Tancas Abertas

This land, rich in natural springs, has been inhabited since ancient times. The hill of Bonu Ighinu, where the medieval castle built by the Doria family stands, gives its name to a pre-Nuragic civilization that thrived here some six thousand years ago. Nearby is the rural sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Bonvehì, dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, notable for its distinctive Spanish Baroque style, rare in Sardinia.

The area features several caves of natural and archaeological interest, starting with Sa 'Ucca ‘e su Tintirriolu (The Bat’s Mouth), followed by Sa Molina and Filiestru. Moving north toward the Monte Traessu basaltic massif, visitors will find a landscape of valleys, streams, and springs dotted with small forests of holm oaks and Mediterranean scrub.

It is not uncommon to find remains of medieval settlements, often connected to ancient religious buildings that once belonged to the curatoria of Nurcara—including Santa Vittoria, Su Cumbentu, Cantones de Lado, Sant’Andria, and Santa Caderina.

The compact and charming urban area is built around the San Giovanni Battista parish church and is home to an interesting Documentation Center on Rural Life, which highlights the area’s peasant culture and traditions.