Holiday apartment in Nughedu San Nicolò: historic centre, churches and nature

Nughedu San Nicolò between valley and rolling hills

Nughedu San Nicolò lies in a long, narrow valley through which the Riu Molinu flows. The village is situated at an altitude of almost 600 metres in gently rolling countryside with a few more prominent elevations. This makes it a destination where the landscape, architectural heritage and local traditions are closely interconnected.

In the historic centre, narrow streets are lined with palazzotti dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Elegant eclectic surrounds on doors and windows characterise many of these buildings; the uppermost floor features arcades or terraces. Piazza Marconi forms the heart of the village. It is lined with elegant buildings dating from around 1900 and also features a 19th-century fountain. At the entrance to Nughedu San Nicolò, unusual houses lie in the valley, built into crevices in the rock and finished with façades made of dressed stone blocks.

Village scenes, crafts and community festivals

The economic structure is also part of the village’s character. The skilled working of wood, leather and iron is among Nughedu San Nicolò’s important economic sectors. Dairy farming is another important sector. At the end of June, celebrations in honour of Saints Peter and Paul take centre stage. They include the Sagra de Sas Panafittas and a large open-air bonfire. Four-part singing has regained its community role in Nughedu San Nicolò over the past 15 years and is now present at all important community occasions.

Churches with art, history and views

Nostra Signora de Su Canale is dedicated to Madonna del Carmelo and is considered the most impressive of Nughedu’s rural churches because of the wild beauty of its natural surroundings. The main church, San Nicola, contains a mural by the painter Aligi Sassu; among the figures depicted are Nikita Khrushchev and Silvana Mangano. The stone-built church of San Pietro stands on a vegetated hill offering impressive panoramic views and was built around 1400 to 1500. Sant’Antonio stands on another hill, and its construction is dated to around 1600.

Archaeological traces and natural history

The permanent exhibition “L’uomo, la natura, la civiltà, immagini di una comunità del Monte Acuto” in Via Cagliari displays finds from various archaeological sites, as well as documents relating to historical events in the village. The archaeological trail includes two monuments in the Nughedu San Nicolò area, including the sacred well complex of Cuccuru Mudeju. The small Sa Conca ‘e S’Abba cave is also located in the hamlet of Monte Sa Mela. It is of particular interest from a natural-history perspective because of a significant colony of bats during hibernation.

The right accommodation perspective

Those looking for a holiday apartment in Nughedu San Nicolò can choose their location based on these different aspects of the village: the historic centre with Piazza Marconi and its palazzotti, the churches on the hills, festivals and singing, or archaeological and natural-history themes.

Other places for orientation

For your further choice of location, you can find Tottubella, Uri, Ardara, Marina Di Sorso, Usini, Maristella, Ittiri and Muros here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Sassari.