Things to do in Sorradile
Sorradile, Sardinia: Su Monte Nuragic sanctuary, Prunittu rock-cut tombs, country churches and the petrified forest of Lake Omodeo.
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Sorradile is a small Barigadu village of just over three hundred people, overlooking Lake Omodeo halfway between Oristano and Nuoro. Its red trachyte houses and narrow lanes form two quarters: corte 'e susu, terraced with lake views, and corte 'e josso, lower down. It belongs to the Borghi Autentici d'Italia network and is a gem for lovers of Nuragic archaeology, country churches and hiking.
What to see in Sorradile
The Nuragic sanctuary of Su Monte
On the lakeshore stands a Nuragic cult complex with an enclosure wall, a temple with a circular chamber, a "basin-altar" and a small model of a nuraghe. It was used from the Early Bronze Age (around 1800 BC) to the late Punic period (around 250 BC). The museum devoted to the excavations shows a replica of the basin, pottery and votive bronzes.
The Prunittu domus de janas
The area's most important prehistoric necropolis, with fifteen multi-chamber tombs cut into the rock; the best known is tomb X, called sa Cresia. The area also has the Sas Lozas necropolis, with decorated tombs, and Isterridorzu, plus several nuraghi including the single-tower Urasala.
The churches
The parish church of San Sebastiano, from 1642, mixes Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque features. In the village there's also San Michele Arcangelo, rebuilt in the 15th century. Out in the countryside are Santa Maria Turrana, which holds a dark-faced wooden statue of the Virgin, and San Nicola, from the second half of the 12th century, the last trace of the vanished village of Nurozo.
Things to do in Sorradile
The land, with almond and olive groves, vineyards and ancient oaks, is ideal for hiking. In the Salto di Lochele, among cork and downy oaks, opens the Taloro gorge, which flows into the lake. When water levels are low, a petrified forest and several submerged nuraghi emerge from Lake Omodeo. Below you'll find the experiences offered by local operators: choose and book.
History
The area was inhabited in pre-Nuragic and Nuragic times. Its old name was Oiratili; in 1156 Judge Barisone of Arborea gave the village to his wife Algaburga. After the Giudicato fell it became a fief and followed the fortunes of Neoneli until 1773, when it joined the Todde family's marquisate of San Vittorio, with Bidonì and Nughedu Santa Vittoria. In 1839 it was bought back from the Pes, its last feudal lords.
What to eat and buy
Almonds are the stars here: traditional almond sweets even have their own festival. The area also produces olive oil and wine.
Festivals and traditions
- Sant'Antonio Abate (16 January): bonfires in front of the parish church.
- San Sebastiano (January and mid-May): the patron saint; in May with the almond sweets festival and Magasinos Apertos.
- Santa Maria Turrana (early September): a procession to the sas Iscaleddas wood, nine days of rosaries and laudas hymns, and the final night, s'Issadorzu.
- San Nicola (mid-September).
During the novenas, the muristenes lodgings around the country sanctuaries fill with song and dance.
Nearby
- Nughedu Santa Vittoria: about 1 km away, with the Sas Arzolas de Goi necropolis and the Assai woods.
- Bidonì: the country church of San Pietro.
- Ardauli: the Mandras necropolis and San Quirico by the lake.
- Neoneli: canto a tenore singing.
Getting there and when to go
From Oristano it takes about an hour: leave the SS131 towards Ghilarza and continue towards the lake. The handiest airport is Cagliari-Elmas, about an hour and three quarters away; Alghero and Olbia are about an hour and a half to two hours. Spring and autumn are ideal for hiking; in late summer, lower water may reveal the petrified forest.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Sorradile?
The Nuragic sanctuary of Su Monte and its museum, the Prunittu rock-cut tombs and the country churches of Santa Maria Turrana and San Nicola.
When can you see the petrified forest?
Only when Lake Omodeo's water level is low, usually after the driest months.
Is Sorradile good for families?
Yes: it's peaceful, and the archaeological sites are an adventure for children.
