Ipogeo di San Salvatore di Sinis
Rock-cut hypogeum beneath the church of San Salvatore in Sinis: a place of worship since the Nuragic age, with a sacred well, paintings and inscriptions.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The hypogeum lies beneath the church of San Salvatore, in the village of the same name in Sinis a few kilometres from Cabras, and is reached by a staircase just after the church entrance. It is partly cut into the rock and comprises a corridor and several rooms, including a circular hall and a larger one with an apse, with freshwater wells. The site shows traces of use from the Neolithic onwards: in the Nuragic age a sacred well was dug there for the cult of water; in the Punic period it was linked to the healing god Sid, and in the Roman period to the cult of Asclepius, until in the Christian age it became a place of rites in honour of the Saviour.
On the walls survive paintings from the pagan and Christian periods, including the cycle of Mars and Venus, and inscriptions in several alphabets: Punic, Greek (with the fish symbol) and a 16th-century Arabic inscription with the first verses of the Quran. The present layout dates to the late imperial age, while the church above is probably 17th-century, and around it arose the cumbessias, the pilgrims’ dwellings.
The hypogeum was excavated and restored between 1935 and 1938 and again between 1973 and 1979. After a four-year closure for restoration works it was reopened to the public in June 2023, with guided tours organised as part of the Fondazione Mont’e Prama.
Highlights
- Sacred well and fresh spring water
- Paintings and inscriptions in Punic, Greek and Arabic
- Cycle of Mars and Venus paintings
- Village of cumbessias around the church of San Salvatore
Admission & discounts
Admission is charged; the amount is not given in the sources consulted.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The hypogeum is not accessible to wheelchair users; the visitor centre, the church and the village are.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
From Cabras follow the provincial road towards Capo San Marco for about 5 km and, after the turn-off, continue for about 500 m to the village of San Salvatore.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Access to the hypogeum is only permitted with a guided tour, by reservation or while places last. Sessions are limited to a maximum of 7 people; booking is recommended. |
