Piazza Satta - Nuoro

Piazza Satta in Nuoro is an environmental artwork by Costantino Nivola, created in honour of poet Sebastiano Satta. Granite paving, natural boulders with small bronze figures and whitewashed facades make the square itself the work of art.

Why it matters

The square brings together two important figures of twentieth-century Sardinian culture: Sebastiano Satta, the Nuoro poet, and sculptor Costantino Nivola, born in nearby Orani. Nivola designed the whole public space rather than a conventional statue, integrating sculpture and architecture with the existing urban setting.

What to notice

Granite paving rises into low seating, while large boulders contain small bronze figures portraying Satta as poet, lawyer, father and reveler. The surrounding facades were painted white, setting off the stone and bronze. The sloping site connects the San Pietro quarter with the area along Corso Garibaldi.

Context and history

Nuoro commissioned Nivola's work in 1965, when the square was renamed from Piazza del Plebiscito to honour Satta. The design, developed with Richard and Carl Stein, was completed in 1967. It was Nivola's first public work in Sardinia and reflects his interest in integrating sculpture with public space.