Sant'Andrea Priu Necropolis, Bonorva, Italy

The necropolis of Sant'Andrea Priu is an archaeological site located on the south side of the fertile plain of Saint Lucia, in the municipality of Bonorva. The complex, one of the most important of the island, is composed of twenty domus de janas; one of them with its eighteen rooms appears to be one of the largest hypogean tombs of the Mediterranean basin.

The necropolis is located on the front of a trachytic outcrop high 10 m and long 180; entrances to the domus are all within a few meters in height from the ground level and some of them are difficult to access because of the detachment of a substantial part of the rock face. The interior of the domus de janas is a faithful reproduction of the houses of that time, with many architectural details (beams, joists, lintels, jambs, pillars and wainscoting perimeter), tending to recreate an environment similar to that where the deceased had spent his existence.

Chronologically, the complex is dated to the Ozieri culture of the Final Neolithic (3500–2900 BC) with partial use and also structural changes of some tombs which continued until the Middle Ages.

Among the domus, three of them, the Tomb of the Chief, the Circular Hut tomb and the Chamber tomb, are of particular importance for their spectacularity and their high degree of conservation.

References:

Wikipedia

Cemeteries, mausoleums and burial places in Italy

User Reviews

Philip Enny (2 years ago)
Frescoes from Byzantine era in Neolithic period hewn man made caves.

Gabriele Cazzoli (2 years ago)
Peccato siano accessibili solo poche tombe. La tomba del capo naturalmente offre un'esperienza affascinante per la stratificazione delle culture fino al cristianesimo. Molto belle le raffigurazioni a rilievo originali (cultura di Ozieri) che imitano le case, in questo caso potremmo dire i palazzi, dei signori del neolitico. Un classico anche qui la "falsa porta" che simboleggia il passaggio al mondo dei morti. Sull'altopiano al di sopra della necropoli, imponente immaginarsi la statua del toro completa che dominava l'intera valle. Molto competenti le guide locali, complimenti. Fantastico!

Monica Serra (3 years ago)
A site that is truly worth a visit. A unicum in the Sardinian archaeological / artistic panorama. Only note: a part of the necropolis is off limits. In the end, you pay 6 euros for the guided tour of the tomb of the head alone (which still deserves them all!). Perhaps in light of this, the price of the ticket should be revised.

Anna Barbaglia (3 years ago)
Place was closed, hours marked in google do not match with reality.

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