Page 130 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sardinia

128  SARDINIA AREA B Y AREA

centres in the interior of 0 Sedilo
Sardinia. Macomer developed Road map C3. * 2,700.
around key com munication n 0785 560 01. _ 5–8 Jul: S’Ardia
routes – the Carlo Felice road at Santu Antine sanctuary.
(the N131 that runs through ∑ comunesedilo.gov.it
most of the island) and the
railway – and owes its The rocky terrain in the
prosperity to agriculture, Abbasanta plateau gave the
livestock raising, dairy products people of Sedilo the raw
and light industry, while material to build their houses.
retaining traces of its past. The There are still a few originals
parish church of San Pantaleo remaining, representing a style
Romanesque Santo Stefano, at is an example of 17th-century that has virtually dis appeared.
Monteleone Rocca Doria Spanish Gothic. On the evening The main sight of interest is
of 17 January the traditional the church of San Giovanni
7 Monteleone Sa Tuva celebration is held in Battista in the centre of
Rocca Doria honour of Sant’Antonio Abate. town. However, Sedilo’s most
The event takes place in the notable claim to fame is
Road map B3. * 140. large square in front of Santa the Sanctuary of Santu
n 079 92 51 17. ∑ comune. Croce, and a huge bonfire lights Antine, otherwise known as
monteleoneroccadoria.ss.it up the entire quarter. San Costantino, or Constantine,
after the early champion of
Situated on the top of the Su Christianity who is much
Monte cliff (420 m, 1,380 ft), the revered in Sardinia. The church,
little village of Monteleone Rocca with the typical cumbessias
Doria has a sweeping view of houses for pilgrims, stands on a
Lake Temo and the Nurra plain. cliff overlooking Lake Omodeo.
Today it is tranquil, although Within the precinct there are
inhabi tants look back proudly numerous nuraghic sculptures
on a noble, warlike past. In the on display, including the
13th century the Doria family so-called Perda Fitta, a monolith
from Genoa built a fortress here which, according to legend, is
which was totally destroyed in actually the body of a woman
1436 after a three-year siege by who was turned into stone
troops from Aragon, Sassari, because she was disrespectful
Bosa and Alghero. towards the patron saint.
Many inhabitants departed The open space opposite
to found the town of Villanova the sanctuary is the setting
Monteleone, but a few people San Pantaleo, in Macomer for the annual S’Ardia
remained behind. Monteleone competition. This horse
was not included in develop- Environs race ends the July festivities
ment programmes and, at one Not far from the town centre, commemorating Constantine
point, locals tried to improve near the Carlo Felice road, a the Great’s victory over
their lot by putting the village short walk will take you to the Maxentius in the battle
up for sale. In the centre of impressive Santa Barbara of the Milvian Bridge in
Monteleone is the 13th-century Nuraghe. Its sheer size means AD 312. The inside walls of
Romanesque parish church, that it dominates a series of Santu Antine are covered
Santo Stefano. smaller towers and ramparts. with quantities of ex votos.

8 Bosa
See pp130–31.

9 Macomer
Road map C3. * 12,000. n Town
Hall (0785 79 08 51). _ 17 Jan:
Sant’Antonio Abate. ∑ comune.
macomer.nu.it
Built on a platform of volcanic
rock, Macomer is one of the
most important commercial The S’Ardia horse race run around the Santu Antine sanctuary, Sedilo
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p178 and p188

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