Sardinia is an island that, in many aspects, is still waiting to be discovered. Famous worldwide for its Nuraghi, ancient stone cone-shaped constructions found throughout the island, it has much more to offer to tourists. In this exploration, we venture into the discovery of the nuragic sanctuary of Santa Cristina, an archaeological site located in the territory of the municipality of Paulilatino, in the province of Oristano. Let’s start by saying that the location takes its name from the countryside church of Santa Cristina, which is located nearby. The most well-known area, the most esoteric and mysterious, is probably the one constituted by the well-temple, a sacred well dating back to the Nuragic era, with attached structures. But not far away, there is also a single-tower nuraghe, some elongated stone huts of uncertain dating, and a nuragic village yet to be excavated, of which only a few emerging elements are visible.
The sacred well is enclosed by a temenos, an elliptical-shaped enclosure that separates the sacred area from the secular one, surrounding another enclosure shaped like a “keyhole,” within which the well itself is located. The structure is similar to the other sacred wells found in Sardinia but stands out from them due to the excellent state of preservation of the internal parts and also its large and well-proportioned dimensions.
The well is preceded by a vestibule, where worship ceremonies probably took place, and by a staircase – formed by a single ramp of 25 steps – that opens into a trapezoidal chamber leading to the room containing the actual well. The well consists of a circular-shaped cell with a diameter of about 2 and a half meters, covered by a vaulted pseudo-dome nearly 7 meters high. It is made of worked basalt blocks arranged in rows, gradually decreasing in diameter until creating a 35-centimeter hole at ground level. The excellent state of preservation of the structure gives the well great archaeological and historical importance. Unfortunately, nothing remains of the elevated structure, which, if it existed, most likely completely covered the well’s opening and had a gable facade similar to the one still visible at Su Tempiesu in Orune.
However, the only way to discover this mysterious and almost magical well is to visit it. In the video we offer you, created by Maria Paolucci, a tourist guide and expert travel designer of Sardinia’s historical treasures, the complex is showcased in all its magnificence. In the links we provide, you will also find all the information to organize a visit.
