Isili: Prehistoric Heritage Between Valleys and Hills
Accommodation in Isili
Isili lies in a landscape of fertile valleys and gently rolling, cultivated hills. At the same time, its prehistoric spectrum ranges from finds from the Bell Beaker culture to the settlement phases of the Is Paras nuraghe. Churches, forest trails, rocks and water activities complement this cultural focus with a variety of travel interests. This creates a destination where cultural sightseeing and active days can be combined according to your personal pace.
File:Nuraghe of Is Paras - Isili - Sardinia - Italy - 01.jpg
Photo: Norbert Nagel via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Landscape and Location
The SS.128 road runs through Isili. The Church of San Sebastiano stands on a limestone spur that became an island after the construction of the artificial Is Borrocus reservoir. The Monte Simudis municipal traffic park is a wooded area crossed by several trails. As a result, the townscape brings together transport connections, an artificially altered waterscape and wooded paths.
Prehistoric Heritage near Isili
The Is Paras nuraghe stands immediately north of Isili on a small marl rise at an altitude of 505 m. Its central chamber is 12 metres high. The settlement phases begin in the Late Bronze Age, from 1,330–1,150 BC, and continue through the Final Bronze Age into the Early Iron Age, from 1,150–900 BC. This chronological sequence makes the nuraghe a tangible gateway to the town’s long prehistory.
So far, 51 menhir statues from the Bell Beaker culture have been recovered in the Isili area; they date from 2,100 to 1,900 BC. Isili is one of the most important centres of prehistoric anthropomorphic statue production in Sardinia. In addition, seven Domus de Janas are associated with Isili; their architecture points to a Late Neolithic horizon of the Ozieri culture between 3,200 and 2,850 BC.
Church and Crafts
The Domus de Janas Is Tanas ‘e Mrexani near the Isili belvedere comprise two adjacent burials, one with a single chamber and the other with two chambers. The parish church of San Saturnino was built in the 14th century and later altered in the Gothic-Aragonese style; it has a marble high altar dating from 1780. Demonstrations by a coppersmith may take place on request in the reconstructed craft workshop of the Maraté Museum.
Trails, Rocks and Water
Along the Rio Corrigas, the canal visible today can be explored on foot; complex sedimentary structures can be seen in the rocks. The “Le falesie” cliffs on the Rio Corrigas offer more than 300 climbing routes with varying levels of difficulty. The disused railway line from the Sarcidano station towards Villacidro can be used for walking and mountain biking. The different difficulty levels of the climbing routes can therefore be incorporated into a graded daily itinerary.
Canoeing, kayaking, sailing, dragon boating and sport fishing are possible on Lago San Sebastiano. This allows you to plan the lake as a separate focus alongside the land-based trails and rocks.
Choose Accommodation According to Your Travel Interests
When choosing accommodation in Isili, you can weigh up your priorities for planning each day: prehistoric sites and churches, walking and mountain biking, climbing routes or activities on Lago San Sebastiano. Your decision to stay at a hotel in Isili can therefore be guided by the focus you would like to explore in greater depth during your stay.
More Destinations
Siliqua, Sadali, Villaspeciosa, San Priamo, Villasalto, Domus De Maria, Muravera, Chia
For the higher-level travel overview: Cagliari.
