Page 135 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sardinia

THE WESTERN C O AST  133

town and the coast between
Santa Caterina di Pittinuri and
Porto Alabe.
Environs
The coast is 15 km (9 miles)
away on main road 292. Santa
Caterina di Pittinuri is a seaside
town set around a white­stone
inlet enclosed by a limestone
cliff, where the Spanish Torre del
One of the seven springs at San Leonardo de Siete Fuentes Pozzo tower stands. This stretch
of coast is scenic, with rocky
pine, holm oak and oak near r Cuglieri headlands and white sand and
the village of San Leonardo de Road map B3. * 3,400. pebble beaches, as well as
Siete Fuentes, which is famous n Via Carlo Alberto 33 (0785 36 82 caves and beautiful ravines. The
for its seven springs of radio­ 00). _ Good Friday: procession and most famous sight is S’Archittu,
active, diuretic water that flow ‘Iscravamentu; 5 Aug: Madonna della a large natural bridge created
out of seven fountains at a Neve. ∑ comune.cuglieri.or.it by coastal erosion. A dirt road
constant temperature of 11°C off main road 292, between
(52°F). The streams meander The agricultural town of Santa Caterina di Pittinuri and
through a wood popular for Cuglieri lies 500 m (1,640 ft) S’Archittu, goes to the ruins
family outings. In the centre of above sea level on the western of the Punic­Roman city of
town is the small church of San slopes of Mount Montiferru, Cornus, the setting for the last
Leonardo, which once belonged with a panoramic view of the battle between the Romans
to the Knights of Malta. It was sea. It is dominated by the and Sardinian Carthaginians
constructed with dark trachyte striking silver­domed Basilica headed by Amsicora (215 BC).
stone in the 12th century, and di Santa Maria della Neve, In the 9th century the city was
acquired its present Romanesque­ which has an 18th­century abandoned because of repeated
Gothic appearance the following façade and twin bell towers. Saracen raids and the inhabitants
century. The single­nave interior The barrel­vaulted interior founded a new city, Curulis
bears the insignias of the Knights of the church is adorned Nova, present­day Cuglieri, on
of Malta. Opposite the church with stucco and features eight the nearby mountain side. The
stands a small public library. chapels, four on each side dirt road peters out just before
In early June, San Leonardo of the nave, and there is also the Early Christian town of
plays host to an important an impressive Baroque­style Columbaris, while the acropolis
saddle­horse fair packed with altar made from marble of Cornus is visible on the hill
horse races and other events. and stone. The walk up to to the southwest. Although the
the church is lovely, winding archaeological site may seem
E Museo della Tecnologia through alleyways and abandoned, it still has some
Contadina stepped streets lined with sarcophagi and the remains of
Via D Meloni 1. Tel 0783 55 06 17 tall stone houses. a three­nave basilica. It seems
or 340 770 66 73. Open by appt only. The square in front of Santa likely that all of these date
& 8 Maria offers a fine view of the back to the 6th century.

S’Archittu, the famous natural bridge at Santa Caterina di Pittinuri, near Cuglieri

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