | Castle of Ghilarza | Ghilarza | Oristano | Arborea | Guilcer | 15th century | very good |
29 | Castle of Gioiosa Guardia | Villamassargia | Sud Sardegna | Cagliari | Sigerro | probably Judicate | ruins |
30 | Castle of Girapala | Paulilatino | Oristano | Arborea | Guilcier | Judicate | completely gone |
31 | Castle of Goceano (Castle of Burgos) | Burgos | Sassari | Torres | Goceano | 1127–1129 | walls and a tower |
32 | Castle of Gulana | Olzai | Nuoro | Arborea | Barbagia di Ollolai | unknown | completely gone |
33 | Castle of Laconi | Laconi | Oristano | Arborea | ParteValenza | probably Byzantine | ruins |
34 | Castle of Longonsardo | Santa Teresa Gallura | Sassari | Gallura | Taras | 14th century | few ruins |
35 | Castle of Osilo (o dei Malaspina) | Osilo | Sassari | Torres | Montes | 13th century | a portion in good condition |
36 | Castle of Malvicino | Villaputzu | Sud Sardegna | Cagliari | Sarrabus | 13th century | ruins |
37 | Castle of Marmilla | Las Plassas | Sud Sardegna | Arborea | Arborea | from the 10th century | perimeter walls |
38 | Castle of Medusa | Asuni | Oristano | Arborea | Mandrolisai | Judicate | ruins |
39 | Castello dell'Asinara | Porto Torres | Sassari | Torres | Nurra | probably 16th century |
scarce |
40 | Castle of Mondragone | Porto Torres | Sassari | Torres | Nurra | undetermined | completely gone |
41 | Castle of Monreale | Sardara | Sud Sardegna | Arborea | Bonorcili | 13th century | perimeter walls |
42 | Castle of Montacuto | Berchidda | Sassari | Torres | Monteacuto | probably 11th century | ruins |
43 | Castle of Monteforte | Sassari | Sassari | Torres | Nurra | Judicate | few ruins |
44 | Castle of Monteleone | Monteleone Rocca Doria | Sassari | Torres | Monteleone | 13th century | few ruins |
45 | Castle of Montesanto | Mores | Sassari | Torres | Oppia | 13th century | completely gone |
46 | Castle of Montezuighe | Ittireddu | Sassari | Torres | Montacuto | late 13th century | few ruins |
47 | Castle of Montiferru (CastedduEzzu) | Cuglieri | Oristano | Torres | Montiferru | 11th century | remains of perimeter walls and a tower |
48 | Castle of Murgunulis | Usellus | Oristano | Arborea | Parte Usellus | uncertain | completely gone |
49 | Castle of Narbolia | Narbolia | Oristano | Arborea | Campidano di Milis | Judicate | completely gone |
50 | Castle of Nora | Pula | Sud Sardegna | Cagliari | Nora | Byzantine | completely gone |
51 | Castle of Ogliastra | Lotzorai | Nuoro | Cagliari | Ogliastra | Judicate | partially in ruins |
52 | Castle of Oliena | Oliena | Nuoro | Gallura | Orosei | probably 11th century | completely gone |
53 | Castle of Olomene | Pattada | Sassari | Torres | Montacuto | various periods | numerous ruins |
54 | Castle of Olova | Luras | Sassari | Gallura | Gemini | Judicate | few ruins |
55 | Castle of Orsetto (Barigadu) | Neoneli | Nuoro | Arborea | Barigadu | Byzantine | few ruins |
56 | Castle of Oristano | Oristano | Oristano | Arborea | Judicate | completely gone | |
57 | Castle of Orosei | Orosei | Nuoro | Gallura | Gallura | Judicate | keep intact |
58 | Castle of Orvei | Tula | Sassari | Gallura | Montacuto | Judicate | ruins of a few buildings |
59 | Castle of Ozula (Palattu ezzu) | Sennori | Sassari | Torres | Romangia | undetermined | façade and courtyard verified |
60 | Castle of Padulaccia | Telti | Sassari | Gallura | Fundimonte | probably Byzantine | ruins of the walls |
61 | Castle of Palmas | San Giovanni Suergiu | Sud Sardegna | Cagliari | Sols | Judicate | one tower in poor condition |
62 | Castle of Pedres | Olbia | Sassari | Gallura | Fundimonte | 13th century | ruins of the walls and a few towers |
63 | Castle of Pontes | Galtellì | Nuoro | Gallura | Galtellì | 12th century | parts of the walls and a tower |
64 | Castle of Quirra | Villaputzu | Sud Sardegna | Cagliari | Quirra | Judicate | few ruins |
65 | Castle of Re Baldo | Luogosanto | Sassari | Gallura | Balariana | 11th century | significant ruins |
66 | Castle of Roccaforte | Giave | Sassari | Torres | Caputabbas | 14th century | completely gone |
67 | Castello della Rosa | Jerzu | Nuoro | Cagliari | Ogliastra | 11th century | few ruins |
68 | Castle of Salvaterra | Iglesias | Sud Sardegna | Cagliari | Cixerri | 13th century | few ruins |
69 | Castle of San Michele | Cagliari | Cagliari | Cagliari | Campidano di Cagliari | Judicate | good condition |
70 | Castle of Sanluri | Sanluri | Sud Sardegna | Cagliari | Nuraminis | 11th century | good condition |
71 | Castle of Sant'Isidoro | Teulada | Sud Sardegna | Cagliari | Sols | Byzantine | few ruins |
72 | Castle of Santisconata | Domus de Maria | Sud Sardegna | Cagliari | Nora | unknown | few ruins |
73 | Castle of Sa Prisoni Bezza | Macomer | Nuoro | Torres | Marghine | 12th century | completely gone |
74 | Castle of Sassai (o di Orguglioso) | Silius | Sud Sardegna | Cagliari | Gerrei | Judicate | good condition |
75 | Castle of Sassari | Sassari | Sassari | Torres | Romangia | 14th century | completely gone |
76 | Castle of Segariu | Segariu | Sud Sardegna | Cagliari | Trexenta | 12th century | few ruins |
77 | Castle of Serla | Norbello | Oristano | Arborea | Guilcier | Judicate | completely gone |
78 | Castle of Serravalle | Bosa | Oristano | Torres | Planargia | 12th century | good |
79 | Castle of Sorra (Sorres) | Torralba | Sassari | Torres | Meilogu | 14th century | completely gone |
80 | Castle of Tissilo | Ussassai | Nuoro | Cagliari | Barbagia di Seulo | undetermined | few ruins |
81 | Castle of Tului | Tratalias | Sud Sardegna | Cagliari | Sols | Judicate | completely gone |
82 | Castle of Uras | Uras | Oristano | Arborea | Bonorzuli | unknown | completely gone |
83 | Castle of Villasor | Villasor | Sud Sardegna | Cagliari | Gippi | 15th century | good |
Bibliography
[edit]- Francesco Floris, ed. (2007). Enciclopedia della Sardegna. Sassari: Newton&Compton editore.