Page 168 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sardinia

166  SARDINIA AREA B Y AREA

of dwarf palm wood, terracotta
pots and other everyday objects
whose design and techniques
have been handed down over
centuries of tradition. Items on
display are for sale.
R Chiesa di Santa Caterina
Via Santa Caterina. Tel 079 23 16 92.
Open pm for Mass.
This church was built at the
end of the 16th century for
the Jesuits and combines
Sardinian Gothic style with
Renaissance elements.
In the interior there are paintings
The Fontana del Rosello, dating from the Renaissance by the artist Giovanni Bilevelt.
P Fontana del Rosello E Palazzo di Città P Piazza d’Italia
Via Col di Lana. Corso Emanuele II 35. Tel 079 201 This large square is laid out at
On the right-hand side of the 5122. Open Nov–Apr: 10am–1pm, the edge of the 19th-century
church of Santissima Trinità, 5–8pm Tue–Sat, 10am–1pm Sun. 8 quarter of Sassari. It is a well-
in Piazza Mercato, a small stone This Neo-Classical palazzo was proportioned public space,
stairway known as the Col built between 1826 and 1829, surrounded by elegant Neo-
di Lana will take you to the after the demolition of the pre- Classical buildings and with tall
Fontana del Rosello, the existing Municipal House. It was palm trees and well-kept flower
fountain at the lower end of designed by the Piedmontese beds, guarded by a statue of
the Valverde gorge. architect Guiseppe Cominotti, Vittorio Emanuele II.
Unfortunately, very little who based the building on One of the finest buildings
remains of the steep valley and the Teatro Carignano in Turin. It is the Palazzo della Provincia
woods that were once the features a beautiful small room (provincial government
natural backdrop for this little in the shape of a horse-shoe. building), built in pure Neo-
jewel of late Renaissance art. There is an interesting display Classical style. The council
However, this has not diminished of local costumes and 19th- chamber on the first floor is
the locals’ love for their fountain, century paintings and water- open to the public. On the walls
which has become one of the colours illustrating everyday are 19th-century paintings
city’s symbols. rural and town life, as well as depicting important events in
This was once the haunt religious and civil events. The the city’s political history, such
of the enlightened bourgeoisie Municipal Theatre and the Tourist as The Procla mation of the
and the place where the local Board are also housed here. Sassari Statutes and Carlo Maria
water-carriers drew water Hanging on the walls are Angioj Entering Sassari (see p164).
from the eight lions’ mouths traditional Sardinian rugs, which You can also see the adjacent
sculpted at the base of resemble abstract paintings royal apartments, built in 1884
the fountain. with their geometric patterns. on the occasion of the King of
The fountain was executed There is also fine bobbin Sardinia’s visit. In summer the
in the early 1600s by Genoese lacework and – of interest courtyard is the venue for
artists, who still had a prefer ence although not valuable – baskets concerts and plays.
for the classical styles of the
Renaissance. The base consists
of two superimposed white and
green marble boxes. The lions’
mouths are sur rounded by
statues symbolizing the four
seasons. The original statues
were destroyed in the 1795–6
uprisings (see p164) and were
replaced in 1828.
In the middle, a bearded
divinity, known as Giogli, is
surrounded by small towers
symbolizing the city. On the
top of the fountain are two
arches which protect the
figure of San Gavino. The entrance to Palazzo di Cittá, Sassari
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp178–9 and p189

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