Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Chilivani

About 1500 BC villages and settlements were built around massive tower fortresses called "Nuraghi" (or "Nuraghes"). Boundaries were guarded by smaller lookout Nuraghes erected on strategic hills commanding a view of other territories. Today, some 7,000 Nuraghi dot the Sardinian landscape, some scholars have even counted more than 10.000. For me, the giant number in an enigma, having in mind the density of population at that time - and Sardinia´s land area of about 24.000 km².

Standing on the volcanic hill in which medieval masters erected the wonderful "Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio" I watched this person doing a land art relief with his tractor. He created very exact brown parallels. Just perfect. He had obviousy created that yellow circle as well.

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on an isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. Some foundations near the church were being excavated in 2014. The capitals along the nave of the basilica differ clearly. At least two different workshops created them. When the more elegant ones were created, the rougher ones may have been already a century old.

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on an isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. Some foundations near the church were being excavated in 2014. The nave of the basilica.

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on an isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. Some foundations near the church were being excavated in 2014. Some details of the elaborate facade, completed in 1174. Here are the archivolts over the central portal. The carvings are damaged and weathered, many sculptures are lost. Right to the cross in the center are "two birds drinking from a chalice". The outer archivolt may depicts a farmer and his ox, ploughing the land. Maybe a part of the "monthly Labors", but I am not sure about.

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on an isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. Some foundations near the church were being excavated in 2014. Here are details of the elaborate facade, completed in 1174. The carvings are very damaged and weathered, many sculptures are lost. My first guess was - "Elders of the Apocalypse", but it is wrong. There are angels, one of them holds a thurible. In the center is a very nice (and undamaged) portrait of a couple.

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on an isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. Some foundations near the church were being excavated in 2014. Here a detail of the elaborate facade, completed in 1174. A little lion supports the pillar.

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on an isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. Some foundations near the church were being excavated in 2014. The apse was completed before 1174. Walking around the church I was accompanied by a stray dog.

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on an isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. Some foundations near the church were being excavated in 2014. The elaborate facade, completed in 1174, seems "french" - and is very uneven. Left and right sides differ clearly. The left side must have been severely damaged once. Behind the window in the center is the bishop´s private chapel, a feature typical for older, carolingian churches. The bell tower seem to have crumbled quite a bit.

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on an isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. Some foundations near the church were being excavated in 2014. Approaching the former cathedral from the west. The elaborate facade seems "french" - and uneven. Left and right sides differ clearly. The left one may be the result of a restoration.

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on an isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. The former cathedral dominates the landscape.

Sant'Antioco di Bisarcio is located on a small, isolated volcanic hill. In medieval times this church was a cathedral, as diocese with seat in Bisarcium existed upto 1515. Today only scanty remains of the town still exist. The former cathedral dominates the landscape.