Holiday apartment in Ploaghe: Culture, Landscape and History

Ploaghe combines a landscape of volcanic origin with striking evidence of Nuragic culture. The town lies on the south-western slope of Monte San Matteo, a volcano in Logudoro that has been extinct for thousands of years. The landscape also includes megalithic walls preserved from the Nuragic culture. When planning a holiday apartment in Ploaghe, this creates a destination where nature, history and crafts can shape the themes of your trip.

Nuragic Settlements and Landscape

There are around 76 Nuragic settlements in Ploaghe. Most of them are located on plateaus that are considered genuine Nuragic villages. There are also places suitable for excursions and hikes. This allows cultural discoveries and days spent in the countryside to be combined as distinct focuses when planning your trip.

San Pietro Apostolo and Sacred Art

San Pietro Apostolo was the cathedral of the medieval Diocese of Ploaghe from 1090 to 1503. Its ground plan dates from the 15th century, had two naves and was built in the Late Gothic style. At the end of the 17th century, a third nave was added and modelled on the original style. The church therefore brings together construction phases from several centuries.

The Ploaghe picture gallery is located in the Oratorio del Rosario. It contains paintings from the 14th to the 19th century, originating from the collection of the 19th-century canon Giovanni Spano. Another cultural highlight is the monumental cemetery: on white marble slabs, it preserves 39 gravestone inscriptions written in Logudorese and three in Italian. The cemetery is located near the Church of San Paolo.

Other Historic Buildings

The Sanctuary of San Michele di Salvenero was built at the end of the 11th century. The ruins of the former monastery of the Vallombrosian Order have been preserved around the church. Funtana Manna is a monumental basin made of walls of hewn stone and follows the model of the Rosello fountain in Sassari from the 17th century. The Capuchin monastery of Ploaghe was founded in 1651 and inaugurated together with the church in 1659.

Crafts and Local Traditions

Handmade carpets from Ploaghe reflect a distinctive connection between materials and landscape. Their colours were and still are obtained locally from wild-growing plants, including saffron, alder, pomegranate peel, mastic leaves and elderflower.

Religious customs also give the annual cycle its distinctive character. During Holy Week, on Good Friday in the Church of San Pietro, the crucifixion ceremony known as “ingravamentu” takes place, followed by the “des'isgravamentu” ceremony, during which the cross is taken down. On Easter Sunday, in Ploaghe, the statues of the risen Christ and the Madonna, carried by members of the local brotherhoods, meet in the “s’incontru” rite.

A Holiday Apartment in Ploaghe Suited to Your Travel Plans

When choosing a holiday apartment in Ploaghe, you can first decide which of these themes should shape your days. The plateaus and Nuragic settlements represent the landscape and early cultural history, while San Pietro Apostolo, the picture gallery and the other religious buildings represent art and architecture. If you plan excursions and hikes, the landscape becomes a focus in its own right; if you are more interested in customs and crafts, Holy Week, “s’incontru” and carpet-making take centre stage.

Other Places to Compare

For further trip planning, you can also consider Villa Gorizia, Fiume Santo, Tottubella, Torralba, Porto Torres, Osilo, Chiaramonti and Bottidda.

For the higher-level travel overview: Sassari.