Nuraghe Santa Barbara - Villanova Truschedu

Nuraghe Santa Barbara near Villanova Truschedu is a multi-tower Bronze Age complex with curtain walls and a well-preserved central chamber.

Why it matters

The nuraghe preserves the rare a tancato arrangement, with a smaller tower joined to the principal tower by walls enclosing a courtyard. Its architecture provides evidence of the development of Nuragic settlements in central Sardinia.

What to notice

The main tower retains a tholos chamber about seven metres in diameter, a staircase, two niches and a central hearth. A second tower and curtain walls enclose a courtyard. Nearby are remains of huts and later Roman and early medieval buildings.

Context and history

Antonio Taramelli excavated the site in 1915. The complex belongs to the Nuragic period, with later phases of occupation around it. The building sequence includes the main tower, the added tancato structures and the surrounding village remains. Material from the excavation is held at the exhibition hall of Nuraghe Losa.