Holiday apartment in Chiaramonti: culture, landscape and waterfalls

Chiaramonti combines prehistoric megalithic structures and medieval churches with mountains, wildlife and waterfalls. These include Nuraghe Ruiu, Castello dei Doria and Santa Maria Maddalena. The Altopiano de su Sassu is also home to extensive stands of mastic, rockrose and asphodel, as well as oaks and holm oaks.

Holiday apartment in Chiaramonti among nuraghi and churches

An impressive introduction to the history of the area is Nuraghe Ruiu, a single-tower nuraghe with two chambers arranged one above the other. Nearby, the megalithic wall of Punta Corrales in the Su Sassu area adds to the picture of the early cultural landscape; it is located about 1.7 kilometres from the town of Chiaramonti. The megalithic wall of Punta S’Arroccu is about 5 kilometres from Punta Corrales and is likewise attributed to the Monte Claro culture.

In the town, the Chiesa di San Matteo is the parish church of Chiaramonti. Its history is connected with Castello dei Doria, a castle in the immediate vicinity of Chiaramonti that was built around the 13th century and formed part of the defensive line protecting the Doria possessions in Anglona. The original Castello consisted of a square tower within a defensive wall; the remaining complex was later converted into a church during the Aragonese period. Around 1500, the former fortress became the parish church of San Matteo in Chiaramonti and was dedicated to this saint.

Another church is Santa Maria Maddalena, a medieval church in Chiaramonti with two-tone construction. It was originally built as a single-nave basilica in the 13th century and received two side chapels during an extension in 1323. Tomb 1 of the Domus de janas di Su Murrone necropolis has a large monumental atrium and an entrance framed by a relief border. Santa Giusta also displays an extensive collection of ex-votos on the interior walls of the building. The wider regional area around Chiaramonti is also home to the Museo dell’Intreccio Mediterraneo, a museum, Castelsardo Castle, a castle, and Roccia dell’Elefante, a ruin.

Landscape among mountains, uplands and waterfalls

The natural environment of Chiaramonti is shaped by the Altopiano de su Sassu, an area of great natural and scenic value with wildlife, extensive stands of mastic, rockrose and asphodel, as well as impressive oaks and holm oaks. The nearby mountains also include Monte Sistu, Monte Cacchile, Punta Corales and Monte Scala de Malta. Istrampu Moronzanos is a waterfall about 7 metres high that forms a natural pool in a trachyte gorge. Istrampu de Chirralza consists of natural waterfalls fed by the Riu Filighesos and its small tributaries.

A cultural tradition is also part of Chiaramonti: this form of singing continues today as a poetic and musical competition called sa gara.

How to get to Chiaramonti

When travelling from Chiaramonti, leave the SS 131 after the turn-off for Ozieri and take road 127 towards Tempio Pausania. From Sassari, travelling towards Olbia, take the SS 594 to Tempio as far as the turn-off for the Su Murrone district; then continue for about 2 kilometres.

Other destinations for planning your trip include Bonorva, Villa Gorizia, Porto Torres, Platamona, Bono, Olmedo, Campanedda and Putifigari.

To the higher-level travel overview: Sassari.