Location: Olbia (North-East of Sardinia)

Historical period: 1600 - 1300 BC

The nuragic culture is one of the most attractive and mysterious as the nuragic people left in a little territory like Sardinia lots of mysteries.
The world has today many archaeological doubts, if we think about the Egyptian pyramids or the Mayan pyramids, the Easter Island’s statues, the Nazca lines in Perù…Many and wonderful mysteries which excite all along the most curious people.
But Sardinia has many archaeological mysteries: Tombs of Giants, Menhirs, Domus de Janas, Dolmens, Sacred Wells, Holy Sources and Nuraghi.
We can find these megalithic constructions everywhere in the island. In the past it was possible to count more than 20000 constructions, now there are only 8000 sites. The number is approximate, there are probably ancient towers underground, as in the Barumini archaeological site, completely hidden 30 metres underground and discovered in 1955.
The nuragic constructions (nuraghi) are towers built with false domes (tholos) according to a particular technique. Nuraghi are built by laying big stones of similar size on top of each other leaving a cavity in the middle. It can be assumed that the nuragic people used to build on steep banks starting with big stones and then reducing their dimensions. The biggest towers could reach 20 metres and at the top of them it was probably present a terrace (protected by a parapet) reachable thanks to a helicoidal staircase. In order to have the light they used to leave some slits among the stones. The entrance was faced south and it was followed by a corridor to the main room.

One of the most interesting nuraghi in the north of Sardinia is the nuraghe of Cabu Abbas (named also Riu Mulinu) which is located near Olbia. It is particular especially for its position. As a matter of fact it s located on a rocky promontory which dominates the gulf of Olbia at a sea level of  246 metres. When you reach the nuraghe you can imagine the reason why nuragic people chose this place: it is possible to have a great view so we can assume that they used this construction in order to check the arrival of  enemy boats. But probably the nuraghe was used for other aims like religious aims (we can think about the cult of water). This explains the finding, during the excavations of 1936, of a nuragic bronze which represents a woman with an amphora on her head.
The nuragic complex of Cabu Abbas is characterized by the presence of a big wall 220 metres long and 5 metres high and wide. Its structure incorporates the rocky spikes present in the area. The wall had two entrances: one on the North side and one on the South side.
Inside there is the little circular nuraghe with only one tower. It has been realized with granite stones and it is characterized by a passage which has on its right a little niche and on its left the stair to the upper floor which has been destroyed.
The central room has two parallel niches and a well 3 metres deep.

HOW TO GET THERE: when you reach Olbia-Osseddu, follow the road to a large square with a fountain. Then walk along for 400 metres and follow the hill, bordered by a wooden stockade.