Posts Tagged 'castles'

This impressive building, dating back to 1800 a. C. and built up to the sixth century BC, to thousands present in Sardinia, created through the work of indigenous peoples of Mediterranean race preindeuropea called by classical writers and Iole Balar. The Nuraghe is named differently in various regions of Sardinia, so we nuràke, Nuraxi, nuràcci, nuraghi naràcu and others. This term, especially since the nineteenth century, was correlated with the root Phoenician 'nur', which has the meaning of fire, meaning fire as a dwelling or temple of fire, with explicit reference to solar cults, they would have been on the terraces nuragiche towers. Today philologists are more likely to see in the word nuraghes source paleo Mediterranean, with its variants "Normal", "nul", "Nol", extremely popular in the Mediterranean reality, with the dual meaning pile or cavities. The word does not care about the destination, but the special mounting of the dolmen, be construed so as Cable lot, building or tower quarry quarry. The nuraghes are widely cited by classic authors. Li appoint Daidàleia, ie buildings well architected Aegean type, or tholoi for their false dome shape. According to tradition, were the work of Daedalus richiamatoin Sardinia classic mythologized heroes, Iolaus and A risteo. It recognizes the spirit greek nationalism, through which the products of Greeks win on pure barbarism of the natives. Romans nuraghes are appointed as the castrati, or fortified castles, or caverns, spontaneous development, which offered shelter the inhabitants of the central zones of 'island against attacks from the Romans, areas known to the Romans with the name of Barbara current Barbagie. Interestingly, in classical sources such premises are never called by the native name. Are about seven nuraghes that the store today, but in the past and should certainly be higher for home number, according to some estimates had to be present in the Sardinian territory about twenty thousand nuragical towers. The oldest nuraghes were found in southern Sardinia, accepting the theory of external impulses, but most of them located in central areas, where the builders of megalithic structures had to move. It 'important to remember that were built all at the same time, and that their function was to be purely military. Could mark the boundary from one region to another, as happens on Clare, in large basaltic plateaus, or could be central defensive tribe, as was probably Barumini and Losa Abbasanta. It is not unlikely that those with a simple structure has been a refuge for pastors, unlike those with complex structures, but never were, tomb structures. This task is accomplished fully by two types of structures that flank the nuraghes, the Domus de Janas and the graves of giants. There is no reason to suppose therefore that nuraghes should replace or complement the function of these structures. There are two types of nuraghes the first form is tholos, ie circular chamber, covered by false dome, to put the buildings in which they mention the Greeks. The second form is a corridor, where the compartment is constructed from a relatively narrow corridor along to cover flat, which crosses all or part of the length and width of the body construction, which may be rectangular or elliptical, not circular as in nuraghes tholos. This kind of structure, appearance, caves, could adapt to the kind of spontaneous development or caverns mentioned by the ancient Roman sources. Normally look to the south, southeast, with their backs to strong mistral, and handing the face to the sun. They can reach twenty feet in height, while the walls have a thickness ranging from four to five meters and a diameter ranging from thirty to fifty yards at the base decreased SCE then conl'aumentare height, forming a cone whose slope is more pronounced in the oldest towers. The special shape is due to the construction technique that provided a solid foundation with large square stone blocks and stacked to dry in a circular way, without using binder and held together by their own weight. As we proceed in height, the rows gradually shrink and also decreases the proportion of boulders and rocks are becoming smaller and better products. The upper part was occupied by a terrace with a parapet, which is accessed via a spiral staircase, lit by loopholes in the ascending path drawn in thick walls. The Sardinian tradition remains deeply respectful of these imposing structures. It was not uncommon until a few generations ago, the world Barbaricino, alliances or sealing a blood oath, in the shadow of a Nuraghe. And any condition set out in these conditions, becomes very sacredness. This agreement should not be broken.

Although it is difficult redare a list of the most significant to visit include:

• On Nuraxi Barumini (Heritage)
  
• Nuraghe Santu Doors Torralba known as The Palace Nuragic
  
• Nuraghe Losa Abbasanta
  
• Nuraghe Arrubiu to Orroli
  
• Nuraghe Corbos in Silanus
  
• Nuraghe Orolo (or Madrone) in Silanus
  
• Nuraghe Cherchidzu (or Santa Sarbana) in Silanus
  
• Nuraghe Antigoni in Sarroch
  
• Nuraghe Sa Domu 'S' in Sarroch Orku
  
• Nuraghe Palmavera Alghero
  
• Nuraghe Albucciu Arzachena
  
• Nuraghe Nolza in Meana Sardo
  
• Nuraghe Santa Barbara Villanova Truschedu
  
• Nuraghe Lugherras Paulilatino
  
• Nuraghe Zuras Abbasanta
  
• Nuraghe Sa Jua to Aidomaggiore
  
• Nuraghe Sanilo to Aidomaggiore
  
• Nuraghe Burghidu in Ozieri
  
• Nuraghe Asoru S. Vito
  
• Nuraghe Izzana Aggius
  
• Nuraghe Titirriolu in Bolotana
  
• Nuraghe Loelle to Buddusò
  
• Nuraghe oes in Java
  
• Nuraghe Succuronis in Meana Sardo
  
• Nuraghe Nolza in Macomer
  
• Nuraghe Santa Barbara Macomer
  
• Nuraghe Iloi in Sedilo
  
• Nuraghe Tosinghene in Sedilo
  
• Nuraghe Lure in Sedilo
  
• Nuraghe Nuraddeo to Suni
  
• Nuraghe Maiori Tempio
  
• S'Uraki Nuraghe San Vero Milis
  
• Nuraghe Orgona to Ghilarza
  
• Nuraghe Cambon Perdaxius
  
• Nuraghe Entu to Perdaxius
  
• Nuraghe Santus to Perdaxius
  
• Nuraghe Porcus to Perdaxius
  
• Nuraghe Achenza to Perdaxius
  

Claudia Zedda

Built on top of the mountain in Cudias Villaputzu, was one of the most powerful castles of Sardinia, of which only ruins remain today, that make us think its striking power. Built by the judges of Cagliari in the middle of the thirteenth was soon ripped these at the end of that century by Nino di Gallura. Passed into the hands of Pisa was granted in 1324 will then be granted to the Aragonese, as the vast majority of castles Sardinian then. In 1363 the castle Carroz pass into the hands of Berengar, Count of Quirra, but later fief the castle, in contravention of the rules of succession, Donna Violante. This earned him a long struggle against Judge of Arborea. Since the end of the fourteenth century did not speak more directly of the castle, but County Quirra, later marquis. With the Savoy castle finally break relations with Carroz.

The figure of Berengar Carroz is strongly linked to the castle. They say that love with Lady Eleanor Manriquez, had killed his wife, Beatrice d'Arborea, after accusing him of treason. But of course the figure is more emblematic of Donna Violante. Several legends are connected to her. One of them said that the greedy and murderous woman died after falling from a cliff. Had hidden in the bowels of the earth a golden frame. Another legend says that Count Mandas, in love with this courted her. She assured that the thing was impossible, as agreed by placing only constraint that he reached with four horses and chariot on top of the mountain on which the structure stood. What really difficult, given the rugged terrain. Count succeeded, the picks from the castle and she reluctantly tells the died of regret in that street which is still known as Sa de sa Contissa scale about 18 km from Perdasdefogu. Violante Carroz was also known as the Blood of Violante. It is said that invaghitasi other man who was not her husband, he dissolved the tie with this, to join with her lover. The pastor who challenged his choice was hanged and his corpse was long displayed at the castle of St. Michael, demonstrating the power of the family. Violante actually died alone and embittered in 1511 in the convent of St. Francis of Stampace where he had withdrawn.

Lyrics: Claudia Zedda
Photograph: Marta Lai