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North Sardinia Locations Sassari
North Sardinia Locations Sassari
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The Sassari region, known locally as the "Turritano", includes Sassari, la Nurra, Porto Torres and neighbouring villages. To the east, Sorso and Sennori belong to the region of la Romangia, while Anglona lies between the Turritano, Romangia and Gallura. The city of Sassari has an altogether modern look and feel, but its historic centre, which was once enclosed by walls, still teems with narrow and atmospheric lanes and passageways. Right in the heart of the old town is the Gothic cathedral of San Nicola, whose exuberant Spanish Baroque façade was added in the 17th century. Inside the cathedral are a number of works of art. One of the oldest ecclesiastical buildings in Sassari is the church of Santa Maria di Betlem, which was first built in 13th century and was later modified in the Aragonese Gothic style during the 15th century. Inside, a single nave opens onto seven altars adorned with paintings, carved altars and other priceless works of art. In a small valley in the centre of the city is one of Sassari's most distinctive landmarks: the Rosello fountain. Built by Genoan craftsmen in the early 17th century, it's made of slabs of green marble and is decorated with statues and turrets. Towards the outskirts of the city is the church of S. Pietro di Silki, whose origins date back to the 12th century. Inside, its single nave preserves some priceless works of art including the 15th-century Catalan Gothic giltwood statue of the Madonna del Fico, and a magnificent carved wooden ancona from the early 18th century on the high altar. In via Roma, right in the centre of town, is the Museo Nazionale "G.A. Sanna", which preserves the archaeological heritage of the provinces of Sassari and Nuoro. The museum also has an interesting ethnographic section featuring local costumes, as well as looms, carpets, and traditional furniture. There's also a collection of paintings. About 10 km outside Sassari is the beach of Platamona, a favourite with the inhabitants of the city: There have always been plenty fish in the waters off this coast, a fact which the area's location - on the Bay of Asinara and therefore part of the Asinara national park - goes some way to explaining. Not far from the beach is the lagoon of Platamona with its magnificent fringe of juniper trees, many of them hundreds of years old: it's an oasis for bird watching enthusiasts. On the western coast of Sassari region is Argentiera, a former mining centre which was closed down in 1962 and is now undergoing transformation into a tourist resort. The complex now combines the strange fascination of industrial archaeology with some exceptional landscapes and seascapes. The landscape is rugged and schistous and indented with small cove beaches such as Argentiera, Cala dell'Argentiera, Cala Onanu and Porto Palmas. One beach that's comparatively easy to get to is Porto Ferro, between Argentiera and Alghero. In the large pine glade that overlooks this beach is the lake of Baratz, the only natural freshwater lake in the whole of Sardinia. Not far from Sassari in the village of Codrongianus is the 12th-century church of Santissima Trinità di Saccargia. Completed in 1116, it's one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Sardinia: inside it has an impressive series of medieval frescoes. Beside the church are the ruins of a former monastery, which has recently been partially restored. |
