Days of the Romanesque: over 6000 visitors discovering Sardinian churches

Santa Giusta

The initiative promoted by the Sardinia Isola del Romanico Foundation also involved 15 municipalities in the province of Oristano

Over 6 thousand visitors visited the Sardinian Romanesque churches on the occasion of the first edition of the “Days of the Romanesque”, promoted by the Sardinia Isola del Romanico Foundation.

“Age and origin are different”, explained the president of the Antonello Figus Foundation, speaking of “a result well beyond initial estimates”.

For Figus, the positive balance “is due to the effective collaboration between the association, the mayors, the parish priests, the officials of the Municipalities, the volunteers, the companies and cooperatives that manage the sites and the communities that made it possible to showcase the vast monumental heritage of the Romanesque in Sardinia and to share these treasures with the numerous visitors ”.

“The initiative”, explained Figus, “has made it possible to stimulate new tourist flows towards the majestic cathedrals, the most famous Palatine churches, and the numerous rural and suburban churches, in particular those that are not always accessible because they are open a few days. per year or only on the occasion of local patronal feasts “.

Fifty-two municipalities adhering to the various provinces of Sardinia, who have fielded over 100 volunteers including experts, teachers and lovers of the subject. Among them many young people and students of local schools: “the latter”, clarified Figus, “played the role of budding guides for two weekends”.

“The first edition represents the beginning of a journey that will lead to the consolidation over time of this important event not only cultural, but also as a moment of faith and spirituality in which visitors and pilgrims will be able to travel the vast network of itineraries and paths of faith that make up the Sardinian Romanesque “, commented Antonello Figus,” today the Foundation includes over 80 Municipalities all characterized by the presence of churches of great historical and architectural importance often inserted in splendid contexts of the rural landscape or in the historic centers of the island communities “.

“Unfortunately, some of the member Municipalities were unable to participate in the 2022 event as their monument is currently undergoing restoration work, I sincerely hope that they can be integrated into the program of the 2023 edition”, explained the president of the Foundation. “In various municipalities the experience coincided with religious and cultural events, a broad program of initiatives of religious and civil significance which naturally completed the proposal of the Sardinia Isola del Romanico Foundation and the member municipalities, also according to a specific desire to promote territories and support the companies that manage the sites or offer tourist services in the communities involved “.

The event allowed visitors to visit 50 Sardinian Romanesque churches for free, 15 of these were located in the province of Oristano in Bosa (San Pietro Extramuros), Cabras (San Giovanni di Sinis), Mogoro (Madonna del Carmine), Santa Giusta (Basilica of Santa Giusta), Simaxis (San Teodoro), Solarussa (San Gregorio Magno), Fordongianus (San Lussorio), Mogoro (Madonna del Carmine), Bonarcado (Santa Maria), Ghilarza (San Pietro di Zuri and San Palmerio), Ollastra (San Marco), Oristano (Oratorio delle Amine in Massama), Santu Lussurgiu (San Leonardo di Siete Fuentes) and Zerfaliu (San Giovanni Battista).

Sunday, October 9, 2022