Planargia and Montiferru · Provincia di Nuoro

Things to do in Silanus

Things to do in Silanus, Sardinia: the Santa Sabina church and nuraghe, a sacred well, San Lorenzo frescoes, Corbos nuraghe, festivals and tips.

Silanus, Sardegna — © Gianni Careddu · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

All Adventure and sport Culture and traditions Families and kids Food and wine Nature and hiking Sea Wellness

We are gathering the first experiences for this area. Check back soon, or tell us about an operator you know.

Silanus is a village of about two thousand people in the heart of the Marghine range, in the province of Nuoro, about 10 km from Macomer. It's famous for the Santa Sabina complex, where a tiny medieval church stands beside a nuraghe, and for the longevity of its people: in the early 2000s it had seven centenarians. A member of the Borghi autentici d'Italia network, it's perfect if you're after archaeology, ancient churches and living traditions.

What to see in Silanus

Santa Sabina complex

One of central Sardinia's most photographed spots: a single-tower nuraghe with village remains, a sacred well with a tholos roof and the little church of Santa Sabina, built around the 11th century over a Byzantine building and still a pilgrimage site. Nearby is the Pedra Pinta giants' tomb.

Church of San Lorenzo

Built around 1150 in the area of the old village, it once depended on a Benedictine abbey and preserves 14th-century frescoes.

Other village churches

Sa Maddalena, in Catalan Gothic style (1582); Nostra Signora d'Itria, 17th century, with painted wooden statues; Santa Croce and the parish church of Sant'Antonio Abate.

Corbos nuraghe and other sites

The Corbos nuraghe is imposing and well preserved; the area also has the Madrone and s'Ulivera nuraghi and several giants' tombs.

Things to do in Silanus

Spend a morning on an archaeology tour of Santa Sabina, Corbos and San Lorenzo, ideally with a guide who can explain how nuraghi and medieval churches came to share the same ground. The Marghine hills around the village are great for walking and cycling among olive groves, vineyards and pastures. Silanus is also a village of hand-woven carpets and traditional breads and sweets: ask to visit a workshop. Scroll down for the experiences offered by local operators and pick the one for you.

History

Inhabited since prehistory, as its nuraghi and giants' tombs show, the area later saw Punic and Roman settlement. In the Middle Ages Silanus belonged to the Giudicato (medieval Sardinian kingdom) of Torres; after 1259 it passed to Arborea and the Marquisate of Oristano, and after the battle of Macomer in 1478 to the Aragonese. In the 18th century it became part of the Marquisate of Marghine and in 1839 was freed with the abolition of feudalism.

Food and what to buy

Sheep's cheeses such as pecorino, ricotta and casizzolu, traditional breads and sweets, olive oil and hill wines. To take home: a hand-woven carpet.

Festivals and traditions

Sant'Antonio Abate: mid-January, with bonfires, a procession and tastings; it opens Silanus's carnival.
Sagra de su ischidu: first half of May, in front of Santa Sabina, with shepherds' recipes and a cheese award.
San Giovanni: neighbourhood bonfires on the evening of 23 June.
San Lorenzo: around 10 August, with a procession, shows and an improvised poetry contest.
Santa Sabina: novena in September, with gosos, Sardinian religious songs.
Canto a tenores: a biennial festival gathers choirs of this UNESCO-listed singing style from all over Sardinia.

Nearby

Bortigali, with the Orolo nuraghe and Monte Santu Padre.
Lei and Bolotana, at the foot of the Marghine.
Macomer, with the Santa Barbara nuraghe.
Dualchi, with the Ponte nuraghe.

Getting there and when to go

Silanus is about 10 km from Macomer and the SS131 highway; its station on the Macomer–Nuoro line is served by ARST trains. Alghero-Fertilia and Olbia airports are about an hour and a half away, Cagliari-Elmas about two hours. Spring and September are the best times, with festivals, novenas and mild weather.