Tancas Abertas

The area of Santa Maria di Mesumundu is rich in thermal and mineral sources.

The church is built on the remains of late imperial Roman baths and was transformed in the Byzantine era, as indicated by burials with gold, silver, and bronze grave goods.

In the 11th-12th century, it likely hosted a Cassinese Benedictine monastery.

Considered one of the most fascinating monuments of Sardinian medieval architecture, it stands out for its opus listatum, alternating red bricks with dark basaltic stones.

Identified with Santa Maria di Bubalis, given in 1065 to the abbey of Montecassino, the church has a cruciform structure with apses of different eras.

The use of brick has allowed large openings in the central body and in the S/W apse, while the judicial interventions employed basaltic ashlars and limestone.

This monument, located in Siligo, represents an extraordinary example of historical and architectural stratification, testifying to the Byzantine influence in Sardinia.