View allAll Photos Tagged SARDINIA
After Puglia and Basilicata in 2017, we went to Sardinia during the Summer of 2018. Even though we spent three weeks there, we had family with us most of the time, therefore photographic activity was sometimes a bit curbed —to the point that I decided to return on my own in March–April 2019, after my retirement, to concentrate on photography (those pictures will be uploaded later).
The abandned village of Gairo Vecchio.
Sardinia does have mountains, with several summits higher than 1,000 meters, and the culminating point at 1,800 meters (we will get to that in future Sardinian uploads).
Th village of Gairo in a mountain village that was built on instable ground. During a large mudslide/landslide in 1951, several houses were damaged or destroyed, flushed away into the valley. There were casualties. So, the village had to be abandoned and rebuilt on safer ground.
The abandoned village was renamed Gairo Vecchio (“The Old Gairo”) and is very atmospheric and interesting to visit. I will upload more photographs of it over the coming days.
I am sailing , I am sailing
Home again , Cross the sea
I am sailing stormy waters
To be near you, To be free...
After Puglia and Basilicata in 2017, we went to Sardinia during the Summer of 2018. Even though we spent three weeks there, we had family with us most of the time, therefore photographic activity was sometimes a bit curbed —to the point that I decided to return on my own in March–April 2019, after my retirement, to concentrate on photography (those pictures will be uploaded later).
This is the lovely Byzantine-early Romanesque rural church of Santa Sabina, which appeared in the background of the nuraghe photo I uploaded yesterday.
This completely atypical church is difficult to date. It obviously includes elements from several periods, and was inspired both by Byzantine and Romanesque architecture. There seems to be a consensus to date its oldest parts to the 10th century, and the “not so old” ones to the 11th, which is still pretty old.
It is a lovely little squat structure, once again in the middle of nowhere... Some people say there once was a Benedictine house, but no trace of it was ever found by archæologists.
After Puglia and Basilicata in 2017, we went to Sardinia during the Summer of 2018. Even though we spent three weeks there, we had family with us most of the time, therefore photographic activity was sometimes a bit curbed —to the point that I decided to return on my own in March–April 2019, after my retirement, to concentrate on photography (those pictures will be uploaded later).
The nuraghe Arrubiu (“Red”) is one of the most significant in Sardinia. It is located near the small town of Orroli, in the southeastern part of the island. Built around 1400 BC, it was originally about 25–30 meters high, which made it one of the tallest structures of the whole Bronze Age. There were 5 main towers, and 21 altogether. It is a very imposing site to visit, I will upload more photos over the next few days.
After Puglia and Basilicata in 2017, we went to Sardinia during the Summer of 2018. Even though we spent three weeks there, we had family with us most of the time, therefore photographic activity was sometimes a bit curbed —to the point that I decided to return on my own in March–April 2019, after my retirement, to concentrate on photography (those pictures will be uploaded later).
This is a closeup photo of a lovely frieze on the façade of the Saccargia basilica, which I showed photos of at the beginning of this series. It shows oxen and, as you can see, wraps around the façade and the sides of the church.
After Puglia and Basilicata in 2017, we went to Sardinia during the Summer of 2018. Even though we spent three weeks there, we had family with us most of the time, therefore photographic activity was sometimes a bit curbed —to the point that I decided to return on my own in March–April 2019, after my retirement, to concentrate on photography (those pictures will be uploaded later).
The abandoned train station of Esterzili, in the mountainous Ogliastra region of Sardinia.
After Puglia and Basilicata in 2017, we went to Sardinia during the Summer of 2018. Even though we spent three weeks there, we had family with us most of the time, therefore photographic activity was sometimes a bit curbed —to the point that I decided to return on my own in March–April 2019, after my retirement, to concentrate on photography (those pictures will be uploaded later).
This is one of the most touching and old churches in all of Sardinia: the Byzantine, pre-Romanesque church known today as the Oratory of Souls, and formerly dedicated to San Niccolo Vescovo (“bishop”), in the village of Massama.
It was built mostly during the so–called ark Ages, in the 700s. In France, we would call it Merovingian, and it is very moving for any Mediævalist to find themselves beholding such a wonder that traveled through millennia to reach us in such a splendid condition, with minimal add-ons and restorations. One can clearly see the alternating layers and brick and stone, as well as some occurrences of opus spicatum (fishbone apparel), which are two techniques coming directly from the Romans and are signs of very old age in any building.
I will upload more photos of the Oratory tomorrow.
Sardinia, cousin to Corsica. I went there twice and never got to see the sea! ESA sent us on a survival course and two year's later I returned for a speleology exploration training called CAVES. Good times – the kind of memories that are tough when you experience them but looking back make you smile when cozy and warm on your sofa at home… or floating in the International Space Station :)
La Sardaigne, cousine de la Corse. J’y suis allé deux fois… et je n’ai jamais vu la mer : l’ESA nous a envoyé d’abord en stage de survie en moyenne montagne, puis deux ans plus tard en entraînement d’exploration en spéléologie… De bons souvenirs quand même : du type de ceux pas faciles à vivre sur le moment, mais drôles quand on y repense au chaud depuis son canapé… ou depuis sa Station spatiale ;)
Credits: ESA/NASA
137E9403
After Puglia and Basilicata in 2017, we went to Sardinia during the Summer of 2018. Even though we spent three weeks there, we had family with us most of the time, therefore photographic activity was sometimes a bit curbed —to the point that I decided to return on my own in March–April 2019, after my retirement, to concentrate on photography (those pictures will be uploaded later).
These photos show you just how isolated in the middle of nowhere a chiesa campestre can be. It is a very good example, and at the same time a bad one, as this solitary church can be explained: San Nicola di Trullas, first built during the early 1100s (as it was given, presumably fully completed, by a local lord to a brotherhood of monks in 1113), was part of a small monastery, traces of which have been found by archæologists. The whole story is here: virtualarchaeology.sardegnacultura.it/index.php/fr/site-a..., for those interested.
It is also an excellent and lovely example of Lombard-Pisan architecture and external decoration, simple yet refined.
After Puglia and Basilicata in 2017, we went to Sardinia during the Summer of 2018. Even though we spent three weeks there, we had family with us most of the time, therefore photographic activity was sometimes a bit curbed —to the point that I decided to return on my own in March–April 2019, after my retirement, to concentrate on photography (those pictures will be uploaded later).
San Michele di Salvenero is yet another wonderful and old chiesa campestre of Sardinia. Construction on this one must have been initiated around Year 1000 and lasted into the 1200s. Local sources say it was abandoned towards the end of the 18th century.
It is another one that has been erected in the middle of nowhere...
After Puglia and Basilicata in 2017, we went to Sardinia during the Summer of 2018. Even though we spent three weeks there, we had family with us most of the time, therefore photographic activity was sometimes a bit curbed —to the point that I decided to return on my own in March–April 2019, after my retirement, to concentrate on photography (those pictures will be uploaded later).
Today and tomorrow, I am showing you yet another chiesa campestre, dedicated to Santa Maria Maddalena, which is unusually sophisticated in its decoration for such an old and small Mediæval church in the middle of nowhere. The alternating bands of white limestone and red sandstone, the Lombard decorative arcature, the neatly assembled quoins forming a pointed barrel arch above the small door, all of that denotes a definite amount of refinement, and the spending of more money that we usually see where such churches are concerned. This one was built during the 1100s, as there is a written record of a donation of the church in 1205 by local noble woman Maria de Thori to the abbey of San Salvatore di Camaldoli.
The two “wings” that appear to form a kind of transept were added later, and are not nearly so well built. The church was closed, as all such churches are, therefore I could not go in and ascertain the use of those additions: sacristy, real transept, other?
The paradise ...
Questa foto lo dedico a tutti i miei amici Sardi
This picture is dedicated to all my friends from Sardinia
After Puglia and Basilicata in 2017, we went to Sardinia during the Summer of 2018. Even though we spent three weeks there, we had family with us most of the time, therefore photographic activity was sometimes a bit curbed —to the point that I decided to return on my own in March–April 2019, after my retirement, to concentrate on photography (those pictures will be uploaded later).
Two more (and last!) photos of the chiesa campestre, dedicated to Santa Maria Maddalena, which is unusually sophisticated in its decoration for such an old and small Mediæval church in the middle of nowhere. The alternating bands of white limestone and red sandstone, the Lombard decorative arcature, the neatly assembled quoins forming a pointed barrel arch above the small door, all of that denotes a definite amount of refinement, and the spending of more money that we usually see where such churches are concerned. This one was built during the 1100s, as there is a written record of a donation of the church in 1205 by local noble woman Maria de Thori to the abbey of San Salvatore di Camaldoli.
The two “wings” that appear to form a kind of transept were added later, and are not nearly so well built. The church was closed, as all such churches are, therefore I could not go in and ascertain the use of those additions: sacristy, real transept, other?
After Puglia and Basilicata in 2017, we went to Sardinia during the Summer of 2018. Even though we spent three weeks there, we had family with us most of the time, therefore photographic activity was sometimes a bit curbed —to the point that I decided to return on my own in March–April 2019, after my retirement, to concentrate on photography (those pictures will be uploaded later).
The Romanesque chiesa campestre of Sant’ Antonio was built around Year 1000. Some say there used to be a village here, which would have been supposedly abandoned during the 14th century, but the least that can be said is that it is difficult to see any traces of that settlement, which would have been built partly with stones, and foundations for walls...
Anyway, one way or another, this lovely early Romanesque church is well worth seeing from all angles...
After Puglia and Basilicata in 2017, we went to Sardinia during the Summer of 2018. Even though we spent three weeks there, we had family with us most of the time, therefore photographic activity was sometimes a bit curbed —to the point that I decided to return on my own in March–April 2019, after my retirement, to concentrate on photography (those pictures will be uploaded later).
Today and tomorrow, I am showing you yet another chiesa campestre, dedicated to Santa Maria Maddalena, which is unusually sophisticated in its decoration for such an old and small Mediæval church in the middle of nowhere. The alternating bands of white limestone and red sandstone, the Lombard decorative arcature, the neatly assembled quoins forming a pointed barrel arch above the small door, all of that denotes a definite amount of refinement, and the spending of more money that we usually see where such churches are concerned. This one was built during the 1100s, as there is a written record of a donation of the church in 1205 by local noble woman Maria de Thori to the abbey of San Salvatore di Camaldoli.
The two “wings” that appear to form a kind of transept were added later, and are not nearly so well built. The church was closed, as all such churches are, therefore I could not go in and ascertain the use of those additions: sacristy, real transept, other?
After Puglia and Basilicata in 2017, we went to Sardinia during the Summer of 2018. Even though we spent three weeks there, we had family with us most of the time, therefore photographic activity was sometimes a bit curbed —to the point that I decided to return on my own in March–April 2019, after my retirement, to concentrate on photography (those pictures will be uploaded later).
The abandoned village of Gairo Vecchio.
Sardinia does have mountains, with several summits higher than 1,000 meters, and the culminating point at 1,800 meters (we will get to that in future Sardinian uploads).
The village of Gairo in a mountain village that was built on instable ground. During a large mudslide/landslide in 1951, several houses were damaged or destroyed, flushed away into the valley. There were casualties. So, the village had to be abandoned and rebuilt on safer ground.
The abandoned village was renamed Gairo Vecchio (“The Old Gairo”) and is very atmospheric and interesting to visit. These are the last three photographs of it.
After Puglia and Basilicata in 2017, we went to Sardinia during the Summer of 2018. Even though we spent three weeks there, we had family with us most of the time, therefore photographic activity was sometimes a bit curbed —to the point that I decided to return on my own in March–April 2019, after my retirement, to concentrate on photography (those pictures will be uploaded later).
The Romanesque chiesa campestre of Sant’ Antonio was built around Year 1000. Some say there used to be a village here, which would have been supposedly abandoned during the 14th century, but the least that can be said is that it is difficult to see any traces of that settlement, which would have been built partly with stones, and foundations for walls...
Anyway, one way or another, this lovely early Romanesque church is well worth seeing from all angles...
After Puglia and Basilicata in 2017, we went to Sardinia during the Summer of 2018. Even though we spent three weeks there, we had family with us most of the time, therefore photographic activity was sometimes a bit curbed —to the point that I decided to return on my own in March–April 2019, after my retirement, to concentrate on photography (those pictures will be uploaded later).
This is the lovely Byzantine-early Romanesque rural church of Santa Sabina, which appeared in the background of the nuraghe photo I uploaded yesterday.
This completely atypical church is difficult to date. It obviously includes elements from several periods, and was inspired both by Byzantine and Romanesque architecture. There seems to be a consensus to date its oldest parts to the 10th century, and the “not so old” ones to the 11th, which is still pretty old.
It is a lovely little squat structure, once again in the middle of nowhere... Some people say there once was a Benedictine house, but no trace of it was ever found by archæologists.